464
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Senor Zavala was the friend of religious liberty, and presented to Congress a proposal for a law to secure it- This measure caused him all his misfortunes. On the policy of taking such step, he consulted Santa Anna, who gave his approbation of the measure, and promised to sustain the same under all circumstances; but he was far from com- plying with the promise, as will be seen in a very short time.- In the United States this principle is well understood-that religious despotism and civil liberty can not exist in the same government; and a people which neither sees nor feels this truth, is incapable of com- prehending or defending their rights. Senor Zavala seems to have been almost the only man who appreciated this important truth; and believing that a favorable period had arrived for liberating the Country :from the despotism of the Church, and establishing the right to think, :speak and write, on religion, as freely as on the principles and measures ,of civil government, he presented to Congress the above mentioned pro- -posal, with the expectation of being sustained in his course by Santa Anna ; but this traitor instead of fulfilling his promise abandoned his friend and his cause, and united himself with the sacerdotal party. 'The army marched before the door of the church where it was ordered to kneel before the picture of Our Lady of Guadalupe and to swear to ,defend the interests of the Church. An order soon followed on this ,event for the arrest of Zavala, who having notice of his danger, fled to the mountains for safety. But Zavala could not be persecuted with impunity; because the people liked him too much; and would not per- mit it. The man who had begun the Revolution of the Acordado, still had sufficient power to be feared; and although he had failed iJl effect- ing his own object, he could still embarrass his enemies in their am- bitious views.- When his flight from the city was made public, the indignant populace rose clamorous for his return; so much so that his enemies judged it best to permit him to resume his seat in Congress.- It was evident that these two men could never live in harmony; and in order to get rid of an enemy intrepid and inflexible, Santa Arma appointed Zavala as Minister to France.- Zavala was not ignorant •Of the motive which dictated this measure. He well knew that he was .sent to that country in exile; but being placed between two alternatives, to go to France or to lose his head, as a wise man, he chose the former; and left without delay. A little after arriving in Paris, he despatched .a letter to Santa Anna concerning the affairs of :c\Iexico, and he con- ,eluded it by resigning his station as .:\linistcr, saying that he would not have any office under a man whose corn1uct he could not uphold. Santa Anna then ordered him to return to Mexico, with secret views ·of punishing him; but Zavala was wise enough nC\J; to obey; and in place of going to Mexico, he embarked for New-Orleans; and from there to Texas, where he commenced his new career, which, though brief, was bri1liant, and brought honors to himself as well as useful- ness to the country.- When Seiior Zavala was in Paris as minister, the King of France asked him, respecting the political condition of :c\Iexico. Zavala re- plied that the country was tranquil and happy.- "Yes, Seiior"-said the King-"they are happy and harmonious now but how long will they remain?" speaking jokingly to Sefior Zavala concerning the fre- quent revolutions in his country. iiavala responded thus.-"by experi-
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