The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 23, July 1919 - April, 1920 Page: 69

Minutes of the Ayuntamiento of San Felipe de Austin 69
MINUTES OF THE AYUNTAMIENTO OF SAN FELIPE
DE AUSTIN, 1828-1832
VII
EDITED BY EUGENE C. BARKER
In the town of San Felipe de Austin on the 2d day of Novr
1830 the Ayuntamiento met this day pursuant to adjournment
present Thos. Barnett prest. Jesse H. Carwright 2 Regidor Walter
C. White, 3d Regidor, and William Pettus sindico procurador. The
prest stated to the body that a letter addressed to George Fisher
apparently cont[aining] divers enclosures had been handed to the
Ayto. supposed to [p. 57] be from Asa Mitchell an intimate of
said Fishers The Ayuntamto. then ordered a secret session and
after having discussed the subject respecting what course would
be proper to pursue relative to the letter the body agreed that in-
asmuch as the said Fisher is believed to be a spy attached to a
party unfriendly to the Govt and as Mitchell is known to be an
intimate of the said Fishers the body ordered the letter to be
opened which was done, and the contents found to be several
letters addressed by Fisher to Mitchell on the subject of vessels
arriving in the brasos a commission from Sd Fisher to Mitchell
making the sd. Mitchell a boarding officer and several official let-
ters antidated from Mitchell to Fisher purporting to be reports.
And as there was nothing found which in the opinion of the body
was likely to be injurious to the community the letter was or-
dered to be sealed up with its enclosures and put away and the
ayuntamto. rose from the secret session.
The Ayuntamto in open session made the following resolution
that whereas this municipality from its peculiar situation is much
exposed to the inroads of fugitives from justice from the U. S.
and other places, vagabonds and, men of notorious bad character
and it being the duty of the Ayuntamto. to watch over the secur-
ity and tranquility of the inhabitants of the municipality and
also to maintain and support good order and the public tranquil-
ity, and prevent the residence of men of bad character, and of idle
and vicious habits within the jurisdiction, and taking into consid-
eration that by the 5th article of the Contract made by the Em-
presario Stephen F. Austin he is bound not to permit, criminals,