Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/503

Rh from Mexico, is not recognized. 2. The electors at the proper time will come 'to this capital' and proceed to elect a diputacion according to law. 3, 4. Until the new diputacion meets, the ayuntamiento of this city will be the chief authority, but will turn over the command to the first vocal according to law. 5. All to be submitted for approval to the supreme government. San Diego was filled with joy at the receipt of this plan on the 7th, and gladly promised support, though article 1 was deemed by the ayuntamiento not strong enough, and article 3 was feared to be illegal. The election was to be on the 29th, before which date several things happened, as we shall see.

I have before me several communications, private letters for the most part, written by prominent men in November and December 1836, which deserve notice here, as throwing much light on this southern complication. Three of these papers are from the pen of Castillo Negrete, who, as we have seen, tarried a little in the south on his way to Mexico. The first is a letter of advice, dated at Santa Bárbara November 18th to Lieutenant Domingo Carrillo, comandante of the post, respecting his duty in this emergency. After being duly instructed about the Monterey iniquity, Carrillo was counselled to give his men an unlimited leave of absence until recalled to service in the name of the nation. All arms should be secreted, that they might not fall into rebel hands. The troops might however legally venture to aid the municipal authorities in preserving order, always providing the