months
of negotiations, peace was signed between Mexico and the United States,
by which New Mexico and New California were to be ceded for $15,000,000
to the United States.* The United States was further obligated to
satisfy the claims to the amount of $5,000,000 held against Mexico by
Texan or American subjects.** The total amount over and above the cost
of the war, assumed by the Americans, was some 106,000,000 francs.
The
exchange of ratifications took place on May 3, 1848. On the fourteenth
of the following August, the American Congress voted to extend to the
people of California the benefits of the laws of the Union. They were
just in time; England was already bargaining with Mexico for
California, and Mexico probably would never have ceded this if, at this
moment as we shall see, the Americans themselves had not been occupying
this country.
While
Generals Scott and Taylor were seizing Mexico, here is what was
occurring in California. In 1845, the white population of CaliÂfornia,
numbering approximately 10,000, had revolted against Mexico and placed
at its head a Californian, named Pico.*** To this movement had rallied
three leaders of the former government—Vallejo, Castro, and
Alvarado.****
General
Micheltorena, governor of the country representing Mexico, marched
against the insurgents.***** On February 20, 1845, he met Castro. The
outcome of this fight was that General Micheltorena was defeated. Pico
was then made governor of California, while Jose Castro was placed in
command of the army. Micheltorena, aware that he was powerless against
such a movement, embarked on an American ship with the officers and
soldiers who wished to follow him, and was taken down to San Bias. At
this same time an order was sent from Congress, directing Commodore
John Sloat to seize Monterey.
The
insurgents, subsequently regarding this country as their own and having
expelled the Mexicans, now determined to defend it against the
Americans.
* The treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; Texas was also included.
* * These claims totalled $3,250,000.
* * * Pio Pico subsequently became the last Mexican Governor of California.
* * * * Mariano Vallejo of Sonoma, Jose Castro, and ex-governor Juan B. Alvarado.
***** Manuel Micheltorena was brigadier-general of the Mexican army and governor of fCalifornia from 1842 to 1845.
