New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-01-07
BlYlRD TlYLOR'S LETTERS. No. IlII
The Mission. Of California.

mas la-C 10 @fetk Of me various MISSIONS scattered
throughout tic cguatry and occuPy inS the choicest
agricultural sites from san Diego 70 the distr Il
north n San Francisco Bay. These establishments.
10 which solely ere owing the settlement and civil
iza.on Of CafJrnis have entirev fallen from Their
fJrncr supremsoy. and oi no further importance
in civil view. Their history Tor the past few
years -. nevertheless interesting ono and the
difficulties connected with theiE present possession
on5 occuponcy, though much talked about hore. arc
MT generally underwood | was myself Cd by
trus'iuy % common report % mako Az inoouect
statement concerning the Mission Of Ssn's Clara, in
former letter, snl have therefore been the more
cere'ul - ootlu correct Information from tho sources
here
The hls,ory = he or siss settlement ri he Ca
for ss 5 one Of remarkable interest Through the
perse and se.fdooying labors II fey Cath
Ole Frests alone h. natives not only 4 tho PENN
sula and 'he Coast Is isr north as san Frsnc. COO
Bay, bat the extensive Provinces 4 sonora and
: aIoa were taught the arts Of civilized hfo and
subjected 70 the dominion Of Spain The lives =
Pedres Kiuo Salsatierra and Ugar,e exhibit in
stances Of danger adventure and horolc endurance
scarcely inferior 10 those # C)rtes md Coronado
Toe great WORK they accomplished on the Peninsu.a
ami 10 the Northern Provinces Of Mexico, IN the be
ginning OF the last ceaIur,, was followed Fifty wears
.ater b. Pare Junpero Sierra who m 1863 founded
the Mission ~ San Diego the FIRST settlement ir
Alta California In The succeeding year he anGoc
N Monterey, and by solemn mass which was per.
ormod under M Oak-tree stL standing near the
FCrt. took possession Of the spot After lab1rine
VI thirteen wears with ndefstlgabs zeal snc
activity, during which tune he founded nine
mssions tie good Padre died in 1884 ana
was tIned IN tie grave yard Of Carmel. HIS sue
cossOrs continued the work. and by toe year 1900
ha1 increased tbs number Of Missions to 10
Since that time only three more have been added
The Missions arc named aud located os follows :
san Rafael and San Francisco Solans. north Of SaL
Francisco Bay Dolores, near San Francisco :
Santa Clara and San Jose, near Puebla san Jose
san Juan. Santa Cruz and C.rms. near Monterey
Soiedad san Antonio and San " igle IN tho Val
ley Of Salinas River san Luis 0hispo La Pun
sima. 5outa Ynez santa Barbara and San Bucna
ventura, near Santa Barbara san Gabriel and
san Fernando. near Los Angeles and San Las
Rcy, san Juan Csplstrsao and San Diego on tn
coast south Of Los Angeles.
The wealth and power IN tie possession fihosc
" ssons naturally excited the jealousy Of Govern
Inent, after California was organized into q Tern
tory. The padres, however, had been grantee
almost unlimited privileges by the earlier Nlceroys.
and for q long timc no authority could be found e
IA lsI3 relating to the Missions Of South America.
was made the basis Of repeated attempts to over.
throw tho temporal powe. IF tho padres, but with
GU, effect. and from 1900 to 1880, they reveloc
securely in the full enjoyment OF Their wealthy os
ADJUSTMENTS
bounteous and prosperous time, toward which many
OF tho Californian and oven oi the old American
residents, look back with regret Then each Mis-
SION was little principally with its hundred thou
sand acres, aad It's twenty thousand head OF cattle
All the Indian population, except the IDENTITIES
OF the mountains, were the subjects OF The padres,
cultiN ntinS Tor thom thor broad lands and Tever
eucng them with the same devOut faith as they did
the patron SAINT OF the settlement The spacious
galleries, halls and cOuriy ards OF the Missions cN
hbiied every sign Of @. der and good government,
and from the long rows OF adobe houses fanklng
them an obedicnt crowd came forth al the sound %
moruin, and evening chimes. The tables of the
padres were laden wlth the finest fruits and yege
tables from their thrifty gardens and orlhards and
tasks Of excellent wine from their own vineyards
The stranger who came that way was entertained
with lavish hospitality for winch all rccompense
was proudly refused. and on leaving, was welcome
to exchange his spent horse for his PICK out OF the
oabauads. Nearly all the commerce OF the country
with othor nations was in their hands. Long habits
OF management and economy gave them u great
aptitude tor business OF all kinds and each succeed
ing year witnessed an increase of their wealth and
AUTHORITY.
The 6rst blow gwen to their privileges wss a
decree OF the Supreme Government OF Mexico ia
ted August Il, 500 by which the Missions Of Up.
per and Lower California were seculsrized and be
came paplc property. They were converted by
law into parishes, and the padres, from being vlriu
al sovcreigns Of their domains, became merely ca
rates. possessing only spiritual powers over then
former subjects Instead Of managing the revenue
Of the estates. they were paid irom $4,000 70
- SOC, az the option Of Cove ~nment Tho church
Mas still kept for Religious purposes, and the pm
cipal building for the curstes house other portions
OF the establishment were appropriated 70 the pur
poses Of court houses schools, &c. The lands could
De granted to individuals the same as unsettled
TERRITORY. according to the DEGREES Of 1894 and
1928
This law Of course emsncipsied the Indians nom
the authority Of the padres. and likewise abSoN 81
the latter from their obhg cations 10 MAINTAIN them
To provide for thor support. therefore, Zoe Govern
mcnt granted to every bead Of family lot frOm
leo 70 400 varas square, which was assigned 20 the
use Of themselves and their descendants. hut could
no, be sold bv them under penalty Of the land re
vcrtins back 10 the public domain. y certsln aum.
Der Of tho natives ere sppclod to Be servants o.
tho padres The temporal siisirs Of each Mission
were placed under the charge OF 50 Ayuniamen-
10 no was commits lOned 70 explain to the lnti-
ans the new relsrons, and put them IN possession
Of Ire land. 4 portion OF the revenue WAS applied
70 their benefit and III return Therefor iheH We're
Obliged 20 assist in culuvatins the common lands o.
tho aew pueblcs or ps-lshe. By sturther decree.
IA lslO Governor Alvsrado substituted maloSdo
mos IN place Of The syuntsnientos, giving them
power 10 manage tbs temporal affairs Of the ms
,ioas. hai not 70 dispose Of the revenues OF coa-
tract debts without the permission OF Government.
These DEGREES put stop 70 the prosperity o. tnt
Missions. The Padres. seeing the establishment
taken out Of their hands, employed themselves n
.oOSef ~ superIn,en diag theIy cultivation wm!s
The Indians thoaSh free, lost the patent guidance
and encouragement they had received. and relapse
into their hereditary habits Of slo;h and stupidity
Many Of them scattered from their homes resa1n-
INK a rovinS hfe among TIE mountains, and very
soon several Of the Missions Amos, ceased TO have
an existence Gov. Mcheltorens. therefore, il
ls&9 IN a pompous rroclsriatioD setting forth his
,vsltv 70 the Catholic aiih. att nptsd 70 restore
the former state Of things BY delivering twelve o.
Inc Missions into the hands c: the priests. be de-
cl.rd az the same time. that 81 tue Cattle, proper
y. and utensils should DO sivea up 70 them hn'
tbst those portion. Of the Mission estates which
h,d hsou cTaated TO individuals should still remain
In POSSESSION Of the latter. The priests were also
ob,sed 70 psy one eighth PAR: Q; a. the rrodaee
INTO tAe pubic treasury. COR the support OF troops
The proclsms sioa 50 ssr SIS can Learn never wen'
into effect, and the chasing Of Miche!t~ena non
the country soon put an end 10 his plans
In the wear lss5 Governor Pic Poo npsesec