Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1853-07-20
DEAF SMITH,
The Celebrated Texian Spy.

About two years after the Texian re-
volution. difficulty occurred between
the new government and a portion of the
people. which threatened the most seri-
Gus consequences, even bloodshed and
the horrors of civil war. Briefly the
cause was this
The Constitution had fixed the city of
Austin as the permanent capital, where
the public archieves were kept, with the
reservation, however. of a power in the
President to order their temporary reno
val in case of danger from the inrusds of
a foreign enemy, or the force ola sudden
insurrectiOn.
Conceiving that the exceptional emer-
gency had arrived, as the Camanches
frequently committed ravages within
sight of the capital, itself. Houston, who
then resided at Washington. on the Bra
zos, dispatched an order. commanding
his subordinate functionaries to send the
records to the latter place. which he de-
cIared TO be pro tenePOre. the Seat OF Go
vernment.
1t is impossible to describe the stormy
excitement which followed the promul-
cation of this fiat raised in Austin. The
keepers of hotels, boarding houses. gro
ceries and faro banks where thunder
struck, maddened to frenzy; for the mea-
sure would be the death blow to their
prosperity in business; and accordingly,
they determined at once to take the ne
cessary steps tc avert the danger, by op-
posing the execution of Houston's man
date. They called a mass meeting of
the citizens and farmers of the circumja-
cent country. who were more or less in
terested in the question; and after many
fiery speeches against the asserted ty-
ranny of the administration, it was unan
imously resolved 20 prevent the removal
of the archieves by open and armed re-
siStance. To that end they organized
four hundred men, one moiety of whom
relieving the other at regular periods of
duty, should keep constant guard around
the state house until the peril was past.
The commander Of this force was one Co
lionel Morton, who had achieved conS!de
rable renown in the war for independence,
and had still more recently displayed
desperate bravery in two desperate duels.
in both of which he had cut his antago
nists nearly to pieces with the Bowie
knife. Indeed, from the notoriety of his
character for revenge, as well as courage,
it was thought that President Houston
would renounce his purpose touching the
archieves, so soon as he would learn who
was the leader of the opposition.
Morton. on his part. whose vanity
equalIed his personal prowess, eucoura-
ged and justified the prevailing opinion
by his boastful threats.
He swore that if the President did
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march of an overpowering army, he
would then hunt him down like a wolf.
and shoot him with little ceremony, or
stab him in his bed, or waylsy him in his
walks of recreation. He even wrote to-
the hero of San Jacinto to that effect
The latter replied in note of laconic
bravery:
'.If the people of Austin do not send
the archieves. l shall certainly come and
take them and if Col. Morto can Kill
me, he is welcome to my ear cap"
On the reception of this answer the
guard was doubled around the STATE
house. Chosen sentinels were stationed
along the road leading to the capital. the
military paraded the streets from morn
ing until night. and select caucus held
permanent session in the city hall. In
short. everything betokened a coming
tempest.
One day. while matters were in this
precarinus condition. the caucus at the
city hall. was surprised by the sudden
appearance Of a stranger. whose mole of
enfering was as extraordinary As his
looks and dress. He did not knock at the
closed duor-he did not seek admission
/, N
bu<hy topped oak. which grew beside
the wall, he leaped without sound or
warning through lofty window. He
was clothed in buckskin. carried long
and heavy rifle in his hand. wore at the
bottom of his left suspender a large Bow
ie-knife. and had in his leathern belt
couple of pistols half the length of his
gun. lie was tall. straight as an arrow.
active as = panther in his motions, With
dark complexion. and luxurisnt jeitY