Page:Vol 4 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/743

ican deputies, especially Arizpe. Hence the supposition on the part of some that he had come to accomplish the country's independence, but every step he took after his arrival at Vera Cruz tended to show that he had brought with him no special plan, and that he awaited the resolutions of the Spanish córtes. O’Donojú has been called a traitor for serving his country as faithfully as circumstances permitted. He saw at once how absurd it would be to attempt to uphold a lost cause, as did many in Mexico and Dávila in Vera Cruz, when no assistance could be expected from the supreme government that hardly had means to sustain itself. He therefore resolved, now that Mexico was irremediably lost to Spain, to secure for the reigning family of his country the throne about to be erected in the new nation, and to preserve the friendly relations between the two peoples. In his proclamation on the 3d of August at Vera Cruz,^[1] he tried, however, to induce them to await the action of the córtes, assuring them that the desired autonomy would be conceded. To the military he spoke in a different tone, thanking them for their loyal service to the government in their defence of the city against outside aggression, and ending with the hope that friendship between the antagonistic bands, after the aggressors had been reduced and undeceived, would be restored, and the past forgotten.^[2] Being confined within the walls, and unable to advance a single step without coming in contact with the independents,^[3] O’Donojú opened relations with Santa Anna, and made friendly overtures to Iturbide,^[4] who granted

1. Gaz. de Mex., 1821, xii. 859-62; Gac. de Guad., 1821, Aug. 25, 73-4; Bustamante, Cuad. Hist., v. 223-5.
2. His words were: 'Tengo esperanzas de que reducidos y desengañados dentro de poco, volveremos á ser todos amigos,' etc. Id., 225-6.
3. The position was a painful one for the besieged; yellow fever was raging at the port, and in a few days carried off seven of O'Donojú's suite, and a nephew and niece, who died within two and a half hours of one another and were buried the same afternoon. Another niece was at death's door when he left the city on the 19th. One hundred soldiers and sailors of those who came with him had also perished. Id., 227.
4. In two letters, one official and one private; in the former Iturbide was