368 CHARACTER OF CALIFORNIA SECULARIZATION OF MISSIONS. 



might be rendered valuable subjects of the Spanish crown. The 

 government well knew that the Spaniards were neither sufficiently 

 numerous nor adventurous in Mexico to throw large bodies of hardy 

 men into so remote a province on the shores of the Pacific, and it 

 was, therefore, imagined that the actual native population of the 

 district might be tamed by religion to supply the place of Christian 

 immigration. 



All the explorers who visited Upper California reported favorably 

 on the character of the country. It was known to possess induce- 

 ments to a profitable trade. The golden east opened its gates in 

 front of it ; and the country was supposed to contain valuable metal- 

 lic deposits which might be slowly and surely developed. But the 

 labors of the clergy did not respond to the expectations of the gov- 

 ernment. The priests were contented with present comfort rather 

 than anxious for future success. The mass of the Indians were 

 brought into a state of comparative vassalage, as we have seen in 

 the chapter on the church of Mexico, and all the most valuable or 

 accessible lands were rapidly absorbed, to the exclusion of hardy, 

 persevering, and thrifty white men. 1 



Although the clergy were the virtual proprietors of the agri- 

 cultural and cattle raising districts, the viceroyal government con- 

 trived to retain a loose and limited control over this district, until 

 the period of the revolution. In 1824, on the adoption of the fed- 

 eral constitution, as the Californias did not possess sufficient popu- 

 lation to become States of the federation, they were erected into 

 Territories, with a right to send a member to the general congress, 

 who, though suffered to participate in debate, was not allowed to 

 vote in its decisions. As Territories they were under the govern- 

 ment of an agent styled the Commandant- General, whose powers 

 were very extensive. 



After the revolution the first progressive step was made by the 

 secularization of the missions. In 1833, under the vigorous lead of 

 Gomez Farias, the salaries of the monks were suspended, the Indians 

 were released from servitude, the pious fund was confiscated, the 

 division of property among natives and settlers decreed, and an ex- 

 tensive plan proposed to fill the country by immigration. These 

 blows fell heavily upon the monastic farmers and herdsmen of those 

 trading churches. The missions were speedily deserted, their edi- 

 fices and establishments decayed, and, near the period of their close, 

 the whole result of this abortive ecclesiastical civilization, was sum- 

 med up in the paltry numbers exhibited in the following statement: 



1 See vol. ii., page 137. 



