On April 22, citing his desire to assist the government in a more active capacity, Zavala submitted the first of three resignations. In the following weeks he would serve as the interpreter and liaison between Santa Anna and the Texas government, particularly during the Velasco treaty negotiations completed May In cabinet meetings he maintained a neutral position on the topic of negotiating with Santa Anna.
When he returned to Velasco he found that both a public and a secret treaty had been ratified and that the cabinet had appointed him and Bailey Hardeman to accompany Santa Anna to Mexico to negotiate treaty of recognition for Texas.
Letter to President Burnet protesting the conduct of the war. Zavala's second resignation letter, Zavala resigned a second time on June 3, after President Burnet gave in to cabinet complaints and army protests led by Thomas Jefferson Green. Although already on board ship for transfer to Vera Cruz, Santa Anna was returned to prison in Velasco and threatened with execution.
Zavala condemned the action stating: "a government that takes orders from armed masses is no longer a body politic. The fiasco at Velasco led to the third stage of Zavala's thinking about his new country. Writing to Mexia, he declared his sense of having satisfied his obligations to Texas, but he was inclined to side with those favoring union with the United States: "for by this action the stability of our government will be assured and because I believe it will be very difficult for Texas to march alone among the other independent nations.
Throughout the rest of the summer he suffered recurrent bouts of malaria. On September 11 he wrote that he expected to be strong enough to attend opening session of the government, but two weeks later, found himself still too ill to attend.
On October 14, President Burnet wrote suggesting that both he and Zavala resign their offices so that the newly elected government could be inaugurated at once.
Since Congress had not accepted the previous two resignations, Lorenzo de Zavala submitted his third and final resignation dated October 17, In his inaugural address Vice President Mirabeau B. Lamar eulogized Zavala:. Through a period of a long life the ex-vice-president, Governor Lorenzo de Zavala has been the unwavering and consistent friend of liberal principles of free government.
Among the first movers of the revolution he has never departed from the pure and sacred principles upon which it was originally founded. This steady and unyielding devotion to the holy sacred cause of liberty has been amply rewarded by the confidence, of the virtuous portion of two republics. The gentleman, the scholar and the patriot, he goes into retirement with the undivided affections of his fellow citizens; and I know, gentlemen, that I do not express only my own feelings when I say that it is the wish of every member of this assembly that the evening of his day may be as tranquil and happy as the meridian of his life has been useful and honorable; a gentleman, a patriot, a scholar and one who loves his fellow man.
On November 15 Lorenzo de Zavala died after contracting pneumonia, the result of a boating accident on Buffalo Bayou.
As for the character of arms I carried, I had a sword with its corresponding sword belt, and a pair of pistols in their respective holsters - That Was all ". Houston's intention had been to engage the Mexican Army on the morning of the 21st of April and consequently, he ordered our men to parade and be ready for the charge, but for some cause or other, that we could not ascertain, the General changed his mind and our Army were ordered to go back to their respective posts.
When in the afternoon of that memorable day, the attack was given by our troops - the General's intention being then totally unknown, I happened to be on the other side of the river, Buffalo Bayou. I had gone over to our house, which you know is right opposite the battle ground, and which had been converted into a hospital for the sick and wounded. My object in going there for a moment was to see a friend of mine who had been mortally wounded the day previous, and who desired to have a talk with me before he died Great was my surprise, when a short time after my arriving on the other side of the river, I saw from my house, our men moving rapidly, as though to engage the enemy.
I immediately crossed over the river without knowing the issue of the fight and joined the Army. The affair was almost over, for it was short work -- The Mexicans fled in every direction.
In fact, had he not acted wisely as he did, we should have, perhaps, been in a bad predicament. General Santa Anna told me afterwards, while a prisoner, that he was allowing some rest to his soldiers to give an assault on our encampment by day break on the following day, that is, on the 22nd, and God only knows how the affair would have terminated as they had the superiority in numbers and their arms were for superior to those carried by our men.
It is always best, in such cases as this, to strike first, such is my way of thinking He the Adjutant General accordingly proceeded and took a quantity of tools, cooking utensils, and in fact everything that could be found except articles that were required and appropriated for the Hospital, which were all the Furniture, Wines and Provisions, and the House was made the Hospital for the Army.
And altho three times that amount was required to place the House in as comfortable a situation as it then was, your petitioner would consider the amount thus Estimated taking into consideration the situation of the Country and the sacrafices due by every Citizen as a full compensation for these losses -- Columbia 12th Decr To Col Jno A.
Written by Louis W. Kemp, between and Please note that typographical and factual errors have not been corrected from the original sketches. The biographies have been scanned from the original typescripts, a process that sometimes allows for mistakes in the new text. Researchers should verify the accuracy of the texts' contents through other sources before quoting in publications. Additional information on the veteran may be available in the Herzstein Library. San Jacinto Museum of History. The Kemp Sketch What is this?
That was certainly true when his former ally, Santa Anna, established a centralized regime suppressing Mexican Federalism. Zavala did the only thing he could to weaken the leader's iron grip: he helped bring about the Texas Revolution. Zavala's political experience and reputation as a principled fighter made him an ideal ally for the Texas cause. Earlier in life, he was jailed for criticizing Spanish rule over Mexico.
And after Mexico's independence was established in , he helped write the new country's constitution. During his time in Mexico, Zavala held many elected and appointed offices.
But in , Zavala's allegiance would shift north. Zavala resigned in protest and headed to Texas. Zavala's new loyalty to Texas was complete. He signed the Texas Declaration of Independence, helped write the Texas constitution, and served as the Republic's first vice president.
In October of , ill health forced him to step away from public life. A month later, on a near freezing day in November, Zavala's rowboat, with him in it, overturned in Buffalo Bayou.
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