Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/466

448 the former, speak of the governor's immorality in establishing in his palacio a seraglio of Indian girls from San Gabriel; but their chief argument against him is based on his treatment of the diputacion. Not only, according to these gentlemen, did Gutierrez refuse to deliver the office of gefe político to the senior vocal, as was desired and expected, but he insulted that body through its president, sent to confer with him; said he "had no need of diputados of pen and voice while he had plenty of diputados of sword and gun;" and even gave orders to disperse the diputacion by force, so frightening the members that they did not dare to reassemble at Monterey.

The truth is, that Gutierrez, a Spaniard by birth though serving on the insurgent side during the revolution, was an inoffensive, easy-going, unpretentious, and not unpopular man. He was a faithful officer, of moderate ability, and of not very strict morals. He was neither dishonest, arrogant, nor arbitrary in his conduct. As a Mexican officer he was loyal to his national allegiance; he had no right according to the laws and his predecessor's instructions to turn over the civil command to the diputacion; and as a Spaniard he had to be somewhat more cautious respecting his conduct than if he had been born in Mexico.