their military weapons and accoutrements-in fine, facts of any kind respecting their history or present condition, will be highly acceptable. In all cases where stolen property is given up by the Indians, or taken from them by your orders, such property will be restored to the rightful owners on your receiving satisfactory proofs of ownership. It is to be regretted that the present state of the finances of the Territory will not authorize the purchase of presents to be given by the Indian agents to the friendly chiefs and tribes; but a supply of such goods having been asked from the general government at Washington, it is hoped that some may be received in the course of the year. You are requested to write frequently to the governor, communicating freely your views and opinions respecting the best measures to be adopted for the government of the Indians and for the security of their quiet and happiness. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers, and Secretary of State Captain J. A. SUTTER, HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, August 16, 1847. SIR: It appears from a letter of William Richardson, collector of customs and harbor-master of the port of San Francisco, dated July 12, that he is unable to collect certain duties of Messrs. Ward & Smith, except in "government orders," (which are understood to be due-bills given by officers and other persons for claims against the United States.) The moneys collected for customs belong to the civil government of the Territory, and cannot properly be used for the payment of the general debts of the United States government. To prevent further difficulties of this kind, it is respectfully suggested that some port regulations be established requiring all duties to be paid immediately on the entry of goods at the custom-house. The collectors have already been instructed by the governor of the Territory to receive nothing but specie, treasury notes, and drafts for customs and fees; but it is supposed to belong to the naval commander-in-chief, rather than the territorial governor, to establish regulations respecting the time of payment, &c. Will you have the kindness to communicate a copy of such regulations as you may deem proper to establish. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. W. BRANFORD SHUBRICK, Commander-in-chief of the naval forces. Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel 1st regiment United States dragoons, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint Don Mariana G. Vallejo and J. A. Sutter, both citizens of California, and sub-Indian agents, special commissioners or judges to hold a court at or near Sutter's Fort, on the Sacramento, at such early day as may be most convenient, for the trial of Antonio M. Armijo, Smith, (commonly called "growling Smith,”) and John Eggar, each and severally charged with the murder, as well as the capturing and carrying off in slavery, of several peaceable Indians, some time about the latter part of June or early in July, 1847. Done at Monterey, California, this 19th day of August, 1847, and the 72d of the independence of the United States. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Know all men by these presents, that I, Richard B. Mason, colonel 1st dragoons United States army, and governor of California, by virtue of authority in me vested, do hereby appoint J. D. Hunter a sub-Indian agent for the Indians in the lower district of Upper California. Given at Santa Barbara, Upper California, this 1st day of August, 1847, and the 72d of the independence of the United States. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, August 19, 1847. GENTLEMEN: I herewith enclose you a commission for you to hold a special court for the trial of Armijo, Smith, and Eggar, each and severally charged with committing the outrages upon the Indians north of Sutter's Fort not long since. I desire that you will cause a jury of twelve good men to be empannelled for their trial. The jury, after having pronounced upon their guilt or innocence, will, if guilty, pronounce sentence. I desire that you see the accused persons have a full, fair, and impar tial trial; that the jury, witnesses, and interpreters be all properly sworn; and that a full and fair record be made of each trial, which you will be pleased to forward to me for my further action, together with your views and recommendations in the respective cases. Enclosed are charges upon which the prisoners are to be tried, copies of which be pleased to furnish them in due season, to prepare themselves for trial. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, General M. G. VALLEJO R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. and Captain J. A. SUTTER, Sub-Indian Agents, Upper California. CIRCULAR. STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA, Monterey, August 19, 1847. SIR: You have been appointed collector of customs and harbor-master for the port of The commander-in-chief of the naval forces having been authorized by the President of the United States to establish port regulations, to prescribe the conditions under which American and foreign vessels may be admitted into the ports of California, and to regulate the import duties, you will be governed in respect to these matters by such rules and regulations as that officer may deem proper to establish. The governor of the Territory directs that you receive for customs and fees nothing but specie, treasury notes and drafts, whith at the end of every quarter you will turn over to the authorized receiver, and settle with him all your accounts. The receipts of such authorized receiver will be for you full and sufficient vouchers. The receiver has been direeted, after settling and auditing your accounts at the end of each quarter, to pay to you the amount of your quarterly salary, provided revenue to that amount be collected and received in your office, the authorized expenses of the office being first paid. In case of any attempt to smuggle, you will immediately give information to the nearest naval and military officer, and report the circumstances to the governor for his instruction. You will make out at the end of each quarter, quarterly returns of all imports and exports; a quartely return of all vessels arriving at and sailing from the port; a quarterly account current of customs; and a quarterly abstract of disbursements, with accompanying vouchers. These papers will be made out according to the accompanying blank forms, in duplicate, one copy of which will be filed in your office, and the other turned over to the authorized receiver, to be transmitted by him to the governor of the Territory. Enclosed herewith is a copy of a circular of this date, to the receiver of customs. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers, and Secretary of State for the Territory of California. CIRCULAR. STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA, Monterey, August 19, 1847. SIR: You have been appointed to settle and audit the accounts of the collector and harbor-master of the port of You will settle the accounts of said collector at the end of every quarter, receiving from him all funds in his hands arising from customs. Before auditing these accounts, you will compare them with the entries on the custom-house books of the port, and see that the proper amounts of duties have been collected on all goods entered at the custom-house. After having audited the accounts of the collector at the end of each quarter, you will pay him the amount of his quarterly salary, provided funds to that amount, collected and received by you from the revenues of the port, remain in your hands after the authorized quarterly expenses of the collector's office have been paid. When the same officer is appointed to settle and audit the accounts of two or more collectors, the receipts and disbursements for each port will be kept separate and distinct, so that if there be not sufficient funds for the full payment of the collectors, each collector may be paid the money actually accruing from the receipts of his office, as specified in the letter of his appointment. When there are not sufficient funds at the end of any one quarter for paying the full quarterly salary of the collector, the deficiency will be made up at the end of the next following quarter in which there shall be sufficient funds derived from the custom-house revenues remaining in your hands for that purpose. In case the collector should fail at the end of each quarter to settle his accounts, or to turn over to you all public moneys in his hands, you will withhold the payment of his salary, and immediately report the circumstance to the governor of the Territory for his instructions. The funds received from the collector of customs will be reported by you separate and apart from all other public funds in your possession. They are to be used for the civil government of the Territory, and will be paid out only upon the written order of the governor. You will transmit, at the end of every quarter, an account current of the civil funds in your possession, and an abstract of disbursements, with the proper vouchers, for all your expenditures. You will also transmit the quarterly reports and other papers of the collector, seeing in all cases that they are made out according to the instructions received by him from the proper authorities. Enclosed herewith is a copy of a circular to the collectors of customs, and also blank forms for returns, &c. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers, and Secretary of State for the Territory of California. STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA, Monterey, August 20, 1847. SIR: It appears from the records of this office that Captain Richardson was appointed collector of the port of San Francisco on the 28th of September, 1846. You will please ascertain if his accounts have been settled, and his salary paid from that date. John Vioget is one of Captain Richardson's securities for the amount of twenty thousand dollars on his bonds. Will you make the proper inquiries to ascertain for what amount Mr. Vioget is reputed good, and report to the governor? After reading the enclosed papers for the collector of the port, you will turn them over to Captain Richardson. Please to impress upon his mind the importance of immediate and strict compliance with the directions therein contained. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers, and Secretary of State Captain J. S, FOLSOM, Assistant Quartermaster, San Francisco, California. STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA, SIR: The governor of the Territory directs that you will immediately make out and turn over to Captain Folsom your quarterly returns and other papers, for the quarter ending June 30, 1847, in accordance with the accompanying "circular" and blank forms. Your quarterly returns and accounts will hereafter be made out and forwarded immediately after the close of every quarter. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers, and Secretary of State for the Territory of California. WM. RICHARDSON, Collector, &c., &c., San Francisco, California. STATE DEPARTMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF CALIFORNIA, SIR: I am directed by the governor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 10th instant, with your account current of customs for the second quarter of 1847, and the enclosed vonchers. The governor directs that you will examine the accounts of the collector of the port of San Pedro, back to the date of his first appointment after our occupation of the country, in order to ascertain for what purposes the funds of the custom-house have been expended, and see if he has turned over to you all moneys due the government. You will report to the governor the result of your examination. After reading the enclosed papers for the collector of the port, you will turn them over to Mr. Alexander. Please to impress upon his mind the importance of immediate and strict compliance with the directions therein contained. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. HALLECK, Lieutenant of Engineers, and Secretary of State for the Territory of California. Lieutenant J. W. DAVIDSON, A. A. Quartermaster, Se., Los Angeles, California. |