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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
the sufferings_ incident to such a perilous and protracted journey, he at length arrived upon the Nuetral Ground, where he immagined he would be safe from the further persecutions of his enemies. Not so however; his dangers were not yet over; for Salcedo, obtaining infor- mation of his movements, had dispatched a set of assassins to intercept him on the confines of the two countries. These miscreants, true to their purpose as hell-hounds, dogged his footsteps to the domicil of a Frenchman who lived on the Bayou Piere, where Guiterez had stopped for the night. Whilst the unfortunate adventurer was congratulating himself on the dangers past, and rejoicing in his present security, he was violently assailed by his persuers, fifty in number, whq succeeded in kiiling three of his men, and putting the ballance to flight. Guiterez: himself, being in be<l and having no time to apparel himself, escaped in his dishabille with the total loss of every thing, his papers, money, arms and clothing, which were all born [e] away by the enemy. In this deplorable condition he reached Natchitoches, where he was kindly received, and met with many friends to his cause. Leaving Monchaca at Natchitoches, to gather recruits, our adven- turer departed for Washington City, going by the way of New Orleans, where he was furnished with flattering letters to the Governors of the several States through which he would have to pass, as also to the Secretary of war, and other meml:iers of the Cabinet. On arriving at the Capital, he was received in a manner entirely satisfactory to him- self, and was much gratified to learn that the Government had been previously apprised of the object of his visit, as well as informed of the misfortunes which had befallen him. But when he unfolded his views, and made known the expectations which he indulged, he was much surprised to find that with every feeling in favor of his cause, the gov- ernment was wholly indisposed to render the aid which he desired. He was told that he was now in a free country where he was at liberty to, make whatever purchases of arms and amunition that he chose, and to, proselyte as many of the people as he could to his cause and take them with him; but that the government of the United States, being at peace with all nations, and unwilling to envolve itself in the civil quarrels of any, could not entertain the idea of violating a neutrality which it was its policy to preserve, for the mere gratification of private par- tialities and individual sympathies. Upon the score of policy, Guiterez conceived it to be decidedly the interest of that government to aid in effecting the Independence of his country, inasmuch as the US would be able, in consideration of such assistance, to secure by treaty a monop- oly of the commerce of Mexico, which was rich and vast, and the fruits of which, if not gathered by the American Nation would go to swell the power & grandeur of her ambitious rivals. Besides, he urged the remembrance of the aid which she had obtained from France during her Revolutionary struggle. Mexico was now suffering in a similar cause; and for the United States, said he, to render to her the same assistance which she once solicited and received, would not only be a high manifestation of gratitud~ to Providence, and the best return to France, but it would lead to the spread of her free institutions over the whole continent of America, and she would have the glory and proud satisfaction of beholding the inhabitants of one fourth of the globe, prosperous and happy in the liberty which she had imparted.
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