Even if Texas refused to enter into such an arrangement, the northern states, he said, would declare their independence, and he had little doubt concerning their success in achieving it.[40]  The Texan government took no official notice of Vidaurri's proposal, although there were some individuals in the Republic who favored the establishment of such a federation. However, the majority opinion concerning his proposal was probably most ably expressed by one of the Houston newspapers. Wrote the editor,

It is not our policy to unite with those people [the Federalists]. They would now outvote us, and we do not want to place ourselves in a situation in which it would be possible to fall under the control of even the best portion of the Mexican people. But we wish them success, and although we refuse to become parties to the controversy, we feel an interest in every struggle which is calculated to advance human liberty.[41]

Later, learning that the Federal emissaries in Texas were offering army commissions to some of the Texans to enlist in their service, and promising that if their plans were successful to give Texas any kind of treaty she wished, the Telegraph and Texas Register again stated what it thought was the attitude of Texas and most Texans. "We cannot but wish them success, and have but little doubt of their ability to maintain the ground they have assumed. . . . We have no objection to acknowledg[ing] their independence as soon as they establish a good government, and show to the world their ability to maintain it; but we cannot involve ourselves in their difficulties.[42]

After the defeat and capture of their leaders in a ten months campaign, Canales, González, and Zapata, accompanied by their attendants, Cristobal Ramírez, José María Carbajal,[43]  Cameron's men, and a small group of rancheros and Carrizo Indians[44]  armed with lances