Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/550

532 but also for purposes of defence against Mexico, and even as the nucleus of a west-coast navy with which to enforce federalism in the nation! Circumstances changed, however; funds were not too plentiful; and one vessel was deemed sufficient.

Alvarado's position as governor was now temporarily secure. On September 4th he circulated for publication the Mexican decree of December 30, 1836 — nine days after the news of Alvarado's revolt reached the capital — making California a department, authorizing the national government to designate provisionally the capital and the authorities to act until the regular elections could be held; and empowering the junta departamental to divide the department into districts and partidos. Not even yet, though published in the usual form, had this decree been received 'officially,' and for the present nothing was done in consequence of it. Alvarado in later times claimed that he had not before known of the fact that California had been made a department. About the middle of September he returned once more to Monterey.

If Alvarado's position was for a time comparatively secure, that of Vallejo had no longer any foundation to stand upon. He had no claim to the military command, which now belonged to the ranking officer in the territory. The governor recognized this fact in his letters of July; stated that both Portilla and