222 ELDORADO 



tined soon to be the most wealthy and powerful ? Why 

 should we go abroad for protection when this great 

 nation is our adjoining neighbor? When we join our 

 fortune to hers we shall not become subjects, but fel- 

 low-citizens, possessing all the rights of the people 

 of the United States and choosing our own federal and 

 local rulers. We shall have a stable government and 

 just laws. California will grow strong and flourish 

 and her people will be prosperous, happy and free. 

 Look not, therefore, with jealousy upon the hardy 

 pioneers, who scale our mountains and cultivate our 

 unoccupied plains ; but rather welcome them as broth- 

 ers who come to share with us a common destiny." 



From that time General Vallejo and his friends ac- 

 tively engaged in promoting sentiments in favor of 

 the annexation of California to the United States. Out 

 of gratitude for these services his name is perpetuated 

 in the town of Vallejo, across the bay, which was for 

 a short time the capital of the state ; it being removed 

 to Sacramento in 185 1. General Vallejo ever re- 

 mained a loyal, honored and influential citizen. 



About August 1st, 1847, Fremont, at the head of 

 one hundred and sixty men, embarked on board a 

 sloop-of-war for San Diego, to quell a strongly organ- 

 ized opposition to American occupation of the coun- 

 try, headed by General Castro, Governor Pico and 

 Don Jose Flores. The final defeat and overthrow 

 of this combination (in January, 1847), whose forces 

 extended over a very large extent of country when 

 he had but four hundred men, reflects the highest 

 credit upon the bravery, skill and fidelity of General 

 Fremont, Commodore Stockton and their officers and 



