The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 36, July 1932 - April, 1933 Page: 39

Lorenzo De Zavala in Texas

of his troops on the Brazos and hastened to the east with only a
fraction of his soldiers. He reached Harrisburg only to find that
the government had left for Galveston Island on the morning of
April 15.
Zavala, after a narrow escape at Lynch's Ferry, also went to
Galveston, where he remained until April 26, when he returned to
his home after hearing of the defeat of Santa Anna by Houston
at San Jacinto.3
Upon the return of the cabinet, one of the most pressing prob-
lems that faced its members was that of the disposition to be made
of the captive Mexican general. On that question the vote of the
members was divided. After the removal of the scene of activities
from San Jacinto to Velasco on the Brazos, Zavala believed, with
the majority of the cabinet, that Santa Anna should be released
upon his promising to do nothing in opposition to the continuance
of Texas Independence.84
In order to effect his release, as expeditiously as possible, Santa
Anna was to be permitted to go directly to Vera Cruz. It was
planned that Zavala and Bailey Hardiman should accompany him
as commissioners of the Republic of Texas, to negotiate a treaty
with the Mexican Government. One June 1st they boarded the
schooner Invincible; but before the ship could depart some of the
settlers, along with a group of newcomers from New Orleans,
forced Santa Anna to leave the ship and the trip to Vera Cruz
was abandoned.85
For their attitude in this matter Burnet and Zavala were
criticized severely, especially by the newcomers and the army, who
accused them of treason to the Texan cause and-it is rumored-
even asked their imprisonment and death along with that of Santa
Anna."8
Because of this opposition to him, Zavala expressed an intention
of resigning the vice-presidency, but he was prevented from carry-
ing out his intention by the efforts of Austin, Wharton, and HIous-
ton, who returned from the United States early in July. Zavala
did not resign his office until October 21, when all the provisional
"8Ben C. Stuart, Scrap-book (MS.), 252, in Rosenberg Library, Galveston.
"Lamar Papers, I, 529.
'"Bancroft, North Memican States and Texas, II, 273.
8'Cosmopolita (Mexico City), July 13, 1836. Webb, History of Galveston
to 1865 (thesis-University of Texas), III, 45.