162 CALIFORNIA. 



Previous to the year of the revolution by which California was sepa- 

 rated from old Spain (1823), the whole country may be said to have 

 been under the rule of the missions, and the padres who were at their 

 head had acquired a vast influence over the Indians, as well as amongst 

 the soldiery who were placed in the presidios as the guards and pro- 

 tectors of the missions. There were twenty-one missions, and only 

 four presidios. The power of the governors was usually rather nominal 

 than real, and the troops, from being totally neglected, were dependent 

 upon the missions almost for their daily bread. Fortunately for the 

 country, the padres and rulers of the missions were men well adapted 

 for their calling: good managers, sincere Christians, they exerted a 

 salutary influence over all in any way connected with them, practising 

 at the same time the proper virtues of their calling, in order more 

 effectually to inculcate them upon others. These reverend men were 

 all old Spaniards, and greatly attached to their king and country. When 

 the revolution broke out, they declined taking the oath to the new 

 government : many, in consequence, left their missions and retired from 

 the country, and some of the others have since died. 



Thus, at the same time with a change of rulers, the country was 

 deprived of the religious establishments upon which its society and good 

 order were founded. Anarchy and confusion began to reign, and the 

 want of authority was every where felt. Some of the missions were 

 deserted ; the property which had been amassed in them was dissipated, 

 and the Indians turned off to seek their native wilds. 



At the time of the separation from Spain, a Californian, by name 

 Arguello, was governor. On his being appointed to that office, one 

 Noniga, a Spanish officer, disliking to be commanded by a Californian, 

 attempted to oppose him. In order to silence this opposition, Noniga 

 was put in command of the presidio of Santa Barbara, where, owing 

 to his misconduct, he was soon dismissed, upon which he again sought 

 to excite the Mexicans against the California ns, and to impress them 

 with the same deadly hatred which he himself felt. With this intent, 

 he omitted no opportunity to represent the actions and conduct of the 

 Californian authorities in the most odious light. 



The government of Mexico saw the evils that they had occasioned, 

 when it was too late, and set about remedying them, as well as to fill 

 the vacancies that had occurred. For this purpose, they were disposed 

 to consult the old padres, and offered those who remained, the choice 

 of the northern or southern section, that they might be united in a body. 

 The old Spanish priests chose the southern missions ; and the few esta- 

 blishments which lie to the north of San Miguel, were assigned to those 

 from the college of Xacatecas, in Mexico. 



