30 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



re J, and liaving landed, marched for the Mexican 

 camp. When he arrived witliin twelve miles of the 

 Mexicans, they fled in small parties, in different direc- 

 tions. Most of the principal officers were afterwards 

 taken, but the mounted riflemen not getting up in 

 time, mo3t of tlie men escaped. On the 13th of^ 

 August, Commodore Stockton being joined by eighty 

 riflemen, under Major Fremont, entered the capital 

 of California, Cuidad de los Angeles, or the 

 "City of the Angels." Thus, in less than a month 

 after Stockton's assuming command, the American 

 flag was flying from every commanding position 

 in California, conquered by three hundred and sixty 

 men, mostly sailors. 



The form of government established in California, 

 after the conquest, was as follows : The executive 

 power was vested in a governor, holding office for four 

 years unless sooner removed by the President of the 

 United States. The governor was to reside in the 

 territory, be commander-in-chief of the army thereof, 

 perform all the duties of a superintendent of Indian 

 affairs, have a pardoning and reprieving powTr, com- 

 mission all persons appointed to office under the laws 

 of said territory, and approve all laws passed by the 

 legislature before they took effect. There was the 

 office of the Secretary of the Territory established, 

 whose principal duty was to preserve all the laws and 

 proceedings of the legislative council, and all the act? 

 and proceedings of the governor. The legislative 

 pov/er was vested in the governor and a council of 

 seven persons, who were to be appointed by the governor 

 at first, and hold their office for two years ; afterwards 

 they were to be elected by the people. All the laws 

 of Mexico, and the municipal officers existing in the 



