Transcript of Record of Proceedings Before the Mexican and American Mixed Claims Commission with Relation to the Pious Fund of the Californias,; Bei

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...February 1633, which ordained that the missionary monks should abstain from everything that might have the odor of business, merchandize or traffic." In the report of a committee of the.same Junta, dated 13th May 1827, respecting the regulations to be adopted for the government of the Californias, it is said: "Even the order of government with which this delicious country began to be ruled, was original; the missionaries were at the same time civil governors and spiritual fathers: they established the ascending sale of reductions, Missions and Pueblos, but in all of them they were the governors, and the superior of the missions under his bonnet reunited the civil authority, the ecclesiastical and the military; the troops which supported it being subject to his dispositions, so that it would have been nothing strange if the catastrophe should have been repeated which was experienced in Paraguay." Such was the position which the padres occupied in the missions, and such the possession. which they held. They were the governors and administrators of the temporalities committed to their charge, under the political system which was established by law. Their possession was that of the government. In the year 18J4, Manuel Castanares was residing in the City of Mexico, in the capacity of deputy elected to the general Congress for the department of Upper California. Several of bis speeches and communications addressed to the Supreme Government were published in Mexico. In a very elaborate communication which he presented to the Government treating of all the various topics which he regarded as most interesting to his department, dated May 13th, 18-44:, are found in the following observations, treating of the Missions: "There can...