Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-05-06
Situations. When founded.

CAT first the missions nomnally occupied the whole
territory except the four small military posts OF San
Diego, Santa Barbara, Monterey, and San Francisco;
that the limits OF one mission was said to cover the in
ervenng space to the limits OF the next and there were
no other occupants except the wild Indians, whose
duction and conversion the object of the establish
The Indians fast they were reduced, were
trained to labor in the missions, and lived either within
its walls small villages near by under the spiritual
and temporal direction of the priests but the whole po-
tca control of the governor OF the province, who de-
cided contested questions OF right or policy, whether
between different missions between missions ana lnd-
viduals, concerning the Indians. Soon, however,
grants of land began to be made to individuals espe-
ciay retired soldiers, who received special favor in
the distant colonies OF Span and became the settlers
and founders OF the country they had reduced and pro-
tected. Some settlers were also brought nom the
neghborng provinces OF Sonora and Snaloe. and the
towns OF San Jose at the head OF the Bay OF San Fran
CISCO and OF Los Angeles eight leagues from the port oil
San Pedro, were early founded The Gov exercised the
privilege making OF large tracts, and cap
tans of the presdios were authorized to grant building
lots and small tracts for gardens and tarms within the
distance OF two leagues from the presdlos BY these
means the mission tracts began respectively to have
something like known boundaries; though the lands
they thus occupied were still not viewed, IN any light,
as the property of the missionaries, but the domain
of the crown, appropriated to the use OF the missions
while the of the country should require IT, and at
the pleasure of the political authority.
81 took much pains, both in California and IN Mexico,
to assure myselfo the situation, in legal and proprl-
eary point of view of the former great establishments
known as the mission of California. 1t had been sup
posed that the lands they occupy were grants held as
the property OF the church, or OF the mission establish
ments as corporations Such, however, was not the
case All the missions in Upper California "a were es
tabshed under the direction and mainly at the expense
OF the Government, and the missionaries there mad
any other right than to the occupation and the use
of the lands for the purpose OF the missions, and at the
pleasure of the Government. This is shown by the
history and principles of their foundation, by the laws
relation to Them by the constant practice OF the Go
vernment toward them and in fact by the rules OF the
Franciscan order which forbid its members TO possess
property.
"The establishment of missions in remote provinces
was part otthe colonial system OF SPAN The Jesu-
menced in this the reduction OF Lower Calfor-
mia in the year 1897 They continued in the spiritual
CHARGE and in considerable degree OF the temporal
government OF that province until 1857 when the royal
decree abolishing the Jesuit order throughout New
Spain was there enforced and the mission taken Out o.
their hands.
"They had then founded fifteen missions extending
from Cape ST. Lucas nearly to the head OF the sea OF
Cores, California gulf Three OF the establishments
had been suppressed by order OF the VIeeoy lne re-
mander were now put in charge of the FRANCISCAN
monks OF the college Of San Fernando, IN Me1icos
hence sometimes called 'Eernandinos Inc project OF
that college, the Rev. Father Junlpero oerra proceeded
in person to his new charge, and arrived with num-
Der of monks at Lereto the capital OF the peninsula,
the following year, Q76S@ lie was there soon alter
Joined by Don Jose Galvez, inspector general usatqGo
of New Spain, who brought an order from the King
directing the foundation OF one or more settlements III
Upper California. 1t was, therefore, agreed that Father
unpero should extend the mission establishments into
Upper California, under the protection OF preSidtoS,
armed posts) which the Government would establish
at San Diego and Monterey. The expeditions, both
accompanied by missionaries, who are consequently nj
ted out one to proceed by the other by land 10 the
new territory. In June, 1863, they had arrived, and
that month founded the first mission, about two Leagues
from the port of San Diego APres1d1o was establish
ed at the same time near the port
OF course between the various grants there constant
conflict one portion OF the tenues being based on Spa
nish another on Mexican, third on California, and
finally others on Revolutionary authority, tBear lag9
Mr. Jones hinksthe interest OF the United States may
be secured by iudicious procedures. aesays
"The grants in California am bound to say, are
mostly perfect titles that is the holders possess their
property by titles that under the law which created
them were equivalent to patents from our Government;