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PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAMAR
75 When Genl. Long marched to LaBihia, the post was still under Spa,nish authority. Altho' the Mexican Revolution had been going on for years occasionally successfully in *Mexico, yet Texas a province remote, was still under the authorities of Old Spain. The people here were divided, many in favor of the Revolution, but the Royalists were the strongest; at least if not in numbers, in power for they still exercised official authority. Iturbede was figuring away in Mexico, the champion of Independence. Long consequently on his arival at La Bihia demanded of the Royalists a surrender of the place; he sue- ceded in taking it. The Royal Govr. at San Antonio took Long & his men pris.oners for this act ; sent them to Monterrey &e. The Spanish authority the ViciRoyalty was still predominant in Mexico. Whilst Long was at Monterrey; the Spanish authority was suddenly put down in Mexico; Long petitioned to be sent to Mexico; he wa~ sent; Iturbede was in power; Long was we_ll received; Thus we see- Long take La Bihia from the Royal party; he was sent to Monterrey for punishment; on his arrival there, the power that was so punish him ,vas put down, and the Revolutionary party coming again into power, recd. Long in Mexico with honors- Long however, on his arrival in Mexico found that lturbede, in de. throl\ing the spanish authority in Mexico, instead of establishing fl Republican Govt. as was expected, assumed Emperial power. Long who was as much concerned for the nature of the Govt. to be erected in Mexico, as he was for her Independence, could not brook this Em- perial assumption, spoke very freely of Iturbede & his course; and I think but little doubt remains that he was killed designedly in con- sequence of his knwn feelings concering Iturbede. Trespelacios was the friend of Iturbede. There were two parties; the Iturbede partyi & the Republican party; all however the Revolutionary pa,rty. Th~ two grand divisions of the people were the Royalists & the Revolu• tionists, the latter were now divided, (after having put down the Royalists) some in favor of Iturbede 's assumping Emperial powers; others opposed it. Trespelacios was in favor of it; Long opposed. 76 The fidelity of Trespelacios to his Chief was rewarded by the office of Governor General of Texas; a station which Milam accused him of obtaining by some intrigue with the Regency against General Long; a charge which Trespelacios repelled, and in turn, accusing Milam of having aspired to the office himself, ascribe his hostility to disappointed ambition. There is no evidence that either was right. That Milam neither sought nor desired the office, is evid'ent from his whole course of conduct towards Iturbede, which was marked by decided hostility and disrespect. Nor, is there any just grounds to believe that 'l'respelacios resorted to unjustifiable or improper means to secure the situation, or that he had entertained any feelings of rivalry or jealousy toward General Long. The truth seems to be, that he and Milam had become excited by party animosities and mutually indulged in suspicion and recrimination. 75The following section is in no. 501, p. 77 et seq. *Mexico was from the triumph of Aradondo to the assendency of Iturbed. in power of the Royalists-[note by Lamar] 76The next three paragraphs are from "Y", p. 37.
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