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In 1842, after Texas had declared her independence of Mexico, the Texan seat of government was at Austin. During that year the Mexicans under Vasquez destroyed San Antonio and threatened Austin. The President fled to Houston and demanded that the government archives should be transferred to that city. This the citizens of Austin refused to allow. Vigilance and archive committees were appointed. In September the President sent Captain Smith and thirty-five men to take the archives by force. This was accomplished, but the citizens of Austin pursued the captors and recovered the archives, thus determining the permanence of the capital at Austin.