Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/20

2 of republicanism, the downfall of the missions, revolutionary movements, the first overland explorations, growth of foreign-influence, the up-building of commercial industry, and the complicated series of political and sectional controversies. At the end of the volume I continue alphabetically the biographical register of pioneers begun in volume ii.

Early in 1825 Governor Argüello received the federal constitution of the Mexican republic adopted by congress October 4, 1824, and addressed to the states and territories on the 6th. It is not necessary to analyze this document here. By it Alta California became a territory, lacking the population for a state; entitled to a diputado in congress, but without the forty thousand inhabitants requisite to give him a vote; yet capable of being erected into a state by act of congress. This organic law made no provision for the government of the territories; and I know not exactly what authority the president had for appointing a governor and allowing the diputacion to subsist; or what authority congress had to make laws on the subject; or further, on what authority the two Californias were immediately united in one territory, or at least put under one governor. The constitution was similar to that of the United States of America.

Before noting the reception of the constitution in the north, it is well to glance at subsequent acts of the national government in behalf of California down to the end of 1825 — and briefly, for in Mexico but slight