Why did Californias first rebellion against a Mexican governor originate in San Diego?
In 1830 the Mexican central government appointed Lt. Col. Manuel Victoria to succeed Governor Echeandía as the jefe político of Alta California. From the start Governor Victoria was not popular with many San Diegans. He removed the territorial government from the presidio and went to live in Monterey where his actions were influenced by the norteños. As feared, Victoria represented the Centralist anti-democratic, pro-church factions that were then resurgent in Mexico. For the next few years the Californios from San Diego secretly, then openly, led a movement to remove Governor Victoria from office. Juan Bandini, a Peruvian immigrant who had come to San Diego in the 1820’s was perhaps the most active leader of the anti-Victoria movement. In San Diego Bandini wrote an eloquent protest against the governor’s high- handedness on October 10, 1831. This was perhaps the first such piece of protest literature produced in California. Other prominent San Diegans shared Bandini’s sentiments. José
