Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-04-11
s. ELECT TALE
From Noah's Weekly Messenge
peaf Smith.
TIVE CELEBRATED TEXAN SPY.

,;,n a difficulty occurred between the new
government and portion OF the people,
srb;ch threatened the most serious conse-
uuences-even the bloodshed and horrors oi
civil war. Briefly, the cause was this: The
constitution had fixed the city OF Austin as
the permanent capital, where the public ar
chiyes were to be kept, with the reservation,
however, of power in the president to orde +
their temporary removal in case OF danger
from the fnroads OF foreign enemy, or the
force of sudden insurrectIon.
Couceiving that the exceptional emergen-
CIV had arrived, as the Camanches frequently
committed ravages within sight of the capi-
tai itself, Houston, who then resided al Wash
ington, on the Brazos, dispatched an order
commanding his subordinate functionaries 10
send the state records TO the latter place,
which he declared to be, pro tennpore, the sea
Of government.
1t is impossible to describe the stormy ex-
citement which the PRONUNCIATION of this .fat
raised in Austin. The keepers of hotels,
boarding houses, groceries, and faro banks,
were thunder-struck, maddened to frenzy
tor the measure would he a death-blow 10
their prosperity in business and according
ly, they determined at once to take The nec-
essary steps 10 avert the danger, by opposing
the execution of Houston's mandate. They
called mass meeting Of the citizens and
farmers of the circUmjacent country, who
were all more or less interested in the ques-
ton; and after many fiery speeches against
the asserted tyranny of The administration, IL
was unanimously resolved 10 proven, the
removal of the archives by open and armed
resistance. To that end they organized a
company Of four hundred men, one moiety OF
whom, relieving the oIher at regular periods
of duty, should keep constant guard around
the state-house until the peril passed by
The commander of this force was one Col.
Morton, who had achieved considerable re-
nown in the war for independence, and had
still more recently displayed desperate brav-
erv in two desperate duels, in both of which
he had cut his antagonist nearly 10 pieces
with the bowie knife. Indeed, from the no.
toriety of his character for revenge, as well
as courage, it was thought that President
Houston would renounce his purpose touch
ing the archives, SO soon as he should learn
who was the leader of the opposition.
Morton, On his part, whose vanity fully
equaiIed his personal prowess, encouraged
and justified the prevailing opinion by his
boa astfiil threats. He swore that if the presi
dent did succeed in removing the records 10y
the march of an overpowering iorce, he
would then himself hunt him down like a
wolf and shoot him with little ceremony, or
stab him in his bed, or waylay him i'll his
walks of recreation. lie even wrote the hero
of San Jacinto to that effect. The latter re-
piled in a note of Iaconic brevity:
If the people of Austin do not send the ar
cIives, shall certainly come and take them
and if Colonel Morton can kill me, he is well
come to my ear>cap.'
On the reception Of this answer, the guard
was doubled around the state-house. Chos-
ell sentinels were stationed along the road
leading to the capital, the military paraded
the streets from morning till night, and Sc
lect caucus held permanent session in the
city hail. In short, every thing be,okened a
coming tempest.
Que day, while matters were ln this pre-
carious condition, the caucus at the city hall
was surprised by the sudden appearance OF a
stranger, whose mode of entering was as ex-
fraordinary as his looks and dress. He did
not knock at the closed door, he did not seek
admission there at all but climbing unseen
a small bushy-lopped live oak, which grew
beside the wall. he leaped without sound OF
warning through a lofty window. He was
clothed altogether in buckskin, carried lons
aad very heavy rife in his hand, wore at the
button cf his left suspender a large bowie
knife, and had in his leathern belt a couple
of pistols half the length ofhis gun. He was
tall, straight as an arrow, active as panther
in his motions, with dark complexion and
ilxuriant jetty hair, with severe, mike
countcnance, that seemed never to have
known smile, and eyes of intense, vivid
black, wild and rolling. and piercing as the
point of dagger. His strange advent in
spired thrill of involuntary fear, and many
present unconsciously grasped the handles ol
their side-arms.
who are you, that thus presumes to in
trude among gentlemen, without invitation !!
demanded Colonel Morton, ferociously essny-
ing to COW down the stranger with his eye
The latter returned his stare with COM
pound interest, and laid his long, bony finger
on his lip, as a sign-but of what, the spec
tators could not imagine.
sWho are you or will cut an answer out
of your hearth shouted Morton, almost dis
tracted with rage by the cool, sneering gaze
of the other, who now removed his finger
from his lip, and laid il on the hilt of his
snonstrous knife.
The fiery colonel then drew his dagger
and was 10 the act Of advancing upon the
stranger, when several caught him and held
him back, demonstrating. :.
Let him alorie, Morton, for Gods sake
Do you not perceive that he is crazy"
A tina. moment Judge Webb, man oi
shrewd intellect and courteous manners,
stepped forward, and addressed the intruder
"a most respectful manner:
my good friend, l presume you have
made mistake in the house. This is pri-
vate meeting, where none but members are
admiited.'
The stranger did no, appear to compre-
bend the words, but he could not fail to un-
derstand 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 Implements for writing,
: he seized pen and traced one line 4 am
deaf He then held it up before the specta-
tors. as a sort of natural apology for his own
want of polteness. @g
Judge Webb took the paper, and wrote a
question. sDear sir, will you he SO obIigine
as to inform us what is your business will
the present tmeeting
The other responded BY delivering letie
inscribed ON the back, To the citizens o
Austin.' They broke the seal and read
aloud. II was from Houston, and SHOWED
the usual terse brevity Of his style:
'fELLow-CIrlzENs Though in error
and deceived by the arts Of traitors, vii
give you three dnys more to decide whethe
you vii; please let me know your decision.
SAM. HousToN.'
After the reading, the deaf man waited /;
few seconds, as if for reply, and then turned
and was about to leave tho hall, when Col
Morton inierposed, and sternIy beckoned him
back TO the table. The stranger obeyed
and Morton wrote 'You were brave enough