Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1858-02-12
DEAF SMITH, THE SPY.
A Lesf from the Annals Of TIE Lone
Star" Republic.

St2r hepuDilc.
About two years after the Texas rev.
Olution, difficulty occurred between the
uew government and a portion Of the
people, which threatened the most serious
consequences-even the b!oodshed and
horrors oE civil war. Briefly the case
vas this: The constitution had fixed the
eity of Austin as the permanent capitalj
where the public archives were to be kept
With the reservation, however, Of pow
sr IN the president to order their tempo
rrv removal, in case of danger from the
iuroads ola foreign enemy, or the force
sf = sudden nsurrection.
Conceiving that the eptioned emer-
cency had arrived, as the Camanches fire.
,osntly committed ravages within sight
of.te capital itself, Houston, who then
,ss.te1 a. Washington, on the Brazos.
S,Da.ched an order commanding his sub
vrd;gste functionaries to send the State
rgords to the latter place, which he
aearsd TO BE-, pro tsmpors, the seat of
rrrnment-
Il is impossible to describe the stormy
s1ciiealent which the promulgation of
.his fat raised in Austin. The keepers
5f hotels, boarding houses, grocers and
fsro banks, were thuni=rstruck-mad-
dened to frenzy, for the measure would
be death blow to their prosperity in bU-
,iness, and accordingly, they determined
70 take The necessary steps TO avert the
danger, by opposing the execution OF
Houston's mandate. They called mass
meeting OF the citizens and s@-mers csthe
circumjacent country, who were all more
or less interested IL tie question and al
ter many fiery speeches against the as
serted tyranny of the administration, il
Vas unanimously resolved to prevent the
rerroyai Of the public archives, by cpsn
sad armed resistance. To hat end they
organized a ccuPaay of four haal-ed
men; one lnoiety Of whom, relieved ny
The other at regular periods of duty, should
keep constant guard around the house IN
vi Ihe peril passed by.
The commander Of this force was one
Col. Morton, who had achieved consider
s.l, renown in the war for Independence
aad had still more recently dispiay i des
FeE-te bravery in TWO bloody d-z.s, il
beth Of which he had cut his antagonis
nearly to pieces with the bowie knife
Iliacd, from the notoriety Of his eharac
Ter FOR revenge as well as courage, it wa
thought that President Houston woult
Esnc-2ce his purpose ii touching the ar
cLi7es as soon as ne should learn who wa
leader Of the opposition.
Morton on his part, whose vanity full
equalIed bis personal Prowess,encou =
AZ justified lie prevailing opinion by ii
boastfui threats. lie swore that if til
President did succeed il removing th
records BY the march of an overpower;E
.y-ce, he would th-1, himself, hunt hir
down Ike wolf and shoot him with Ii
tie ceremony, or stab him in his bed, {
vsyiay him in his walks of recreation
He even wrote to the hero Of San Jacint
to that effect. The latter replied in
characil lristic note of Iaconic brevtiy:
"If the people of Austin do not ser
the archives, l shall CONE and take ;heu
and if CoL Morton san Kill me he is we
come to my ear cap.
SAM HoUsToS."
On the reception Of this answer, t
guard was doubled around the Sta
House. Chosen sentinels were station
along the road leading to the capitol, t
military psraded the streets from NOR
irg ill 1-sht, an1 a ss.act caucus he
permanent session in the city hail.
short everything betokened coming tel
pest.
TzE EAILES6E-SCDDES APPEARAsCE c
DEAF zl--TFz--THE CHALLENGE
One day while matters were in Il
Precarious condition, the caucus at t
city hall was surprised by the sudden {
pearanee OF a stranger, whose mode
entering vas extraordinary as is loc
and dress. He did not knock at t
eiose1 door-he did not seek admissi
there 4: all; but climbing, unseen, sm
S1'hy-toPped i've oak which grew bes
'he wall, ne leaped without sound
warning through a lofty window.
vas clothed altogether in buckskin, C
red long, heavy rife 10 bis hand, W
At tue Lo.tom Of his left suspender Ia
o9Sle knife, and had ia Is leathern I
couple Of pistols half the length Of
gun He was tall, straight rs an arr