CIRCULAR. Your duties as sub-Indian agent have reference more particularly to the "Gentiles" or wild Indians, but they will also embrace the "Neophytes" or tame Indians of the missions and ranches. The latter will be subject to all municipal regulations established by the alcaldes within their respective alcaldias or districts, and also to all local regulations which you may deem proper to establish for the government of these Indianssuch regulations being in all cases reported to the governor for his approval. You will also regard yourself as the protector of the Indians from the ill treatment of their employers, and will take the proper measures to arraign before some alcalde, for trial and punishment, all persons who may be guilty of such maltreatment, or of any improper conduct towards the Indians of your district. In this matter much is left to your own discretion and good sense; and from your knowledge of the character and condition of these Indians, the governor expects that you will do much to induce them to pursue a more honest and industrious course of conduct. It is thought by having a consultation with the leaders of the hostile tribes, or by sending them messages, you may be able to satisfy them of the kind intentions of our government towards their people, and persuade them to a more pacific policy. You will endeavor to convince these Indians that the new government wishes peace with them; that it is willing to forgive all past offences, but at the same time is determined to inflict severe punishment for all depredations which they may in future commit on the inhabitants of the country, whether native Californians or new settlers. Let them understand that while the government will punish them for their depredations, it will also protect them and their property from injury by the whites. Tell them that if any ill disposed person should do them injury they must complain of it to you, and not themselves attempt to inflict punishment, or to retaliate upon the offenders. The government will always be ready to do ample justice to the Indians, and will redress all their wrongs; but it cannot permit them to take this matter into their own hands. In all cases of offence on the part of the whites against the Indians, or of the Indians against the inhabitants of the country, you are the authorized agent of the government for seeing that the culprits are brought to justice. In ordinary cases the offenders should be arraigned before one of the alcaldes of your district for his action in the premises; but in extraordinary cases you will retain the offenders in custody, and immediately report to the governor for his instructions. You are authorized to call upon any military officer near you for whatever assistance you may require to enable you to carry into effect these or any other instructions which you may receive from the proper authorities. It is desirable to collect some correct information respecting the location, numbers, and character of the several Indian tribes within your district; and, from your acquaintance with the chiefs of these tribes, it is supposed you will be able to communicate much that will be valuable and interesting, not only to the authorities of the Territory, but also to the general government at Washington. All statistics of these tribes, their manner of subsistence, their government, their mode of carrying on war, 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, Sub-agent of Indian Affairs, &c., 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. 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 impartial 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, which 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 directed, 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. |