Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-01-09
BAYARp TAYLoR's LETTERS.
THE MISSIONS OF CALIFORNIA,
Correspondence Of The N. 7. Tribune.


failed to speak Of the various Missions scattered through
out the country and occupying the choicest agriculture
Sites from San Diego to the district north of San Fran
cisco Bay. These establishments, TO which solely are
owing the settlement and civilization of California have
entirely fallen from their former supremacy and are OF
no further Importance in civil view. Their history for
the past lew years ls nevertheless, interesting
and the difficulties connected with their present posses
sion and occupancy though much talked about here,
not generally understood. was myself led, by trusting
to common report, to make incorrect statement
corning the Mission Of Santa Clara, in former letter,
and have, therefore, been the more careful to obtain
correct information from the sourcesh here.
The history OF the original settlement OF the Califor-
mans is Of remarkable interest, Through the per-
severance and self denying abors Of few Catholic
Priests alone, the natives not only OF the Peninsula and
the Coast far north San Francisco Bay but the
tensive Provinces OF Sonora and Sinaoa were taught
the ofcivzed fe and subjected to the dominion of
Spain The lives Of Padres Kino, Salvatiera and
Ugare exhibit instances OF danger, adventure and heroic
endurance scarcely inferior to those OF Cores and Coro
nado. The great work they accomplished on the Pc
ninsua and in the Northern Provinces Of Mexico in the
beginning OF the last century, followed fifty years
later by Padre Jenpero Sierra who in 1859 founded the
Mission of San Diego, the first settlement in Alta Cali
toma In the succeeding year he landed at Monterey
and by solemn which was performed under an
oak tree still standing the Fort, took possession OF
the spot After laborng for thirteen years with indie
fagable zeal and activity, during which time he founded
nine missions, the good Padre died in 1884 and was
buried in the graveyard of Carmel. His successors
continued the work. and by the year 1900 had increased
the number OF missions to l6 Since that time only
and located as follows: San Rafael and San Francisco
Solans north OF San Francisco Bay Dolores near San
francisco Santa Clara and San Jose Pueb!a San
! Jose; San Juan, Santa Cruz and Carmel near Monte
rey Soledad San Antonio and San Miguel in the Val
| ley OF Salinas River San Luis Obispo; La Purisima
Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara and San Buenaventura
near Santa Barbara San Gabriel and San Fernando
near Los Angeles and San Luis Rev. San Juan Capis-
trano and San Diego on the coast, south Of Los An
gees.
The wealth and power in the possession Of these Mis-
ot
after California was organized into Territory The
padres, however, had been granted almost unlimited
PRIVILEGES by the earlier Viceroys and for long time
authority could be found to dspossess them. decree
OF the Spanish Cortes, in 1873 relating to the Missions
OF South America, made the basis of repeated at
tempts to overthrow the temporal power of the padres
but without effect and from 1900 to $780, they revealed
securely in the full enjoyment OF their wealthy estab-
| lishmelts
! That, indeed was their age of gold-a right boun-
eous and prosperous time tow ard which many of the
Californian aud even OF the old American residents
look back with regret. Then, each mission was lit
tie prncpaly with its hundred thousand acres and its
twenty thousand head OF cattle All the Indian popu-
ation, except the Genties OF the mountains were the
subjects of the padres cultvatng for them their broad
lands and reverencing them with the devout faith
as they did the patron saint OF the settlement The
spacious galleries. halls and courtyards Of the missions
| exhibited every sign OF order and good government
and from the long Of adobe houses fanking them
an obedlent crowd FORTH the sound of morning
and evening chimes The tables of the padres were
laden with the finest fruits and vegetables from their
thrifty gardens and orchards, and TASKS of excellent
VINE from their own vineyards. The stranger who
came that way was ente tanned with lavish hospitality
Tor which all recompense proudly refused and on
leaving, was welcome to exchange his spent horse for
his pick out OF the cabalada Nearly all the commerce
OF the country with other nations in their hands
Long habits of management and economy gave them
great aptitude Tor business of all kinds and each sue
ceeding year witnessed an increase OF their wealth and
authority
The first blow given to their privileges, was decree
OF the Supreme Government Of Mexico dated August
hyy hinl,t ta -
California were secularzed aud became public property
They were converted by law into parishes and the pa
dres from being virtual sovereigns OF their domains
became merely curates, possessing only spiritual powers
over their former subjects Instead of managing the
revenue OF the estates, they paid from So 600 to
23oo, at the option OF Government The church was
sul kept Tor religious purposes, and the principal build
ing tor the curates house, other portions of the estab-
ishment appropriated to the purposes of court
houses, schools, &c The lands could be granted to in
dlviduais the unsettled territory according To
the DEGREES Of 1924 and 1928.
This law OF course emancipated the Indians from the
authority OF the padres and likewise absoyed the latter
from Their oblganons to maintain them. To provide
tor their support therefore, the government granted to
every head OF family lot from 100 to 400 varas
square, which was assigned to the of themselves and
their descendants but could not be sold bvhem nnder
penalty OF the land reyertng back the public domain
certain number OF the natives appointed to be
servants OF the padres The temporal affairs OF each
mission were placed under the charge of an Ayunta-
mlento, who was commissioned TO explain to the In
dams the new relations, and put them in possession of
the land. portion of the revenue was applied to their
benett and IN return therefor they obliged to as
slst IN cuVatng the common lands OF the pueblos
or parishes Bysa further decree, in 1840 Governor AL
varado substituted malordomos in place of the Ayun-
tamlentos, giving them power to manage the temporal
affairs OF the MISSIONS but dispose OF the revenues
or contract debts without the permission ofgovernmept
These DEGREES put stop to the prosperity of the mis-
SONS The Padres, seeing the establishment taken out
OF their hands, employed themselves longer in super
intending their cultivation; while the Indians though
tree lost the patient guidance and encouragement they
had received and reapsed into their hereditary habits Of
soth and stupidity. Many Of them scattered from their
homes, IesunIng a rowing life among the mountains
and very several of the missions almost ceased to
have an existence. Gov. Mcheltorena therefore, in
1913, in pompous proclamation setting forth his loval
y to the Catho Faith, attempted restore the former
state OF things by delivering twelve of the missions into
the hands OF the priests He declared at the same time
that all the CATTLE property and utensils should be given
up to them but that those portions Of the mission es
tates which had been granted individuals should still
remain in possession OF the latter. The priests were
also obliged to pay oneeighth part of all the produce
into the public treasury TOR the support of troops The
proclamation, so far as can learn never went into eff
feet and the chasing of Mcheltona from the country
soon put an end to his plans.
In the year 1845 Governor Pho Pico COMPLETED the
obliteration OF the missions. By government decree
he directed that the missions of San JUAN Carmel San
Francisco Soano and San Juan Capistrano should he
sold at auction specified day. One months notice
was given to the Indian neophytes of the missions of
San Rafael, Dolores, Soledad San Miguel and La Pu-
risima to return to the cultivation and Occupancy Of tho
lands assigned them by Government otherwise the same
should be declared unoccupied and disposed of like the
preceding All the remaining missions, except the
Episcopal mansion at Santa Barbara were to be rented
OF the proceeds OF these sales and leases third was
to be used for the support Of the resident priests one
third for the benefit Of the Indians and the remaining
third constituting the Pious Fund of California to be ap
piled to purposes of education and henefcence.
The Indian neophyes Of the five last named missions
having neglected to assemble Pco, by decree in De-
tober, 1915, ordered that they should be sold to
the highest bidder; and, at the same time, that
those of San Fernando Buenaventura, Santa Barbara
years. This was the last valid decree touching the
missions. The remaining missions OF Santa Clara, San
Jose, Santa Cruz, San Antonio, San Luis Obspo, San
Gabriel and San Diego were therefore thrown imme
datey into the hands OF the Uuited States after posses
sion had been taken by troops and all mission pro-
pery not legally granted sold under the laws OF Cali
tornia, becomes part Of the public domain
After Gen. Kearny had assumed the Civil Govern.
ment OF California, representations were made to him
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