VICE CONSULADO DE ESPANA EN CALIFORNIAS. El infrascrito Ve. consul' de S. M. la Reina de España en Californias, tiene el honor de dirigirse por la primera vez al Exmo. Señor Gobernadór R. B. Mason para ocupár la atencion de S. E. sobre un asunto, de una naturaleza muy desagradable pero que es del debír del que suscribe sometér. El 13 de Junio del año pasado, á consecuencia de ciesto movimiento politico occurrido en Sonoma (que no toca al infrascrito calificár) fué puesto en vigoroso prision el ciudadano español Don José Noviega, en la fortaleza de "Nueva Helvecia," por orden del S. Coronel Frémont y trasmitida al S. Murphy para su ejecution: el hallarse Noviega en aquellos puntos, fué para solicitar indios a su servicio para las cosechas de semillas á que estaban proximas á lerantarse. Ignorando este desgraciado las razonels que pudiesén existir contra él para un tál procedimiento, con la calma que es propia de una conciencia limpia se atrevió, á frequentár; cual era el motivo de su prision? despues de varias amenazas le fué contestado que "por ser Mexicano," á lo que replicó que era una gratuita suposicion; enfin toda observacion fué imítil. Al cabo de 29 dias de la prision mas injusta, con las privaciones mas inicuas, fué con dueido Noviega al embarcadero mas immediato y puesto á bordo de una lancha que lleraba una bandera blanca, con un oso y una estrella dibujados en el centro. Despuer de muchos trabajos, y despues de una ausencia de 50 dias llegó al seno de su familia, la que lo contaba finado, por las noticias que habian circulado de su desgracicuda suerte. Esto es el hecho. La ausencia de Noviega de su rancho en el tiempo mas precioso del año para los trabajos lampestres leha occasionado un atrazo de bartante consideracion, pues á su regreso encontró sus siembras en totál abandono y sus bienes mueblas con mucho que branto; documentos existen en este Ve. consulado que acreditan los justos resentimiento de Noviega. El infrascrito, descansa enteramente en que el gobierno de los Estados Unidos por sus instituciones sábias y liberales no dejará impune una arbitrarieday como la referida, y que los perpucios santo personales como de intereses inferidos á Noviega serán indemnizados con legalidad. Por ahora, el infrascrito, se reducirá, á lo que ha sometido á S. E. el S. gobernador, y se reserra haiér valér el derecho que asiste á su nacional, para la devida indemnizacion y ultrajé cometido, cuyo monto presenhará cuando fueré necesario. A la primera vista pareierá sál vez á S. E., extemporanéo el reclamo, puro permitaséle al que suscribe, adventor á S. E. que no quizo presentár un asunto de esta naturaleza sobre datos frivólos, y per lo mismo le fué preciso lerciorarse de la veracidar de los hechos: esto demanda tiempo y tambien necesario esperár que el goberino se estableciese sobre bases que ofreciesen garantias. Sérvase S. E. el S. Gobernadór. R. B. Mason acceptár los seguridades del alto aprecio con que lo distingue el infrascrito, el que ruega á Dios que la vida, de S. E. Mr. Arños. Santa Barbara, Octubre 29 de 1847. CESAREÓ LATAILLADE, Vice Consul. Exmo. Señor Gobernadór R. B. MASON. [No. 24.] HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DE PARTMENT, Monterey, California, November 13, 1847. SIR: Will you please to inform me as soon as possible whether Captain Wm. G. Marcy, Surgeon Perry, and Assistant Surgeon W. C. Parker, are competent to sit as members of a general court martial for the trial of volunteers, or does the 97th article of war exclude them, because they are commissioned by the President and Senate? Again, can either of these officers, or a regular officer, be appointed the judge advocate of a court martial for the trial of volunteers? At the last moment before the departure of Mr. King, I feel it my imperative duty to urge you to despatch to this country more staff officers, especially quartermasters. Major Swords should at once return, or some officer of equal rank and experience, with two assistant quartermasters; one of whom to be stationed at the Ciudad de los Angeles with Colonel Stevenson, and the other in Lower California with Lieutenant Colonel Burton. The necessity for the services of such officers will be great, so long as military possession is held of the country, and indispensably necessary now, as the revenue is collected by military officers. Captain Folsom is at San Francisco, and, with the custom-house duties on his hands, has as much business as he can possibly attend to. I want very much an experienced quartermaster at these headquarters, to perform not only the duties of the post, but to exercise a general control over the affairs of his department in the two Californias. Major Swords left here with the understanding that he was to return immediately with his family. The peculiar circumstances under which we are placed, the interests of the service, both in an economical and military point of view, imperatively require that these officers should be men of experience, and of the regular army, familiar with the duties of the department and the wants of the service. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, General R. JONES, Adjutant General, Washington, D. C. 1, Richard B. Mason, colonel 1st regiment dragoons United States army, and governor of California, to all who shall see these presents, greet. ing: Be it known that leave and permission are hereby granted to Elliot Libbey, master of the schooner called the Commodore Shubrick, lying at present in the port of Monterey, to engage in all lawful commerce, upon the authority of this paper, until a proper register can be obtained for said schooner from the government of the United States-the said Elliot Libbey having made oath before me that the said schooner belongs to Joseph S. Buchel and Henry D. Cooke, citizens of the United States. Both of said citizens, Buchel and Cooke, are personally known to the undersigned. They are citizens of the United States, having recently purchased the said schooner Commodore Shubrick, and are hereby authorized to hoist on board of her the United States flag, with all the rights and privileges of United States vessels engaged in lawful com merce. The said vessel being schooner-rigged, carrying two masts, with single deck, having a square stern, built at the Society Islands, and of the burden of about sixty tons. Given at Monterey, the capital of California, this 11th day of November, A. D. 1847, and of the independence of the United States the seventy-second. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Regiment Dragoons U. S. Army, Governor of California. 1, Richard B. Mason, colonel of the 1st regiment dragoons United States army, and governor of California, to all who shall see these presents, greeting: Be it known that leave and permission are hereby granted to William S. McKinney, master of the brig Primavera, lying at present in the port of Monterey, to engage in all lawful commerce, upon the authority of this paper, until a proper register can be obtained for said brig from the government of the United States-the said William McKinney having made oath before me that the said brig belongs to Edward A. King, a citizen of the United States. The said King is personally known to the undersigned. He is a citizen of the United States, has recently purchased the said brig Primavera, and is hereby authorized to hoist on board of her the United States flag, with all the rights and privileges of a United States vessel engaged in lawful commerce. The said vessel being brig-rigged, carrying two masts, with single deck, having square stern, built in the East Indies, and of the burden of about one hundred and eighty tons; length eighty feet, breadth twenty feet, depth ten feet six inches. Given at Monterey, the capital of California, this thirteenth day of November, A. D. 1847, and of the independence of the United States the seventy-second. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Regiment Dragoons U. S. Army, HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Among the papers which from time to time I have received from your reverence, I cannot find any one which conveys to you the right to sell any part or portion of the mission lands. I was under the impression that your reverence informed me, when I last had the pleasure of seeing you at this place, that you had furnished me with a copy of such paper; but I cannot find it. The title given by Micheltorena, dated June 10, 1844, expressly prohibits the sale, &c. Will your reverence be pleased to inform me if the Mexican government ever confirmed that title; and, if it did, be pleased to furnish me, if in your power, with a copy of such confirmation, together with a copy of the authority which invests you with the power to sell. I am, reverend father, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. To the Rev. Father JOSE MARIA REAL. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, November 17, 1847. The undersigned has the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the note addressed to him on the 29th ultimo, from the vice-consul of her Catholic Majesty the Queen of Spain." That note has already been forwarded to the United States government at Washington; but the undersigned would suggest to the vice-consul, that before his government can take any steps towards causing reparation to be made to Don José Noviega for the outrages and injuries complained of, it will be necessary for them to be put in possession of whatever evidence that may be, to substantiate the complaint. The vice-consul must be fully aware that it is not in the power of the undersigned to make to Don José Noviega any reparation for the outrages complained of. Lieutenant Colonel Fremont, against whom the complaint is made, is not in California, and the undersigned can do no more than forward the complaint to his government-which he has promptly done-and to suggest to the vice-consul that it will be necessary to substantiate the complaint by evidence. The undersigned offers to the vice-consul the assurance of his esteem and consideration. R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Don CESAREO LATAILLADE, Vice Consul de España, Santa Barbara, California. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, November 15, 1847. SIR: I am in the receipt of your communication of the 2d instant. It is not proper that I should take any action touching the mercantile concerns or claims of a firm in Mazatlan. 1 am, respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Mr. C. M. FLUGGE, Los Angeles, California. CIRCULAR TO COLLECTORS OF CUSTOMS AT THE POSTS IN CALIFORNIA. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, November 17, 1847. The printed extract from the regulations for collecting the tariff of duties on imports and tonnage is herewith sent to you in that shape for the information of ship-masters and merchants. You will therefore give one copy to the master of each vessel arriving in your port. A vessel arriving in your port a second time need not be furnished with another copy. The monthly statement of revenue collected, required to be sent to the War Department, will be forwarded through this office, and you will observe in the printed form of the monthly statement that the column of "value of imports" means the value at the port of entry; and for the manner of filling up that form, see the form as filled up in the printed pamphlet sent you a short time since. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, November 19, 1847. SIR: Your communication of yesterday is before me; in reply to which, I have to say that the product or manufacture of Mexico will be admitted into the ports of California, if brought in American vessels from the ports in Mexico that are in the possession of the United States forces; if such products or manufacture are brought in vessels belonging to any other nation, the vessels are liable to seizure and confiscation. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, R. B. MASON, Colonel 1st Dragoons, Governor of California. Monterey. ROBT. WALKINSHAM, HEADQUARTERS TENTH MILITARY DEPARTMENT, Monterey, California, November 20, 1847. SIR: I have received your letter of the 16th instant, and also communications from various citizens, who, I am told, are among the most respectable in Pueblo, complaining and protesting against the election of Mr. Reed and Mr. Murphy, and denying that they are residents of the town or Pueblo de San José, and that they were declared to be residents by a considerable number who were not themselves known as residents. The persons elected as town councilmen should be elected by the votes of persons who reside within the limits of the town, as marked by the town plat. No one who resides outside of these limits can be a town councilman, or vote for a town councilman, any more than he can vote in San Francisco for a town councilman. A mere transitory residence, a mere sojourning in the pueblo for the |