The Ohio union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1849-1854, 1853-08-31
SeIrtt HiateIIaaQ.
DEAF SMITH,
TEE CELEBRAED TEXAN SPY.

About two years after the Texan revo.
hiou, difficulty occurred between the
new government and portion Of The peo.
pie, which threatened the most serious con-
sequences, even bIoodshed and the horrors
of civil war. Briefly this cause was
lhs
The Constitution had fixed The city of
Austin as The permanent capitol, where
The public archieves were kept, with the
reservation, however, Of a power in the
President to order their temporary removal
in case Of danger from the inroads of an
enemy, or the force Of sudden insurrec,
lion. .
Concciving that the exceptional emcr-
gency had arrived, as The Camanches fre-
quenlly committed ravages within sight Of
the capital, itself, Houston, who then resi-
ded a, Washington on The Brazos, dispatch
ed an order, commanding his subordinate
lunctionares 10 send the records 10 the
latter place, which he declared to be pro
tempore, the Seat of Government.
Ii is impossible to describe The stormy
excitement which followed the promulga-
ton of this fiat raised in Austin. The
keepers Of hotels, boarding. houses, groce-
rieS and laru.banks were lhundersiruck,
maddeI ed to frenzy; for tho measure would
be the death blow to their prosperity in
business; ndaccordingly, they delerolned
al once 10 tNke the necessary steps 10 aver
the danger, by opposing the execution o.
Houslon's mandate. They calleda mass
meeting OF the citizens and farmers oil The
ciTcumjacen, country, who were more OIL
less Interested in the question:; and allel
many fiery speeches against the, asserted
tyranny ollhe administration, il was un
anmOusy rcsoI'edlo prevent The remova
of the achieves hy open and armed resls
bnce. To that eud they ofgauz d fOu
hundred men, one mJiely OF whom re
levine the other at regular periodsol Of dut,
should keep constant guard around III
Stale house until The peril was past. Thu
COulHdUutI w lIiS lulCS "ds NOlOuCl hOl
tor, who had acI i we'd considerable re
nown in the war Tor independence, ant
had still more recently displayed desperate
bravery in two desperate dues, in both o
which he had cut his antagonists nearly
10 pieces with the Bowie knife. Indeed
from The notoriety of his character for re
venge, as well as courage, it was though
that President Houston would renounc
his purpose touching the archicves, so sool
as he would learn who was The leader o
the opposition.
Morton on his part, whose vanity equal
led his personal powess, encouraged an,
justified the prevailing opinion BY his boast
iul threats.
lie swore that il the President did sue
ceed in removing the records by The marc
Of an ovorpowering army, he would the
hunt him down like a wolf, and shoot hin
with litle ceremony, or stab him in hi
bel, or ylay him in his walks of recrea
lion. lie even wrote 10 the hero of Sa
Jacnto 10 that effect. The latter leplie
in a mole OF Iaconic bravery.
"lf The people Of Austin do not send III
archieves, shall certainly come and lak
them; and if Colonel Morton can kill m
he is welcome 10 my car cap"
On the reception Of this answer th
I guard was doubled around the State hous
Chosen senincls we're stationed along III
road leading to tho capital, the miIlIar
e raradcd the streets from morning until nigI
I and Il select caucus held permanent sessio
in the city halt In shorl, everything b.
y tokened coming tempest.
' One day, while matters were in III
precarious condition, the caucus at the cit
hall, was surprised by the sudden appea
I, ance ol stranger, whose mode Of rnlcrlr
!. WIS as extraordinary as his looks an
y dress. llr did mol knock al the CLOSE
J., donr-hc did nolask admission there at a
' but climbing unseen, a smaII bushy loppt
9 oak, which grew beside the wall, he lea
- ed without sound or warning through
lofty window H. was clothed in bucI
skin, carried long aud heavy rifle in h
hand, wore at the bottom Of his Icil suspe
dera large Bogic knife, and had in h
oalhcrn hrlla couple Of pistols half II
e length ofhs gun, H. WIS tall, straight
IS an arrow, acllye as panther IN his ~
Is tions, with dark complexion, and luxuria
D. ieuy hair, with severe, iron.liSc countc
ance, that seemed never to have known
! smile, and The eyes OF intense vivid bloc
j, wild and rolling, aud piercing as the poi
e Of dagger.
His strange adven, inspircda thrill
b involuntary fear, and many present unco
sciously grusped the handles Of their ST
" arms.
is "Who are you that thus presumes 10
&c trude amongst gentlemen without invl
toni" demanded Col. Morton, lerocious
= essay ing 10 COW down the stranger vi
; li'eyt,