The Arkansas banner., 1850-04-16
DEAF SMITH, THE CELEBRATED TEXAN SPY

and portion of the people, which threatened th,
 hosa seFioas conseqasnces-even the bloodshed anc
 nottoss @ oi civlt war Briefly the cause was this
 he Constitution had fixed the city of Austin ss ,b
 permanent capital, where the public archives were
 keP,, witn tne reservation, however, of power in
 the Fresident 10 order their temporary remoyal in
 case or danger from the inroads of a foreen enemy.
 or the force of a sudden insur rrecton
 Sonce'S'ng that the exceptional emerge ney had
 arrived, the Camanehes freonentlv somnn;,,sI
 ravages within sight of the capital itself Houston.
 who then resided at Washington on the Braxos.
 sspatched an order commanding his subordinate
 to send the State records to the latter
 giaee, wn'en ne declared to be, pro tsmpore, the Seat of Governmani
 It is impossible to describe the stormy exci,emen,
 which followed the Promulgaton of this 6at raised 1 in Aastn The keepers of hotels, boarding houses
 groceries and faro-banks, were thunderstruck.
 maddened 10 phrenzy; for the measure would be a
 o.o~ y 10 .Hsse ssaseFSed s once to take G esssary steps to avert the danger by opposing the 1 execution of Hoaston's mandate. They called
 mass-meelng of the citizens and farmers of the cir cumjacent country, who ali more or less inter ested in the quustion and after many fiery speeches
 against the asserted tyranny of the administration l il was unanimously resolved 10 prevent ths remo- | val of the archives by open and armed resistance. | To that end they organized four hundred men, one moiety of whom. relieving the other regular pe-
 ricds of duty, should keep constant Aard Arou nd the state house until the peril passed by. The commander of this force one Colonel Morton. who had achieved considerable renown in the war
 for independence, and he'd still more recently dis played desperate bravery in two desperate dues, in 1 both which he had cut his antagonists nearly to pieces with the Bowie knife. Indeed. from the mo- toriety Of his character for revenge well as cou- rage, it was thought that President Houston would renouncs his purpose touching the archives so soon as he should learn who the leader of the oppo- sition.
 Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully equaed his personal prowess, encouraged and justified the prevailing opinion by his bOastfu threats. He swore that if the President did succeed in removing the records by the march Of an overpowerinr force l he would thea himself hunt him down like wolf md shoot him with little ceremony, stab him in 1 his bed, or wayay him in his waks of recreation He wrote the hero of San Jaeno to that effect ] The latter replied in a note of Iaconc bravery: If the people of Austin do not send the archives, l l shall certainly come aud take them; and if Col. l Morton can kill me he is welcome to my ear-cap" 1 On the reception of this answer the guard was doub bled around the state house. Chosen sentnels
 were stationed along the road leading the capitol
 the military paraded the streets from morning till | night, and a select caucus held permanent session in the city hall. In short, everything betokened l coming tempest
 | One day, while matters in this precarious condition, the caucus a the city hall surprised l by the sudden appearance of stranger. whose mode 1 of entering was extraordinary as his looks and [ dld not seek admission there at all; but climbing unseen a small bush topped oak, which grew be- side the wall. he Ieaped without sound or warning 1 through lofty window. He clothed altogether l in buckskia. carried a long and heavy rifle in his hand, wore at the bottom of his left suspender a large Bowie kaifs and had in his leaIhern belt a couple of pistols half the length of his gan. He waa tau straight as an arrow, active a panther in his motions, with dark eompsxion and Iuxuri- an! @ leIty hair with severe iroa-like seu9isnspee eyes of intense vivid black, wild and rolling. and piercing ss the point of dagger. His strange ad- vent inspired thrill of involuntary fear, and many present uncOnsciously grasped the handles ot their side
 Who are yoI. than thus presumes to intrude amo ngst gentlemen without invitaticnl' dema nded Colonel Morton. ferOciousiy, sssAyiDg to COW down the stAnger with his eye. The latter returned his stare with compou nd in- terest and laid his iong, bony finger on his lip, as l a sigu-but of what the spectators could not ina zine.
 'Who are yoa' Speak or will cut an answer out of your heart: shouted Morton, almost dis tracted with rage by the cool, sneerng gaze of the other, who removed his finger from his lip, and laid il on the hilt of his monstrous knife. The fiery colonel then drew his dagger, and was in the act of advancing upon the stranger, when several caught and held him back, remcnstratiug. Let him alone, Morton, for Gods sake. Do you not perceive he Is crazy1
 At the moment Judge Webb man of shrewd inteil"c, and courteous manners, stepped forward and addressed the intruder in a most respectful manner:
 My good friend I presume you have made mistake in the house, This is a private meeting. where none bat members are admitted The stranger did not appear to comprehend the words but could not fail 10 understand the mild and deprecatory manner. His rigid features relaxed, and moving 10 a table in the centre of the hall, where there were materials and mpliments for wri- haa fzaHa and eAI itna. am deaf! He then held t up before the spectators, as a sort of natural apology tor his own want of po- liteness.
 1 Judge Webb took this paper. and wrote ques- ! ton: Dear sir-wiIl you be obliging 10 in- form what IS your business with the present meetingP
 1 The other responded by delivering a letter in scribed on the back, 'To the citizens of Austn.'- 1 They broke the seal and read it aloud It was from Houston and showed the usual terse breyity 1 of his style:
 'EeiLOtr Caizsns: s:-Though in error, and deceived 1 by the arts of traitors, will give you three more days to decide whether you will surrender the pub
 lie archives At the end of that time you will please | le, me know your decision. SAM. HorsroN.' ! After the reading. the deaf man waited few seconds. as if for reply. and then turned and was about to leave the hail. when Colonel Morton in- SD0'f SeDt fke a ssrasser s obeysa and Morton ~fois' .You were brave enough 10 insult me by your i thFeatning looks ten inmates ago; are you brave enough now to give saiisiaetonl' The stranger penned his reply; I am at your service"
 1 Morton wrote again: Who will bs your seeondF The stranger rejoined I am too generous to seek an advantage and too brave 10 fear any on Inc part of others; therefore never need the aid oi
 second
 Morton penned: Name your terms.' 1 The stranger traced. without moments hesisa- ! ton: Time. sunset this evening; place, the ieii i bank Of the Colorado. opposite Austin; weapons,
 rifles; and distance, one hundred yards Do nos iAii to be in times
 He then took three steps across the room, and dis
 appear,d through the window, as he had entered. What. exclaimed Judge Webb. is it possible. Colonel Morton. that you intend 10 hght'hst man lie is mute, if not s positive maniac. such a meeting. l fear, viii sadly tarnish your iaurels You are mistaken,' replied Morton, with
 smile; that mate is . hero, whose fame stands m the record Of dezsa battles and si least hail as