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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
in war.- On the contrary, it is the duty of:.the government to have recourse to it whenever there may be some well-founded reason for believing that it will have the effect of preventing cruelty and crime, and holding war within its own proper and legal bounds, and without doubt this principle could not be applied or practiced with more pro- priety and justice than against the one who lends himself as an in- strument of a tyrannical government in order to carry out his infernal purposes. At this point, as if by silent consent, we dropped the subject and spoke of other matters less personal and more agreeable to both parties. Having finished our conversation I said good day to the prisoner and left for home. This was the last meeting between us with the excep- tion of one other which took place near the village of Columbia, where the government had been moved, likewise the prisOJ1er. While Congress was holding its first session in that village, I was visited late at night by Mr Stephen F. Austin presenting the respects of Santa Anna and supplicating me in his name to go to see him that very night as he had some important matters to discuss with me. At first I asked Mr. Austin to please excuse me for it was very late and the weather bad; but being informed by Austin that he as well as Santa Anna desired me to go, I consented at once to accompany him. Upon arriving at the lodging of the prisoner we (l\lr. Austin and I) found him in good humor although he had been anxiously awaiting ,our arrival. Very soon his purpose was expressed. It was nothing but to move me to compassion by his supplications and to persuade me to exercise my influence in favor of his being set free, directing a letter fo the Army which was then the principal obstacle to his leaving the ,country. It would be useless to state the various arguments that the unfortu- nate general employed on tp.is occasion in order to secure my favor, since it would be only a repetition of those he had used many times before. Suffice it to say that the hope which he had for carrying out his object with me was founded on the consideration that on his arrival in l\Iexico he would immediately recognize the Independence of Texas and establish the Rio Bravo from its mouth to its source as the national boundary between the two countries. I listened to him with due at- tention, and when he had finished his discourse which was somewhat long and animafed, I answered in the following manner, which was in substance, that without doubting his word or having any lack of con- fidence in his desire to comply faithfully with his promises that I could do no less than suggest that on his return to Mexico he could not verify it, however much he might be disposed to fulfill his word and to do all that honor might demand, nevertheless, it was more than prob- able that the power to carry out his desires would be lacking to him. because it was well known that the sentiments of the Nation were opposed to the recognition of the intlependence of Texas and that any treaty whatsoever made with him with this purpose in view would not receive the ratification of Congress, without which no treaty would be valid or have force. He made light of this difficulty and disposed of it in a summary manner. These are his most memorable words. "The Army," he said-"is the government of l\Iexico, and I am at its head."- "Do not speak thus"- I said to him- "When in Velasco you en-
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