The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 57, July 1953 - April, 1954 Page: 335

Lorenzo de Zavala and the Texas Revolution

ernment named the previous spring should resign in order for
the recently-elected officers to be inaugurated at once. In this
Zavala acquiesced and on October 17 submitted his resignation
for the third and final time.35 Lamar, upon succeeding to the
vice presidency, paid glowing tribute to his predecessor as the
"unwavering and consistent friend of liberal principles and free
government" and voiced the prayer that the evening of Zavala's
days might be "as tranquil and happy as the meridian of his life"
had been "useful and honorable."38 Lamar's wish was not to be.
Already weakened by months of suffering, Zavala probably would
not have long survived the rigors of the fever-ridden country. His
end was hastened by a boating accident in the San Jacinto oppo-
site his home. Pneumonia developed, and he died on November
15, 1836.37
It is impossible to estimate Zavala's contribution to the ulti-
mate success of the Texas Revolution. His purpose in settling in
Texas seems not to have been the creation of a republic. Once
the Revolution had reached the point where a declaration of
independence from Mexico was imperative, he did not hesitate
to co-operate with his new friends. Once the Mexican army had
been defeated, however, no one realized better than Zavala that
he would have to assume a minor part in Texas politics. Dis-
pleased though he may have been at his relegation to a supporting
role, there is no indication that he ever desired the subjugation
by the Mexican government of the Texas republic he had helped
to create.
asBurnet to Zavala, Columbia, October 14, 1836, in ibid., II, lo66; Zavala to the
Honorable Members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, Zavala's
Point, October 17, 1836 (MS., Papers of the 1st Congress of the Republic of Texas,
Archives, Texas State Library).
36Gulick and others (eds.), Lamar Papers, I, 469.
87Telegraph and Texas Register, November 26 and 30, 1836.

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