Collection: Books and Periodicals

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Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

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46 HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. company were taken to San Francisco, and were soon after sent back to Mexico. General Vallejo remained in charge of the frontier. He removed his headquarters from Santa Anay Ferias, on Mark West, to Sonoma, when, by order of Figueroa, he, in the month of June, 1835, established the town of Sonoma. General Figueroa died soon after there events. His succescor, Governor Carrillo, was deposed by Alvarado. The new governor appointed General Vallejo to the position of Commandante-General of the frontier. In this position General Vallejo did all in his power to promote the settlement of the frontier. Expeditions were sent out against the Indians, agricultural industries were extended, and the raising of cattle, sheep and horses was in every way encouraged. Between 1840 and 1845 a large number of immigrants came to northern California, They were well received by the General, though the home government was continually “nagging” him because he did not send the foreigners out of the country, at the same time giving him neither men nor means to carry out their order. In the early part of the year 1846, affairs in California were rapidly approaching a crisis. In April, a junta was called to meet at Monterey to consider the condition of affairs. Revere gives a summary of eome of the speeches made. That of General Vallejo was as follows: I cannot, gentlemen, coincide with the military and civil functionaries who have advocated the cession of our country to France or England. It is most true that to rely any longer on Mexico to govern and defend us would be idle and absurd. To this extent I fully agree with my colleagues. It is also true that we possess a noble country, every way calculated, trom position and regources, to become great and powerful. For that very reason I would not have her a mere dependency upon a foreign monarchy, naturally alien, or at least indifferent to our interests and to our wellare. It is not to be denied that feeble nations bave in former times thrown them. selves upon the protection of their powertul neighbors. The Britons invoked the aid of the warlike Saxons, and fell an easy prey to their protectors, who seized their lands and treated them like slaves. Long before that time, feeble and distracted provinces had appealed for aid to the all-conquering arms of imperial Rome, and they were at the same time protected and subjugated their grasping ally. Even could we tolerate the by idea of dependence, ought we to go to distant Europe for a master? What possible sympathy could exist between us and a nation separated from us by two vast oceans? But waiving this insuperable objection, how could we endure to come under the dominion cf a monarchy? For, although others speak lightly of a furm of government, as a freeman, I cannotdo so. Weare republicans—badly guverned and badly situated as we are— still we are aj], in sentiment, republicans. So far as we are geverned at all, we at least profess to be self-governed. Who, then, that pcssesses true patriotism will consent to subject himself and his children to the caprices of a foreign king and his official minions? But it is asked, if we do not throw ourselveg upon the protection of France and England, what shall we do? Ido not come bere to support the existing order of things, but I come prepared to propose instant and effective action to extricate our country from her present forlorn condition. My opinion is made up that we must persevere in throwing off the galling yoke of Mexico, and proclaim our independence of her forever. We have endured her official cormorants and her villainous soldiery until we can en. dure no longer. All will probably agree with me that we ought at once to rid ourselves of what may remain of Mexican domination. But some profess to doubt our ability to maintain our position. To my mind there comes no doubt. Look at Texas, and see how long she withstood the power of united Mexico. The resources of Texas were not to be compared with ours, and she was much nearer to her enemy than we are. Our position is so remote, either by land or sea, that we are in no danger from Mexican invasion. Why, then, should we hesitate still to assert our independence? We have inde d taken the first step by electing our own Governor, but another remains to be taken. 1 will mention it plainly and dislinctly—it is annexation to the United States. In contemplating this consummation of our destiny, I feel nothing but pleasure, and I ask you to share it. Discard old prejudices, disregard old customs, and prepare for the glorious change which awaits our country. Why should we shrink from incorporating ourselves with the happiest and freest nation in the world, destined soon to be the most wealthy and powerful? Why should we go abroad for protection when this great nation is our adjoining neighbor? When we join our fortunes to hers, we shall not become subjects, but fellow-citizens, possessing al] the rights of the people of the United States, and choosing our own federal and local rulers. We shall have a stable government and just laws. California will grow strong and flourish, and her people will be prosperous, happy and free. Look not, therefore, with jealousy upon the hardy pioneers who scale our mountains and cultivate our unoccupied plains; but rather welcome them as brothers, who come to share with us a conimon destiny. Lieutenant Revere was in Monterey when the junta met; its proceedings were secret, but