The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-26


in friendly way with the creditors and likewise
regather the dispersed Indians, except such had
been legally emancipated. or were at private SER
vice. That the priests might provide out of the
products OF the missions for the necessary expenses
of converting, subsistng, and clothing the Indians
for a moderate allowance to themselves, economi-
cal salaries to the may0rd0mOs and the maintenance
of divine worship; under the condition, that the
priests should bind themselves in honor aud con-
science to deliver to the public treasury eighth
part OF all the annual products of the establishments
That the Departmental government would exert all
its power for the protection of the missions, and
the same in respect to individuals, and to private
property securing 10 the the possession and
preservation of the lands they now hold, but prom
ising not to make any new grants without consult
alton with the priests, unless where the lands
notoriously unoccupied or lacked cultivation, or in
case of necessity.
Micheltorena's governorship was shortly after
concluded There had been sent to this Depart
ment with him considerable body of persons,
called presidaiOs, that is, criminals condemned to
service--usually, as in this case, military service
on the frontier and their presence and conduct
gave such offence to the inhabtants that they
volted, and expelled him and the presidarios from
the country. He was succeeded by Don Pho Pico,
in virtue Of his being the "first vocal of the De-
partmental Assembly, and also by choice Of the in
ernment, which, at the same time, gave additional
privileges to the Department. in respect to the man.
agement of its domestic affairs.
The next public act which find, in relation to
the missions, is an act of the Departmental Assem-
bly,, published in proclamation of Governor Pico,
9Th June, lS45. This act provides: l. That the gov
ernor should call together the neophyes of the fol-
lowing named missions: San Rafael, Dolores, Sole
dad, San Miguel, and La Purisima; and in those
missions were abandoned by their neophytes, that
he should give them one months notice. by procla-
nation to return and cultivate said missions, which
II they did not do the missions should be cared
abandoned, and the assembly and governor dispose
of them for the good of the Department q That
the missions of Carmel, San Juan Bautista, San
Juan Capistrano, and San Francisco Solano, should
be considered ptteb0s villages, which their
present condition.; and that the property which
manned to them, the governor, after separating suf-
cient for the curates house, for churches and their
pertinences, and for municipal house, should sell
at public auctions the product to be applied, first,
to paying the debts of the establishments, and the
remainder if any to the benefit of divine worship.
3. That the remainder of the missions to San Diego,
inclusive, should be rented at the discretion of the
governor, with the proviso, that the neophytes
should be at liberty to employ themselves at their
option on their own grounds, which the governor
should designate for them, in the service of the
rentee, or OF any other person. a. That the princ-
pal ediice of the mission of Santa Barbara should
be excepted from the proposed renting and in it the
governor should designate the parts most suitable
for the residence of the bishop and his attendants,
and OF the missionary priests then living there;
moreover, that the rents arising from the remain
der OF the property of said mission should be dis
bursed, one-half for the benefit of the church and
ts ministry the other for that of its Indians. 5,
should be divided one third to the maintenance Of
the minister, third to the Indians one-thrd to
the government.
On the 2sth October, of the same year, (1s45,)
Governor Pico gave public notice for the sale, to
the highest bidder, of five missions, to wit San
Rafael, Dolores, Soedad, San Miguel, and La Pu-
risima; likewise, for the sale of the remaining
buildings in the pueblos formerly missons) Of
San Luis obispo, Carmel San Juan Bautista, and
San Juan Capistrano after separating the churches
and their appurtenances, and curate's, munich
pal, and school houses The auctions APP
pointed to take place-those Of San Luis Obispo,
Purisima, and San Juan Capistrano, the first four
days of December following, Os45;) those of San
Rafael, Dolores, San Juan Bautista, Carmel, Sole
dad, and San Miguel, the 23d and oath Of January,
1916; meanwhile, the government would receive
and take into consideration proposals in relation to
said missions.
In the same proclamation, Pico proposed to rent
TO the best bidder for period of nine years, and
under conditions for the return of the property in
good order and without waste, the missions of San
Fernando, San Buenaventura, Santa Barbara, and
Santa Ynes; the rentngs to include all the lands,
stock, agricultural tools, vineyards, gardens, Of
fees, and whatever, in virtue Of the inventories,
should be appurtenant to said missions, with "the
exception only OF those small pieces Of ground
which have always been occupied by some In
dians Of the missions;' likewise to include the
buildings, saving the churches and their APP
purtenances, and the curate's, municipal and
school houses, and except in the mission Of San
Ia Barbara where the whole of the principal
cdifce should be reserved for the bishop and the
priests residing there. The renting of the missions
Of San Diego, San Luis Rey, San Gabriel. San An
tonic, Santa Clara, and San Jose, il was further
announced, should take place soon as some ar
rangement was made concerning their debts. II
also provided that the neophy should be free
from their pupilage, and might establish them
selves ON convenient parts Of the missions, with
liberty 10 serve the rentce, any other person.;
that the Indians who possessed pieces of land, in
which they had made their houses and gardens
should apply TO the government for titles in order
that their lands might be adjudcated 10 them in
ownership; "it being understood that they would
not have power TO sell their lands, but that they
should descend by inheritance"
On the 3Oth March, 1876, the Assembly passed
an act
1. Authorizing the governor, in order to make ef
fecve the object OF the decree of 2sth May previous
TO operate he should believe cxpedent TO pre-
vent the total ruin Of the missions OF San Gabriel,
San Luis Rey, San Diego, and others found in like
circumstances. 2 That the remains Of said estab
lisbments had large debts against them, IL the exist
ing property not sufficient TO cover the same,
they might be put into bankruptcy 3. That IT, from
this authorization, the governor, in order TO avoid
the destruction 10 which the said missions APP
preaching, should determine To sell them 10 private
persons, the sale should be by public auction. e.
That when sold, II, after the debts satisfied,
there should be any remainder, II should be dis
tributed TO the Indians OF the respective establish
ment. 5. That in view Of the expenses necessa-
ry in the maintenance Of the priest and OF divine
worship, the governor might determine portion
of the whole property, whether Of cultiyabe lands,
houses, or Of any other description, according TO
his discretion, and by consultation with the re-
spective priests. g. The property thus determined
should be delivered as by sale, but subject TO per-
petual interest Of four per cent for the above
Indicated 7. That the present act should not af
feet any thing already done contracts made in
pursuance Of the decree Of 2Sth May last, nor pre-
vent any thing being done conformable 10 that de-
cree. s. That the governor should provide against
all impediments that might not be foresecn by the
act, and in six months, at farthes, give account
TO the assembly OF the results Of its fulflment.
Previous to several of the last mentioned acts,
that is, the Oath August, ls44, the Departmental
Assembly, in anticipation Of war breaking out,
passed law authorizing the governor, on the hap
pening Of that contingency, either "to sell, by.
pothecate rent the houses, landed property and
field lands Of the missions, comprehended in the
whole extent of the country from San Diego to So
nona," except that Of Santa Barbara, 4" reserved
for the residence Of the bishop"
Thsse comprise all the general scts of the author
itics Of California which was able to with on
the subject of the missions. OF the extent OF man
ner in which they were carried into execution, so
far the missions proper-that il, the mission
buildings and lands appurtenant-are concerned,
but little information Is afforded by what could
find in the archives. A very coneiderah hla mart