Tl,e Stmggle for Independence, I835-I836
"Down to the middle of August, with three exceptions, every popular meeting whose proceedings are available manifested a conciliatory dis- position. The people were soothed by the assurance that the government meant them no harm, and an evident effort was made to convince the government that the people were loyal." 10 Zavala, Atestin, and tlee organizatio-n of armed resistance. In the midst of the excitement and indecision there arrived in Texas Don Lorenzo de Zavala, a distinguished Mexican patriot and Liberal. He came with a price on his head, not from Mexico but from France by way of New York. While minister plenipotentiary of Mexico in Paris, he had upbraided Santa Anna for his violation of the Constitution of 1824, and resigned his post in August, 1834. Santa Anna feared the veteran leader of the Liberals more than any other contemporary. 11 Orders for his arrest and return to, Mexico were immediately issued to Mexican representatives in the United States and to all frontier com- manders from Texas to Vera Cruz and Yucatan. The uncompromising champion of liberalism could not be allowed to roam at will. Upon his arrival in Brazoria early in July, 1835, Zavala was received coldly by local leaders in Columbia. Unacquainted with his background or purpose in coming to Texas, the settlers looked with suspicion on a Mexican as their leader in revolt. It was not long, however, before their attitude changed. In the absence of Austin, who had not returned from Mexico, they turned to the distinguished visitor for advice. As a man of the world, a former national public official in Mexico, and a known Liberal, they sought his counsel. He was, accordingly, invited to address a patriotic rally at Lynch's Ferry on August 8. This was the opportunity for which he had been waiting; but now that it came, he was unable to attend. Stricken with malaria, he had to send his message in writing. In emphatic terms he denounced Santa Anna as a traitor to Federalism; l0Barker, Me:r:il:o aNl Tna.r, r821-r835, 156; Dr. N. D. Labadie, "Narrative of the Fight at Anahuac, or Opening Campaign of the Texas Revolution," T/J6 Te:r:a.r Almanac, 1859, pp. 30-36. Uzavala was a hero of the Mexican War of Independence. He served in the Spanish Cortes as representative from Yucatan in 18:ao, helped to frame the Constitution of 1824, was Governor of the State of Mexico, took an active part in the organization of York Rite Masonry, was Secretary of the Treasury, had taken a deep interest in Texas colonization, and had helped Santa Anna in 1832, as he thought him sincere in his liberalism. His resignation as minister to France was a protest against the assumption of dictatorial power by Santa Anna. The best biographical study available is by Raymond Estep, Tl,4 Li/6 of Lormso tu Zavala (Doctoral Dissertation, Univ. of Texas, 1942), Ms.
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