444 HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA. 



be afforded, so far as the means at my disposal will 

 admit. 



I beg leave, in this place, to add a few remarks on 

 the use which has been, and will continue to be, made 

 of this "civil fund." 



In the instructions from Washington to General 

 Kearnj, in 1846, for his guidance in California, the 

 establishment of port regulations on this coast was 

 assigned to the commander of the Pacific squadron, 

 while it was said " the appointment of temporary col- 

 lectors at the several ports appertains to the civil 

 governor of the province." 



It was also directed that the duties at the custom- 

 houses be used for the support of the necessary 

 officers of the civil government. This division of 

 duties, and this disposition of the proceeds of the 

 customs were continued during the whole war. 

 , On the receipt of the Treasury Department regu- 

 lations respecting the collection of military contri- 

 butions in Mexico, officers of the army and navy 

 were made collectors at some of the ports, but at 

 others the civil collectors appointed by the Governor 

 of California were retained. 



At the close of the war. Governor Mason, for rea- 

 sons already communicated, determined to continue 

 the collection of revenue in the country, on the au- 

 thority which had previously been given to him, until 

 Congress should act in the matter, or orders to the 

 contrary be received from Washington. He, there- 

 fore, as governor of California, again appointed civil 

 collectors in the ports where military officers had tem- 

 porarily performed those duties, and collected the 

 customs on all foreign goods, in accordance with the 

 provisions of the tariff of 1846, while the commander 



