[39] Audiencia to the King, December 23, 1789, A. I., 106–4–17.
[40] Montero y Vidal, Historia general, II, 324, note.
[41] For further testimony bearing upon the formative period of the audiencia’s history, see Chapter II of this volume, wherein are described the conflicts attendant on the establishment of the audiencia in the Philippines.
[42] Dasmariñas to Felipe II, June 6, 1592, Blair and Robertson, VIII, 253.
[43] Acuña to Felipe III, July 15, 1604, Blair and Robertson, XIII, 232.
[44] Acuña continued as follows: “If the governors do not consent to this (the appointment of the relatives and dependents of oidores), the auditors dislike them, and seek means and expedients whereby the worthy persons to whom the said offices and livings are given shall not be received therein. Accordingly the governors, in order not to displease the auditors, give up their claims and dare not insist upon them” (ibid., 234).
[45] Acuña further commented on their commercial abuses: “The said creatures and connections of the said auditors trade and traffic a great deal in merchandise from China; and the citizens complain that it is with the auditors’ money (their own or borrowed), and that with the favor they receive they cause great injury to the commonwealth, for they take up the whole cargo. They desire to be preferred therein, and in buying the cloth and in every other way, try to take advantage. If the president wishes to remedy this they do not cease to offer him little annoyances; for the auditors know how to magnify themselves, in such a manner that they give one to understand that any one of them is greater than he; and they attain this by saying that what the president or governor does they can cancel, and that what the auditors decree has no appeal, recourse, or redress” (ibid., 234–5).
Acuña testified that the magistrates had rendered life unpleasant for the residents of the colony, because of their selfishness. He continued: “the resources of this land are scanty, but if there is anything good the auditors also say that they want it for themselves; and when there is a Chinese embroiderer, tailor, carver, or other workman, they proceed to take him.... Such benefits do not extend to the citizens; but rather, if any of these things are available, the said auditors demand them and by entreaty and intimidation get possession of them. It is the same thing in regard to jewels, slave men and women, articles of dress, and other things.... We are compelled to overlook these things, and others of more importance, that we may not experience worse trouble; ... as your Majesty is five thousand leguas from here and redress comes so slowly” (ibid., 235–236).
[46] Their salaries must be preferred, he wrote, “even if it be from the stated fund for the religious orders, bishops, ministers of instruction, and for the military forces, who are before them in order,—they have difficulties and misunderstandings with the royal officials (ibid., 236) ... as the treasury is always straitened (sic), and, on account of the great care which the auditors take to collect their salaries, as it cannot be so prompt as they would wish, they seek borrowed money from the citizens—who give it to them, willingly or unwillingly, each one according to his means or designs. From this follow difficulties, to which they pay no heed; as some of them demand these loans from persons who are parties to suits at the time, who grant these to the auditors in order to place them under obligations, and profit by them” (ibid., 239).
[47] The rebellion referred to here occurred in 1603. It was said to have been instigated by two mysterious mandarins who came to Manila for the alleged purpose of searching for a mountain of silver, which was located near Cavite. On the Eve of St. Francis the Chinese made their attack with great success, owing, the ecclesiastical element claimed, to the personal intervention of St. Francis, who appeared on the walls and led his followers to victory. In this revolt 24,000 Chinese were hunted down and slain. In 1639 another rebellion occurred. A third insurrection of the Chinese took place in 1660. In 1763 the Chinese joined with the British in their attack on the city. It is estimated that Anda, in his campaign in the provinces, put an end to 6,000 Chinese. Another massacre, and the last in the history of the Islands, took place in 1820. This was an uprising of the natives against all foreigners who were thought to be responsible for the plague of cholera then raging (Foreman, Philippine Islands, 108–119; A. I., 105–1 to 10 and 68–1–27).