25
WRITINGS OF SA.M HOUSTON, 1842
is shown by the Texians, when we have had six years of com- parative peace, we need place no reliance on foreign aid or, at least, its continuance. The Santa Fe excitement may hurry some on for the present, but if our friends in the United States find that the orders of the government are to be disregarded, and every man is to become a leader or dictator "on his own hook," our hopes will be short lived/ and he has the power to suppress such acts. And though he may, as every good citizen should do, deplore recourse to the remedy, he will perform his duty. In anticipation of evils, the President called on the last Congress for the power, and the means necessary to sustain a force at Austin, for the safety of the place and the archives. His request was disregarded by the honorable Body, and no provision made. He has only power to call out the militia in the event of insur- rection or invasion, but not to defend Austin or any other point which may or may not be attacked. If Mexicans had no motives for an attack upon the place, it is at all times liable to be sacked and burned by the Indians. It has been their constant resort;, and depredations are committed in sight of the city in open day. It is no argument in favor of the safety of the place that it has never been attacked yet, and the Indians have always resorted to the place. This may all be true, and surely it is no reason for its remaining as the seat of Government. The only question is, are the archives safe? or as safe at Austin as they woulcl be at some other point in the Republic? All must answer, they are not. They are not even probably secure at Austin-yet they may possibly be so. It is the duty of the Executive to be assured of their safety, apart from all benefits which would result to the country from their removal to some point near the sea-board. This city has been selected as the point most nearly connected with the United States to which we are to look with peculiar interest, until our war with Mexico is terminatecl. Emigrants arriving at Galveston would perhaps be detained for 12 or 15 days at Galveston until dispatches could go to and return-from Austin; when their detention would not exceed three days, if they had to report to this point, and be conveyed by water to their destination. And even those who have rushed to aid us, by the first impulse, will soon withdraw from a cause, which is not sustained by reason and law and whose fctundation is not order, subordination and civil rule. For these reasons, with many more which may suggest them- selves to you, I feel bound to urge your influence and authority
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