The Papers of Mirabeau Buonaparte Lamar, Volume IV, part 1

PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BtJONAP.ARTE LAMAR

Coss was captured; who had procee<led immediately after the disper- sion of the Congress to Bexar & took possession of that place. At the attack on Bexar, Milam was killed & Grant taking command continued the fight until the place was taken; and was one of the officers who acted in the capitulation, when Coss surrendered. Viesca & Yrala went to New Orleans from Sanphilippi, where they remained until they recd. a pardon from the Governmt. At the time the Congress of Coahuila & Texas was in session at Monclova, (1835) Gomez Farias came to that place in disguise. He had been in Zacateccas,-the Govt. had recd. private information that he was on the road, and Judge Toler was employed to bring him in safety, which he did under an effectual disguise. He remaind con- cealed some 6 or 8 weeks, and delivered himself up to Coss who granted passport to him to go to N. Orleans where he remaind a banished man, in a state of pefect seclusion until Bustamente came into power, where he returned to Mexico. ·- - - - John Durst, from Nacogdoches, & .Jose M. Carbajal were the Dele- gates from Texas in that congress. The middle Departmt was not represented. Viesco, and Grant were residing at Parras, about 30 leagues from Saltillo-They belonged to the Constitutional party- A vote had been taken in 1833 by the people, fixing the Seat of Govermt at Monclover. The organic Act of the Congress of Mexico 10th October 1831 destroyed the Independence of the States and placed all power in the hands of Santana- Under this act, he erected the States into De- partmts and placed over them military governors, subject to his orders. The States had all submitted to this except Zacateccas & Coahula & Texas. Coahula was force into submission by the sword- Santana now turned his attention to the subjugation of Coahula and Texas- Under the organic Law the first military governor apponted by Santana for Coahuila & Texas, was his name not known. He however, on the meeting of Congress was displaced by that body, who immediately installed Viesca into the Executive Chair, who had been but recently elected by the people- Between the time of his taking his seat and the removal of the military Governor, a period of two months had elapsed, during which time two individuals had been placed in office, Jose Maria Cantu, and afterwards M. Borrego-- Congress, (bein,:r of the Fccleratiw party) on first mcetin'.( found the Executive office filled by one of Santana's military Governors- They immediately turned him out, and placed Jose Maria Cantu in office adinterem, who becoming alarmed, resigned, and M. Borrego was elected in his place- Viesca had been previously elected by the people under the Consittuion; and soon succeeded Borrego being- installed as the Constitutin11l Governor- he was installed bPtWPPn th" 1 "- P. '>'> ,l n~il 1835- A firey contest now arose between the Constitutional, and the Central parties. The State became divided- a majority however, of the people & of the Congress, as well as the Governor were of the Con- stitutional party- This was the state of affairs when Coss arrived & put them all to flight- ---------- Santana came into power as a friend of Constitutional Federation; but as soon as he was secure in power he <'Ommenced his secret designs

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