Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/294

276 Orders of the government were for the most part clear, and should be obeyed. The innocent colonists were, however, in no way to blame for the failure of the directors to provide for their welfare, nor for the carelessness of the government in issuing indefinite orders; and for them the territorial authorities should provide in every possible way. The Indians, moreover, ought not to be despoiled of their property – their only reward for a century of slavery — as would be the case if Híjar's original instructions were carried out; and on this point the government should be fully informed. The decision of the committee, approved by the diputacion, and published in the governor's bando, was in substance as in the appended note. Figueroa was to remain gefe político; Híjar was to be recognized as director of the colony, but must not interfere with the missions, and all possible aid was to be afforded to the colonists. The course decided upon was an eminently just and proper one.

Híjar addressed to Figueroa, October 23d, a communication, in which he attempted to refute successively all the positions assumed by the diputacion. This letter, with Figueroa's arguments against each point interpolated between its disjointed paragraphs, fills fifty-four pages of print. Both disputants