C-A 31 · Departmental State Papers, Tomos VII–VIII

Manuscript scans: this volume on the Internet Archive (digitized microfilm of the Savage transcripts).

Printable finding aid (PDF) — the full one-line record list with provenance, for offline use and circulation.

Notable documents

• 1846-05-13 · Bando of Gov. Pico — Convokes a 'Consejo general de los pueblos unidos de California.' Verbatim declension preamble on the collapse of Mexican governance (*'No hay administración de justicia… no hay tesoro público… no hay fuerza militar… desorganización completa… el mayor abandono… lejos de la fuente madre de los recursos'*); the invasion by foreigners +… (orig. p. VII:60–71) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-08 · José Castro (comandante general) → Gov. Pico — Verbatim protest + proclamation against the 13 May bando: *'asombro y superlativa condenación'*; brands the Consejo *'un libelo abortado… un club, un conciliábulo reprobado por la sana razón… plan liberticida y anteconstitucional'*; invokes *'la máxima de Maquiabelo'* and demagoguery; *'¡Perjurio! ¡Sacrilegio!'* for Pico's violated… (orig. p. VII:79–82) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-17 · Francisco Guerrero (subpref. 2º distrito) → gov. — 'Invasión de Sonoma': the foreigners took prisoner M.G. Vallejo, Salvador Vallejo, Víctor Prudon and J.P. Leese at Sonoma and seized all Vallejo's caballada; the ringleaders of the ~70 men were *'el médico del Sacramento'* (Robert Semple) and another known to S. Vallejo (orig. p. VII:96) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07-11 · Moreno → Stearns — 'Toma de Monterrey — defensa de los Ángeles — archivos': Monterey taken the 7th by the American squadron; the gov. suspends the 8 Jul force-levy, orders Stearns to put LA in its best state of defense and to save the archives of the subprefecture and courts, and warns citizens to secure their interests and persons (orig. p. VII:133–134) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-03-13 · José Castro (comandante general) — Proclamation on the Frémont invasion (the Gavilan / Hawk's Peak affair) (orig. p. VII:179) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-03-15 · vecinos of San José → Gov. — Petition on Indian raiding since the first governor (Echeandía → Victoria → Figueroa → Chico → Gutiérrez → Alvarado → Micheltorena), incl. the 500 head of cattle the vecindad gave Micheltorena to cut the rustling; raids so bold *'no hay noche que no rodeen nuestras casas'*; scathing critique of the ~200,000 pesos of customs maintaining… (orig. p. VII:182–188) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-16 · Comandante general Castro (bando militar) — *'Compañeros de armas: una legión de aventureros de los Estados Unidos del Norte han sorprendido la frontera de Sonoma'* — names the prisoners (Coronel M.G. Vallejo, Tte Col Víctor Prudon, Capitán Salvador Vallejo, Jacob P. Leese); denounces the *'atentado sin límites… faltando al derecho de gentes'*; invokes the *'colores trigarantes'*,… (orig. p. VII:234) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-17 · José Castro → Gov. Pico — Appeal for unity: the Sonoma invasion is *'este hecho escandaloso de la política rastrera del gabinete americano… no es mas que el principio de las hostilidades'*; warns 4–5,000 more adventurers will invade; *'Unámonos… Unión y Independencia sea de ahora pª siempre nuestra divisa'*; conjures Pico to set aside *'todo lo pasado'* and unite… (orig. p. VII:235) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-18 · Comandante general José Castro (proclamation) — *'El Ciudadano José Castro… Conciudadanos. La política rastrera de los agentes del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos del Norte… comienzan á invadirlo, apoderándose de la plaza de Sonoma…'* — names the prisoners (M.G. Vallejo, Prudon, S. Vallejo, Leese); calls to defend *'nuestra libertad, la religión verdadera que han profesado nuestros… (orig. p. VII:236–239) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-22 · LA junta (dictamen) — Dictamen on *'las amenazas de José Castro'*: his communications attack all guarantees/rights; since the *'comandante general interino'* with men *'cuyas costumbres inspiran toda clase de desconfianzas'* may approach, arm the district to bar *'estos malhechores'*; accuses Castro of disposing of the department *'á su arbitrio,'* imposing… (orig. p. VII:240–244) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-25 · José Castro → Gov. Pico — [= published record #2] 170 men marching to recover Sonoma; Frémont supposed to bring 400 riflemen; Castro following in reserve; begs Pico to rouse the pueblos or authorize him (orig. p. VII:249–250) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07-01 · José Castro → Gov. Pico — [= published record #3] Extraordinary events kept the 2nd/3rd sections from crossing SF Bay to join Capt. Joaquín de la Torre (Olómpali); de la Torre saved his troop, reunited at San Lorenzo/San Pablo; a Junta de Guerra sends Manuel Castro as envoy; warns of *'una confraguación general en los estranjeros establecidos en el país'*; begs… (orig. p. VII:250–254) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07-03 · José Mª Flores → Gov. Pico — 'Miras de los invasores / Política americana': the adventurers proclaimed *'la destitución de las autoridades y leyes mejicanas… la usurpación completa de California'*; the U.S. consul + warship at SF Bay use *'la simulación y la perfidia como… en Tejas,'* secretly supplying the adventurers; the consul's *'descaro'* in publicly stating… (orig. p. VII:255–256) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07-07 · John D. Sloat (comdr. U.S. naval forces, Pacific) — [= published record #4] Landing orders to the American squadron (in English), bound into the Californio archive: *'We are now about to land on the territory of Mexico, with whom the U.S. are at war… our duty to take California but to preserve it afterwards as a part of the U.S. at all hazards… cultivate the good opinion of the… (orig. p. VII:261–262) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07-09 · John D. Sloat → Gov. Pío Pico — Conciliatory note (in English): encloses his summons to Castro to surrender, his proclamation to the inhabitants, and the pre-landing general order; assures *'not the least impropriety has been committed'*; comes *'in arms with a powerful force… as the best friend of California'*; invites Pico to meet him at Monterey with a pledge of… (orig. p. VII:263–264) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07-11 · Comandante general Castro → Pío Pico — 'Incita á oposición': encloses Sloat's official summons and his own replies; marching south with 160 men to unite with Pico *'pª salvar el país y el decoro del gobierno Nacional'*; *'aun es tiempo'* — the invaders hold only Monterey and San Francisco; urges gathering men, matériel and horses; reports all American emigrants gathered at… (orig. p. VII:266–269) manuscript scan ↗
• 1845-09-18 · (Pico?) → José Castro — Confirms the treasury order suspending Micheltorena's debts; relays Sutter's warning of foreigners entering via the Sacramento and Pico's order to the Prefect to impede 'la introducción de 1000 familias que se esperan del Oregon'; Pico tied up installing the electoral college to elect Senators; the troops have *'desconocido la autoridad… (orig. p. VIII:36–41) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-03-23 · Juan Bandini — 'Proyecto de decreto sobre Misiones' — the operative text of Pico's 1846 mission liquidation. Preamble (verbatim): the mission system was *'una conquista suave, llena de piedad… el simiento de la prosperidad'* but *'debía concluirse'* to raise upon it *'el edificio de la riqueza pública'*; population growth + the colonization laws… (orig. p. VIII:328–334) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-04-22 · Fran.co Figueroa (commission report) — The draft of Pico's 13 May Consejo bando (T7-32): verbatim declension passage (*'no hay administración de justicia… no hay tesoro público… no hay fuerza militar… el mayor abandono… lejos de la fuente madre de los recursos… un porvenir deplorable'*); cites *'las razones vertidas por el Sr Bandini'*; the popular-sovereignty argument… (orig. p. VIII:347–349) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-07 · (Assembly pres. drafts) — Drafts to the Governor: 2 Jul — the dictamen on the Sonoma events; 7 Jul — a copy of the approved colonization dictamen presented by Presbítero Eugenio Macnamara (the McNamara Irish-Catholic colonization scheme) (orig. p. VIII:469–470) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-05-13 · Gov. Pico → José Castro — Reconciliation letter on the eve of the crisis: hopes Castro will join him to combat 'la desgraciada situación del país'; answers Castro's 27 Apr letter; reproaches Castro for provoking the Junta de Guerra; recalls sending Fran.co de la Guerra to invite a meeting Castro 'trató con desprecio'; appeals that both work so 'los pueblos… (orig. p. VII:8–10) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-20 · Abel Stearns → Gov. Pico — 'Noticias alarmantes sobre Castro': on taking office (secret session), reported via alcalde Juan E. Gallardo positive news that José Castro would fall on LA within three days; the Cuerpo resolved to defend the city and inform Pico under reserve (orig. p. VII:12) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-20 · L. Cota (alcalde 2º int.) — Ayuntamiento resolution on city defense: enroll honorable citizens for service; prudent measures; Acuerdo 2º — empowering the alcaldes to defend the city against Castro; enlistment 'hoy mismo'; copy to the subprefect (orig. p. VII:15–16) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-23 · (LA vecinos) — Reglamento for the defense of the city: the vecino force divided into 3 companies — artillery under Miguel Pryor, riflemen under B.D. Wilson, cavalry under Jorge Palomares; a comandante principal chosen by the whole force; subordinate to the comandante general, in accord with the subprefect. Signed M. Requena, E. de Celis, Fran.co… (orig. p. VII:18–19) manuscript scan ↗
• 1846-06-25 · Manuel Castro → Gov. Pico — Military movement & 'recelo de estranjeros': gathered the useful vecindario at Monterrey, marched to Sta Cruz for horses, joined the comandante general at Sta Clara, drew in the San José vecindario and formed the 2nd section now marching on the Sonoma frontier 'invadida por el enemigo'; great fear 'que los estranjeros quieran apoderarse… (orig. p. VII:29–31) manuscript scan ↗

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