CRABB'S EXPEDITION.

601

To the ordinary observer, the failure of Raousset and Walker in Mexico appeared mainly due to a lack of prompt and harmonious action; and this being remediable, their projects, so fraught with flattering success and notoriety, continued to find advocates. The acquisition of the Gadsden tract served to open a part of the desired field to gold-seekers, and to renew the belief in a further extension of United States dominion; while the approximation of its borders to the other delectable portion of Sonora held out the allurement of readier access by land, with a near refuge in case of defeat. The continued struggle of factions in the state added to the opportunity; and fired by the brilliant progress of Walker in Nicaragua, the lingering filibuster leaped forth once more. The leader on this occasion was Henry A. Crabb, a lawyer of Stockton, and a prominent whig in the state senate, with decided southern proclivities. The old story of patriotism and farms was by him flavored with the authorized colony plan of his wife's Sonoran relatives and the assumed alliance with some revolutionary party, preferably the strongest. Crabb, as proclaimed general, set out early in 1857 with an advance body of barely fivescore men,37 by way of Yuma, the main body to follow by sea to Libertad. At the end of March he presented himself at Sonoita.

By this time the political aspect had changed in Sonora. The Guandarists had been crushed by Pesqueira, who, victorious, with ample troops to control the state, was not likely to imperil his reputation as a patriot and his position as a ruler by connivance with any filibuster scheme, especially an American one, even if willing to do so under adverse circumstance. He accordingly took prompt steps to drive them out. Crabb, on the other hand, advanced to Caborca to meet the large reënforcements by sea, but which had not been permitted by the authorities to leave California. While thus waiting he was surrounded by overwhelming forces, with artillery, which compelled him after a

37 Including McCoun and Oxley, who had both been in the legislature.

fierce struggle to surrender. The prisoners, 59 in number, were shot in batches, a small rear body was overtaken and cut to pieces, and a relief from Tucson narrowly escaped the same fate.38

This slaughter of capitulated men was for a time hotly denounced in the United States; but it must be admitted that the Mexicans were to some extent justified in seeking by a severe lesson to suppress filibuster expeditions which previous leniency seemed to encourage. The cry for vengeance was invoked chiefly by interested speculators and politicians to provoke the authorities to some action, of which they stood ready to take advantage by preliminary incursions. But the attempt failed, and the lesson proved effective in discouraging unsupported movements. The only approach to such operations was made on the Lower California frontier by local rebels, who sought alternately adherents and refuge on the American side.39 The French invasion of Mexico led to some volunteer enrolments in behalf of both sides, and shipment of arms, with certain discrimination in favor of the Juarists, and the struggle of the Cubans received active sympathy on the Atlantic side. Such acts have, however, been neutralized by the recurrence in recent times of a certain agitation in favor of further annexations, with a consequent revival among HispanoAmericans of odious memories, and of hostility toward Anglo-Saxon.

The filibustering spirit is not dead, as instanced by Soto's recent expedition to Honduras; and it will linger so long as discord reigns. The California gold excitement was peculiarly favorable to it, in opening new fields, in stirring the lust for roaming and adven

38 Details in Hist. North Mex., ii., this series, with ample reference to authorities. In 1855 false gold reports caused a rush of miners to Peru, to startle the South Americans for a moment.

39 Id.

Whose agent, Gen. Vega, figured conspicuously at S. F. about 1864. Id.; Vega, Doc., i.-iii.; Vallejo, Doc., xxxvi., 260. Vega subsequently rebelled, and in May 1870 he sent a steamer to raid Guaymas, levying some $150,000 in goods and funds, besides arms. A U. S. vessel later pursued and burned the steamer. S. F. Call, March 1, 1870, alludes to a mysterious expedition at this time.

!

41

ture, and in massing a horde of reckless brawlers and shiftless unfortunates. The political attitude and neglect of the government gave them cue and encouragement, and the anarchic condition of Mexico. presented an opportunity, while the public tendered approving sympathy and aid, moved by race prejudice, by political tendencies, and by thoughtless admiration for the daring nature of the enterprise and the notoriety attending its achievements, both flattering to national pride. The separation of Texas, so widely held up as an example, had the justifying stamp of a liberation from oppression; but the proclaimed motives of the subsequent imitators were arrant deceptions. The constant disorder and bloodshed in the south, and distance from the scene, made abettors oblivious to the abhorrent crimes involved in these undertakings. They were foul robberies, covered by the flimsiest of political and social pretences, gilded by false aphorisms and profane distortion of sacred formula. Liberty dragged in the mud for purposes of theft and human enslavement; the cause of humanity bandied in filthy mouths to promote atrocious butcheries; peaceful, blooming valleys given over to devastation and ruin; happy families torn asunder, and widows and orphans cast adrift to nurse affliction; and finally, the peace of nations imperilled, and the morality of right insulted.42 The thought of such results should obliterate all romance, and turn pride to shame. They remain an ineffaceable stain upon the government of the most progressive of nations, and veil in dismal irony the dream of manifest destiny.

41 For mere handfuls to declare war against a republic of 8,000,000 people almost surpasses in wild recklessness the advance of a Cortés against the Aztec empire, for he dealt with semi-barbarians unused to steel, fire-arms, and horses, while they moved against equals. Like him, however, they counted on local dissensions and alliances, and more on the attitude of a powerful neighbor.

*2 In the very paucity of the filibuster forces lay a germ of crime, as it compelled them to resort to pillage and intimidation. International law points to warfare as wasteful and uncivilizing when invaders are unable to leave behind them a track of conquered and secured country. The U. S. stands charged with connivance in piratical acts by reason alone of its indifference and neglect to impede or punish them. The chief officials especially have this additional sin to answer for.

CHAPTER XXII.

FINANCES.

1849-1869.

AN EMPTY TREASURY-TEMPORARY STATE LOAN ACT-STATE DEBT-LICENSES AND TAXATION-EXTRAVAGANCE AND PECULATION—ALARMING INCREASE OF DEBT-BONDS-STATE INDEBTEDNESS ILLEGAL-REPUDIATION REJECTED-THIEVING OFFICIALS-ENORMOUS PAYMENTS TO STEAMSHIP COMPANIES-FEDERAL APPROPRIATIONS-INDIAN AGENTS-MINT— NAVY-YARD FORTIFICATIONS-COAST SURVEY-LAND COMMISSION PUBLIC LANDS-HOMESTEAD ACT-EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS-THE PEOPLE ABOVE ALL.

THE legislature which convened January 6, 1851, at San José, found itself confronted with an empty treasury. The Temporary State Loan Act of 1850 had not fulfilled the expectations of its authors, if indeed they had looked beyond the present moment in passing it. The bonds, although drawing three per cent per month, before the close of the first fractional fiscal year ending June 30, 1850, had depreciated to one fourth of their par value. It was urged, to account for this condition of government credit, that the state had no means of liquidation except by taxation, no improvements to afford a revenue, and could not command her resources in public lands. The population and wealth of the country were of such a nature that they could not be reached by taxation, or the tax gatherer. The foreign miners' tax and the capitation tax were fixed too high; in consequence of which they were evaded or resisted, and often no

The failure to collect taxes was the fault of the collector, Richardson. The governor had been advised to appoint M. McCorkle, or some other effi cient person.

IN THE BEGINNING.

605

property could be found to attach. The law made state bonds and warrants payable for taxes, which the treasurer was compelled to receive at their depreciated value. Indeed, the tax-payers purchased them for that purpose, thereby reducing their burdens to the amount of the discount on them; and even the tax collectors when paid in money converted it into bonds which they paid into the treasury, pocketing the difference. The issue, being restricted to $300,000, was soon expended, after which time the state government was kept up without a dollar in the treasury, at a ruinous sacrifice of the interests of those who devoted their time to the public service. The state debt at the end of June 1850 was $371,573.11. After the admission of the state, bonds and warrants advanced, the former selling at auction at from 91 to 95, and the latter at 80, but having a fluctuating value

2

By the 15th of December the state debt amounted to $485,460.28. The excess of expenditures over receipts was $122,179.85. The governor in his annual message to the legislature referred to the pressure brought to bear upon him to convene an extra session in order to pass an act to procure another state loan, and took the occasion to deliver a sermon upon the injustice of laying burdens upon posterity merely to defray the present expenses of government, and without creating with it any public improvements which might help in time to relieve the state of debt, and insisted strongly upon the wisdom of checking the extravagance which the condition of the country in the beginning had fostered. "It occurs to me," said he, "that the most rational, just, and certain means of getting out of debt is to make more, expend less, and borrow none." But when he undertook to point out a method, nothing new was evolved. There was indeed nothing to resort to but taxation. As to pub

Crosby's Early Events, MS., 49; Comptroller's Rept, in Cal. Jour. Sen., 1851, 519, 532; Sac. Transcript, Feb. 28, 1851; Thomas, in Sac. Directory, 1871, 87-8; Cal. Jour. Sen., 1851, 753-4; Governor's Mess., in Cal. Jour. Sen., 1851, 32-3.