280
WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1859
Honor in his act of corrupt oppression, in depriving Mussina of his appeal in the Cavazos case. But I will now revert to the course taken by the parties, League, Treanor, and Parker, in their mission to Mexico, with respect to the power of attorney. The three proceeded together as far as Monterrey, about seventy miles from Saltillo; and from the for- mer place, as if the movements of the party were again deter- mined by the old anxiety to avoid notoriety and attention, Treanor proceeds alone to the seat of operations. On reaching Saltillo, it might be supposed that he would at once have consulted the archives in relation to the power of attorney. But instead of exhibiting an honest purpose, by proceeding at once to the ar- chives, and comparing the copy which he held with the original, directs his steps, first to the house of Gonzales, a former alcalde of the place, an old man, partially blind, he exhibits the important document to him, and prompts him to give an opinion of its genuineness. A quarter of a century had elapsed since the docu- ment purports to have been made. The old man naturally sug- gests that he will go to the archives-of course, to examine the original. Mr. Treanor's reply is, that he does not wish this; and suggests as a reason, "that the proof was to be taken, not for a Mexican, but for an American court." Subsequently, he (Trea- nor) does examine the archives; he goes there alone; and it appears, for another purpose than that of examining the original of this power. And in answer to the inquiry, if he had found anything there corresponding with the copy or testimonio which he held, and whether he compared them, replied, "I compared them not ve1·y particularly, but-I saw they were very nearly equal." Not very particularly. Why not? The matter of this power of attorney was the sole object of his mission to Saltillo. "Nearly equal'' to the testimonio. Such is his testimony before the committee of investigation. Strange, indeed, that Judge Watrous and his astute counsel did not think proper to ask the witness (their witness) in what respect the original and the testimonio differed. The proofs of the forgery were too plain. Treanor did not dare to take the deposition of old Gonzales, before the authorities of Saltillo, as in such a case, according to the law of Mexico, the officer taking the deposition would have been required to give notice to La Vega and other parties, whom it was his object to keep in utter ignorance of his machinations. It therefore became necessary to take Gonzales away. But it was found the old man was not willing to leave. Here Hewitson,
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