The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-17

abandoning the town OF Monterey for the country.
The foreign residents armed themselves iof men me.
own protection, and fairly warned the general thai,
as he could not control his men, they should shoot
all found upon their premises. :. The general adj
GT Ete h ms haO, MY oa. WIN eoa5
be avoided, kill them" The territory being SO remote
from Mexico, and the difficulty Of communication so
great as regards the laws and regulations affecting the
inhabitants II left entirely 10 the dictaton OF the
governor Eight months would some times elapse with
out intelligence from Mexico, and governments in that
city would be overturned before their edics reached Their
destination No pay was received by the governor his
officers and men, from the general government but they
were left to pay themselves by extoron and the brides
paid by commercial vessels for entering their cargoes
These payments were made in goods from the assorted
cargoes OF the vessels and the governor and his officers
again racked them out al exobitant rates among the
people. Mexican colonel once remarked TO the writer
81 this 81 ordered away and have LETT room full
Of dry goods-the value OF which do not know-to pay
my creditors" 49,.
This revenue bribery was quite extensive source OF
income for the restrictive commercial policy OF Mexico
enabled commercial men 70 allow the authorizes large
amount from their profits and from the greater facility
with which the needy governor could be bought vessels
intended for southern ports would frequently enter
and get their custom house papers al Monterey In addl
ton 10 the suffering inflicted upon the inhabitants by the
awess character q their Mexican rulers some idea may
be formed OF the pryatons they endured and the extor
ton TO which they were subjected by the ilbera com.
mercia policy OF their country, when il is known that
the most ordinary brown sugar sold so per pound,
and coffee al the price, although southern Mexico
sugar growing country, and sugar and coffee growing
This state OF government and rule in California is
fair illustration Of that in every remote Mexican province,
and tself, sufficient reason Tor the establishment,
BY military and naval commanders OF good civil gov
eminent over the long suffering provinces which submit
to their This institution Of civil government is the
best appeal in behalf which be made to the COM
mon sense and interest of the conquered provinces.
Worried, disguised, and almost despairing the nhabi
ants looked with earnest desire to any influence which
ances and, from the time that Com Jones had first oc
cupied the country, they looked from day to day with
the most ardent hope, and with an enthusiastic hatred OF
their rulers for reoccupaton, permanently TO endure
the appearance OF any vessel OF war OF the United States
upon the was generally regarded having this OBJ
ect in view The families OF the rancheros spoke ear
nesy upon the subject to citizens of the United States
whom they met and drew we'll the distinction between
the expressions inflicted upon them by their Mexican
rulers and the protection they would derive from the
laws Of the u. States Casro-a peasant ranchero-
the leader at present Of small band OF Californans,
at that time strongly suspected OF the same senti-
ments
Finding that our vessels visited and lay in their har-
bors without attempting the capture Of the territory, the
Californans, being unable to endure their grievances
longer in November, 1874, took the field themselves
nsurrecton against Mexican rule and established their
headquarters at the mission of San JUAN about forty
miles from Monterey General Mcheltoreno first driv-
ing in the cattle and horses OF the neghborng farmers,
with most of his force and two pieces Of artillery pro-
ceeded to meet the insurgents. Having come within
communicating distance, he required OF them their mo-
ves for instruction. The substance OF the grievances
stated by the Cafornians was, the vansus character
of the sodery and the depredations committed by them
And demanded that these soldiers and some OF the
subordinate officers OF equally awess character should be
sent Of the territory Gen Mcheltoreno saw that was
useless resist and yet he had immediate facilities
any means for employing them. He however promised
avail himself of the first opportunity to grant the de-
mands of the Caornians; and upon this promise himself
and band permitted TO return to Monterey, and to
remain there until facilities for his removal could be pro-
cured. Having means OF conveying information to
his government of his unfortunate situation, Gen Michel
toreno requested permission OF the commander chief
OF the United States naval forces to send messengers
some of the vessels under his command. The permits
sion being granted, Col Telley took passage in the
United States rgate Savannah for MaZatlan, and Capt
Mexia in the Warren for the place. Upon the
rival of these officers al this port they found the govern
ment to which they were despatched overthrown, and
revolutionary government IN no condition to aid the
general Soon after, conveyance being procured, the
Cafornans expelled Mcheltoreno and his soldiers from
their territory elected their legislature and gov
ernor; and, although holding nominal allegiance to the
Mexican flag, they have since been entirely Independent
Of that government, contributing nothing to it, and derv-
ing no aid from it. Gen. Castro was appointed military
commandant of the California forces For sometime the
revolution OF California excited much feeling in Mexico,
and the Congress voted large sum for its subsection
The French interested themselves actively the proposed
expedition and all the mechanics and artisans were Of
this nation Vessels chartered at high rates.
paid by commercial privileges to their owners for the
purpose OF transporting the expedition; and these
sells assembled in the harbor OF Acapulco where they
remained for months in idle expectation, their crews
falling before the fatal disease Of that port, Some
|
equipments reached Acapulco, with few Mexican officers
and number of French mechanics, The money disap
peaed in the hands of the chiefs Of the expedition the
Frenchmcn died in Acapulco, and the vessels again
returned to their owners and thus terminated all Next
can efforts to recover California. A small band of sol
ders, under the command of Colonel Telley reached
Mazatan, professedly on their way to California but
they here called halt, and the first to
the recent pronuncamento which terminated in the
downfall of Paroles.
Such, them the isolated condition Of this terrific
ry, with alleged hypothecaton to English capitalists
for millions of money, at the time when her nominal
Mexican sovereignty made her just prize to our arms
Castro, who well knows the poweressness of Mexico in
regard to him, buys cheap patriotism by bombastc pro-
LESSONS of allegiance to Mexico; and the feelings of inn
porance natural to ignorant peasant elevated by his
bloodess revolution to his present position may now
render him reluctant to under the dominion of our
laws But consideration of the influences we have ex-
amned and of the interests at work, shows the great
Importance Of the subject which have ventred to bring
to the public consideration. W. M, w.
/ - For the Union.