tidings of peace; then to a certainty, to a great and moral certainty, California will forever belong to the United States, and we all shall enjoy the blessings of our own constitution and laws. In the mean time it behooves every good man, each in his respective sphere, as far as in him lies, both by precept and example, to preserve the quiet of the country that now so happily exists, and to abstain from all things that might have a tendency to produce an excitement through the country, or an irritation in the minds of the native citizens. Let the Californians when they come under the constitution and laws of the United States, as they inevitably must, be as favorably impressed as possible towards our people and our institutions. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Mr. JOHN GRIGSBY, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 3, 1847. SIR: Your communication of the 20th ultimo, and its enclosure, addressed to General Kearny, was turned over to me unacted upon by that officer when he left here on his return to the United States. In that communication you say: "I deem my title perfectly valid before the Mexican government, but I am desirous that it should be ratified by the United States government, and that I have now the honor respectfully to solicity our excellency's approbation to the same, in order to its perfect security.' The United States can ratify no land titles in California until her laws and courts are established in the country; at present she pretends to the exercise of no right that is not authorized by the laws of nations and the laws of war. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, NATHAN SPEAR, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. San Francisco, California. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 3, 1847. SIR: Your letter of the 10th May, addressed to the governor of Upper California, was turned over to me by General Kearny when he left here on his return to the United States. It is not proper that I should exercise the power of granting lands in California to individuals; that can only be done by the Congress of the United States when she establishes her laws over the country. At present I pretend to exercise no right that is not authorized by the laws of nations and the laws of war. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Mr. GABRIEL ABBISU, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Santa Clara, California. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 4, 1847. SIR: I find among the official papers left here by General Kearny, two communications from you to that officer, dated on the 28th May, to which I have the honor now to reply. The case which you present of the claim of Mr. Oliver to the garden at the mission of San Juan has already been disposed of by my predecessor in office, by his decree bearing date the 22d of March last. The various claims which exist in California to mission property can only be settled by the proper judicial tribunals when they are established in the country. I regret that it is beyond the reach of my authority or power to cause the pension which has heretofore been paid by the gov ernment of California, from the custom-house funds at this port, to be con tinued to Pedro Atillan. The funds now collected at the custom-house in Monterey belong to the United States, and cannot be paid in the way of pension to any person whatever, until that person's name has been placed upon the pension list by an act of the Congress of the United States. I have the honor to be, sir, with high respect and esteem, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Mr. J. S. MOERENHOUT, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 7, 1847. SIR: You will, upon the receipt of this communication, deliver over to Mr. L. W. Boggs, the alcalde at Sonoma, all the books, papers, and records of every description appertaining to the alcalde's office at that place. Be pleased also to turn over to Mr. Boggs all funds or obligations for funds arising from the sale of lots in Sonoma, together with a schedule of all lots that you have sold, and an account current of the proceeds, &c. am, respectfully, your obedient servant, Mr. NASH, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. The late Alcalde at Sonoma, California. NOTE. The original of this letter this day enclosed to L. W. Boggs in the letter addressed to him and dated on the 2d instant. JUNE 7, 1847. Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel first regiment dragoons, United States army, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint William B. Ide land surveyor for and in the northern department of Upper California. Done at Monterey, Upper California, this 7th day of June, 1847, and the seventy-first of the independence of the United States. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 7, 1847. SIR: I have reflected upon the subject presented in your letter of the 6th May, addressed to General Kearny, my predecessor in office. I possess no authority to make or authorize the grants of land in California; my authority here is that of a belligerent, which gives only the right acquired by conquest to establish a temporary government during the time the province is held by a miliary force. Any grant of land that I might make or authorize to be made would therefore be null and void, if, at the definitive treaty of peace, Mexico were to retain California. I do not mean by this that there is the slightest possibility that Mexico will ever again recover California by treaty or otherwise. It being the practice and custom of the country for the alcaldes to sell lots within the limits of their town, as I know is done both here and at San Francisco, you are hereby authorized to carry out so much of General Vallego's instructions from the Mexican government as relates to the sale of lots in the town of Sonoma; the proceeds, after paying expenses, to be applied for benefiting and improving the town. I see that in the instructions to General Vallego above mentioned, as published in the Californian of the 10th of April, the word "grant" is used, and not the word "sell" or "sale." That word "grant," as applied to town lots, I construe, for your guide, to mean the sale of town lots, to sell town lots, town lots sold; and in view of that construction, I have used the word "sale" in the authority above given you. The town lots sold by the former alcalde, Mr. Nash, must stand, as to title, on the same footing as those sold, or to be sold, by yourself. Congress will unquestionably confirm all titles so given when our title to California is made absolute by a definitive treaty of peace, if the title as it stands is not deemed sound and good without such confirmation. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Mr. L. W. BOGGS, P. S.-I have inadvertently spoken of General Vallejo's instructions as instructions from the Mexican government. In this I was wrong. The instructions were from José Figueroa, the governor of Upper California in 1835. June 8, 1847. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 14, 1847. GENTLEMEN: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 5th of the present month, addressed to General Kearny, my predecessor in office. I admire and applaud the feelings of patriotism which dictated your letter. In the present condition of affairs in California, the alcaldes are not "authorities of the United States," nor are they Mexican authorities. They are the civil magistrates of California, and therefore the "authorities of California" within their respective jurisdictions, subject to removal from office by the authority of the governor, and from the circum stances in which the country is at present placed, must necessarily be So. It is so essentially necessary to the preservation of law and order that the offices of alcalde at Santa Barbara should be filled by good men, that I fondly cherish the hope you will continue to California those good services which I know you are so capable of performing. I am, gentlemen, with sentiments of great respect and esteem, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Señores Don PABLO DE LA GUERRA, and Don LUIS CARILLO, Alcaldes at Santa Barbara. Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel 1st regiment dragoons United States army, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint James F. Reed sheriff of the district of Sonoma, on the north side of the bay of San Francisco. Given at Monterey, the capital of California, this 14th day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-seven, and the 71st of the independence of the United States. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 14, 1847. SIR: I should have done myself the honor to have answered your note of the 7th instant at an earlier date, but that it was kept until Saturday by Lieutenant Maddox, into whose hands I placed it, that he might have the opportunity of offering anything he had to say touching the subject to which it refers. The accompanying papers, marked 1, 2, 3, and 4, will show you the lieutenant's version of the subject. It is expected that our Congress at their next meeting will make an early appropriation for the purpose of satisfying the just claims existing in California against the United States. The demands of Richards and Maube will then have to be submitted to such person or persons as may be appointed to adjudicate and pay off such claims. I have the honor to be, sir, with great respect and esteem, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Mr. J. S. MOERENHOUT, MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA, June 16, 1847. Your communications of the 6th of the present month, respecting the recent acts of lawless violence committed in San Luis Obispo, have been received. I have to desire that you will, with as little delay as circumstances will admit, come to Monterey. You will bring with you Vincente Feliz, Francisco Abbisu, and Soluy, who are charged with taking part in the aforesaid acts of violence. You will bring with you Gaudalupe Cantua, Thomas Olivera, and Joaquin Valenzuela, as witnesses summoned by Faustino Garcia and José Rodriguez, alias Letra, who are now in confinement at this place. And I have also to desire that you will bring some three or four witnesses who are thoroughly cognizant of all the facts attending the outrages said to have been committed, whose evidence will be required in prosecuting the investigation which public justice demands against the persons implicated. For the execution of this order, you are at liberty to use the authority of my name, and employ any force that may be necessary. The promptitude with which you have acted in this affair merits commendation. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. MARIANO BONILLA, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. ·Alcalde of San Luis Obispo. To all whom it may concern : Know ye, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel of the 1st regiment United States dragoons and governor of California, do hereby grant unto Colonel José Castro, late commandant general of California, a free passport to return to Monterey, in Upper California, where he will be kindly and well received by the undersigned and all United States authorities. All United States naval officers on the western coast of Mexico and California are requested to aid in facilitating the return of the said Castro to Monterey. Given at Monterey, the capital of California, this 17th day of June, in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and forty-seven, and the 71st of the independence of the United States. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, June 1, 1847. SIR: If there are any muskets or rifles at your post that have been collected from the people living in the southern part of Upper California, they may be returned to such few individuals as you may think can be safely trusted; but be very cautious into whose hands you place them. |