The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933 Page: 35
328 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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Lorenzo De Zavala in Texas
But as this power can be organized only by means of a convention
which would represent the free-will of the citizens of Texas, it is
my opinion that this step should be taken, and I suggest the 15th
day of October as a time sufficient to allow all the departments to
send their representatives.20
The settlers had long felt the things Zavala so aptly expressed in
his letter. The significance was that his opinion confirmed theirs
and found an echo that soon revealed itself in action. On the
same day that this letter was read before the meeting at Colonel
Lynch's place, General C6s of the Mexican army issued an order
which read in part as follows:
Matamoros, August 8th, 1835:- The commanding General has
already asked of the Political Chief of the Brazos to remit to this
city Senior Don Lorenzo de Zavala; for the arrest you will be
guided by the orders of the Supreme Government, and if not
attended to as required, you will march immediately at the risk
of losing all your cavalry to complete the intended object.21
This order reveals the realization by Mexican authorities of the
danger which Zavala's presence and activity in Texas represented
to their interests. In Texas, news of the order spread rapidly
and was effective in hastening a crystallization of public opinion
against an invasion by the Mexican army. The reaction of the
editor of the Texas Republican on August 19, 1835, is probably
typical. He declared that the order was only a pretence-a blind
devised by the Mexican authorities to introduce military forces
for the subjugation of Texas.22
Nor was Texas opposition to the order wholly the result of fear
of invasion. A convocation of the population of Columbia, which
met on August 15th, adopted the following resolution: "We will
not give up any individual to the military authorities." The
change, of attitude which this indicates was widespread. Texas
would resist Santa Anna, the usurper. It would defend the con-
stitution of 1824, and it would refuse to surrender its leaders to a
ruthless tyrant.
Beside adopting this resolution the meeting also called a con-
sultation of delegates of all Texas for October 15, as Zavala had
"For the entire letter, see Telegraph and Texas Register (Houston),
October 26, 1835; also reproduced in Wortham, History of Texas, II, 283.
21Texas Republican (Columbia), August 19, 1835.
2Ibid.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933, periodical, 1933; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101093/m1/43/?rotate=270: accessed April 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.