WRITINGS OF SAM HOUSTON, 1842
213
all civil rule, inculcates the indispensable necessity of some con- gressional enactment for the purpose of suppressing insurrection- ary acts towards the authorities of the country. If individuals are permitted to associate themselves into bodies for the purpose of resisting the constitution and laws of the country, the laws cease to be operative. The salutary provisions of the constitu- tion are nugatory and rebellion and anarchy take their place. The reasons for the removal of the archives from the City of Austin still existing, it was deemed most proper to convene the Congress at this point. The subject was laid before Congress at the late extra session and no definitive action took place. In addi- tion to the fact that the Supreme Court had been, by law, recently removed to the town of Washington, and the removal of the ar- chives to the same place would be attended with no public ex- pense, the Executive regarded it as, in many respects, under existing circumstances, the most eligible safe and convenient location for the seat of government. The Executive has been informed that public arms and other government property of much value, and which would be of great convenience in our present circumstances, are distributed in various parts of the country, having been appropriated by individuals to their private use, which they refuse to give up in compliance with the orders of the government. It is therefore suggested whether it would not be proper to invest the Executive with authority to enforce the collection of the same, that it may be applied to the public benefit. While presenting subjects to the consideration of your Hon- orable Body, of vital importance to the nation, our Indian rela- tions will be entitled to at least secondary estimation. Soon after the commencement of the present administration, the President, anxious to renew that course of policy which he was satisfied would alone give peace and security to the frontiers, availed him- self of every means of information upon the subject, and from assurances of the Indians themselves as well as officers of the United States government employed in the Indian Department, he was satisfied that a sincere disposition towards peace was entertained by the Indians. He accordingly despatched commis- sioners to the East of Red River (whither the Indians of Texas had generally retired with their families, and from whence they sent out war parties to the frontiers of Texas) for the purpose of establishing amicable relations. They met the Indians and entered into negotiations with them, with ulterior arrangements
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