Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/124

 there, under the influence of his wound, until the fall of 1836, not idle, but exercising constant vigilance, while the country was excited from a quasi state of martial law.

On the 14th of May, the Cabinet, perceiving that the views officially communicated to General Rusk by General Houston were based on the highest and soundest principles of policy, humanity, and justice, in the main adopted them, and made a treaty with the Mexican President.

On the first of June, President Burnet and his Cabinet were still at Velasco. The Texan schooner Invincible was anchored off the bar, in sight of the town, with Santa Anna and suite on board. Sailing orders had been issued to the vessel to proceed to Vera Cruz. Under these circumstances, Santa Anna wrote the following farewell to the Texan army:

"My Friends: I have been a witness of your courage on the field of battle, and know you to be generous. Rely with confidence on my sincerity, and you shall never have cause to regret the kindness shown me. In returning to my native land, I beg you to receive the sincere thanks of your grateful friend. Farewell.

Aut: "

"Velasco, 1st June, 1836."

All the circumstances indicate that the Mexican President meant at that time, while feeling that he was a free man, on board of a vessel under sailing orders, faithfully to fulfill the pledge involved in this brief address. Whatever was his subsequent history, he was manifestly in earnest at this period.

Just, however, as the Invincible was sailing, a General arrived at Velasco with several hundred volunteers from the United States. Never having participated in the Texan struggle, with no authority to order even a drum beat in Texas, he declared that the Invincible should not lift her anchor, and that Santa Anna should be tried and executed. General Lamar (in a voluminous paper) had already protested against his release, and popular feeling ran in the same current.

Although the treaty had been signed, sealed, and delivered, and Santa Anna had it with him on board the Invincible, and the vessel was under sailing orders, the President ad interim, yielding to the clamor for a violation of public faith, countermanded the sailing orders, and sent a requisition on board for the Mexican President. Aware from the day of his capture that popular feeling ran high against him, and believing that his life would be in danger among those who would violate a solemn treaty, he resolutely refused to go on shore. The next day the order was repeated, and with similar result.