Something must be done, so, after consultation with some of the more advanced of the padres, the governor issued a proclamation July 25, 1826, announcing to the Indians that those who desired to leave the Missions might do so, provided they had been Christians from childhood, or for fifteen years, were married, or at least not minors, and had some means of gaining a livelihood.  The Indians must apply to the commandant at the presidio, who, after obtaining from the padre a report, was to issue a written permit entitling the neophyte and his family to go where they chose, their names being erased from the Mission register.  The result of this might readily be foreseen.  Few could take advantage of it, and those that did soon came in contact with vultures of the “superior race,” who proceeded to devour them and their substance.

Between July 29 and August 3, 1830, Echeandia had the California diputacion discuss his fuller plans, which they finally approved.  These provided for the gradual transformation of the Missions into pueblos, beginning with those nearest the presidios and pueblos, of which one or two were to be secularized within a year, and the rest as rapidly as experience proved practicable.  Each neophyte was to have a share in the Mission lands and other property.  The padres might remain as curates, or establish a new line of Missions among the hitherto unreached Indians as they should choose.  Though this plan was passed, it was not intended that it should be carried out until approved by the general government of Mexico.

All this seems singular to us now, reading three quarters of a century later, for, March 8, 1830, Manuel Victoria was appointed political chief in Echeandia’s stead; but as he did not reach San Diego until November or December, and in the meantime a new element had been introduced into the secularization question in the person of Jose Maria Padres, Echeandia resolved upon a bold stroke.  He delayed meeting Victoria, lured him up to Santa Barbara, and kept him there under various pretexts until he had had time to prepare and issue a decree.  This was dated January 6, 1831.  It was a political trick, “wholly illegal, uncalled for, and unwise.”  He decreed immediate secularization of all the Missions, and the turning into towns of Carmel and San Gabriel.  The ayuntamiento of Monterey, in accordance with the decree, chose a commissioner for each of the seven Missions of the district.  These were Juan B. Alvarado for San Luis Obispo, Jose Castro for San Miguel, Antonio Castro for San Antonio, Tiburcio Castro for Soledad, Juan Higuera for San Juan Bautista, Sebastian Rodriguez for Santa Cruz, and Manuel Crespo for San Carlos.  Castro and Alvarado were sent to San Miguel and San Luis Obispo respectively, where they read the decree and made speeches to the Indians; at San Miguel, Alvarado made a spread-eagle speech from a cart and used all his eloquence to persuade the Indians to adopt the plan of freemen.  “Henceforth