Page:Life and Select Literary Remains of Sam Houston of Texas (1884).djvu/125

Rh With several armed men, Gen. Green, on the afternoon of the 3d of Tune," visited the Invincible (Foote, 2d vol., p. 342) for the purpose of bringing off the Dictator, dead or alive. Like a brave man, Santa Anna remonstrated against the breach of faith, and declared that he would die before he left." "All this time," says Gen. Green (Foote, 2d vol., p. 343), "he lay on his back in his berth, and his respiration seemed to be exceedingly difficult." Gen. Green ordered him to be put in irons. "When the irons were brought within his view, the prisoner immediately jumped up, adjusted his collar, put on his hat, and stated his readiness to accompany us." Gen. Green acted in obedience to popular impulses, and the world sympathized with the universal execration of the massacres of the Alamo and Goliad. But the conduct of Santa Anna at least for once in his life, was at this time worthy of admiration. A defenceless prisoner, with a score of bayonets or bowie-knives at his breast, he surrendered at discretion to the violators of a treaty. He was not the first to violate the treaty of the 14th of May.

Of this event, he said:

"I had embarked on the Texan schooner of war, the Invincible, on the first of June, after addressing a short farewell to the Texans, wherein I thanked them for their generous behavior, and offered my eternal gratitude. And I protest (fifthly) for the violence committed on my person, and abuse to which I have been exposed, in being compelled to go ashore, merely because 130 volunteers under the command of Gen. Thomas Green, recently landed on the beach at Velasco, from New Orleans, had with tumults and threats demanded that my person should be placed at their disposal, which took place on the very day the Government received from Gen. Felisola the answer that he had strictly fulfilled what had been stipulated in the treaty Under these circumstances, I appeal to the judgment of civilized nations, to the consciences of the 'citizens who compose the Cabinet, and, above all, to the Supreme Ruler of the destinies of nations, who has placed the existence and happiness of nations on the faith of treaties, and punctual fulfillment of engagements."

Gen. Houston, when informed that the constituted authorities had been compelled to yield to popular clamor, declared, "I would have regarded the faith of the nation under any circumstances, and before the mob should have laid hands on Santa Anna, they should have first drunk of my blood."

But it was now apparent that all hopes of advantage Houston had borrowed from the treaty and release of Santa Anna, were destined to disappointment. Santa Anna's gratitude and sense of honor were the only reliance, as all his obligations had been dissolved by the course taken by his enemies.

Meantime, the Cabinet appointed Gen. Mirabeau B. Lamar Commander-in-Chief of the army, over the heads of Generals