Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/215

Rh presumed that he had taken a prominent part in sending memorials from the south in the interest of the diputacion. He protested earnestly against his exile in June and July, demanding an opportunity to return, under bonds, to vindicate his honor; but all he could obtain was permission to move about from place to place on the frontier without returning to California while his case was pending. Nevertheless he did return, as we shall see.

Finally José María Padrés, whom Victoria justly regarded as the leading spirit in the opposition to his measures, was summarily sent out of the territory without form of trial. In all his communications the governor had named Padrés as the cause of the country's ills. Early in the summer he had been sent to San Francisco, where it was thought he could do less harm than at the capital; but he continued his plottings — so believed Victoria — in connection with Vallejo and several young Californians who were living there ostensibly engaged in hunting otter. In October the order for his banishment was issued, and early in November he was sent by sea to San Blas. Ofcourse Victoria had no authority for such an act.

I have thus catalogued the acts of Victoria's