WRITINGS OF 5AM HOUSTON, 1842
533
most insulated from the whole country, eminently exposed to attack both by the Indian and Mexican foe, and liable all the time to become the very theatre of war, is deemed at this crisis, by the Executive, to be very unsuitable as a point for carrying on the multifarious operations of the government. The Executive fully appreciates the patriotic disposition evinced by the citizens of Travis county to defend the national archives at the hazard of their lives, should they be permitted to remain at Austin, and entertains no doubt their pledges to this effect would be nobly redeemed, should invasion press upon them, but the hazards of war are always great; nor could the mere possession of the archives at Austin be justly considered a suitable equivalent for loss of life which the contest might oc- casion-even if successful. The destruction ·of the national archives would entail irreme- diable injury upon the whole people of Texas, and their safe preservation should be a consideration of paramount importance to that officer of the government who is responsible for such safe preservation. The constitution of the country-the supreme law of the land-the expression of the immediate will of the people, has devolved this high and sacred obligation upon the President. Should the infinite evil which the loss of the national archives would occasion, fall upon the country through his neglect of imperious constitutional duty, he would be culpable in the ex- treme, and most justly incur the reproach of a whole nation. While however the President feels constrained, under the consciousness of his high responsibility, and as an act of proper caution and prudence to place the archives in a place of the great- est security, he cannot perceive that this measure should create any additional harm to the citizens of the West. It is already known upon that frontier that active preparations are now mak- ing for the war with which we are threatened; and that, whether the archives remain at Austin or not, it will be prosecuted with all the means in our power until our independence is recognized by Mexico. The guarding of the archives at Austin will neces- sarily detach many very efficient citizens from the useful service in the field; and their being allowed to remain there will in the opinion of the Preside:nt, be subjecting them to useless and un- necessary hazard, whilst it would diminish the means of national defence. From the fact of the seat of government being at Austin, has arisen the present confusion in the country. Intelligence was
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