The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1860-07-24
ID + A + S NTH:
THE CELEBRATED TEXAN SPY.

About two years after the Texan revo-
luton, difficulty occurred between the
new government and portion of the
people, which threatened the most seri-
Gus consequences, even the bloodshed
and horrors of civil war. Briefly the
cause was this
The constitution had fixed the city of
Austin as the permanent capital, where
the public archives were 10 be kept, with
the reservation, however, of a power in
the President 10 order their temporary
removal in case Of danger from the in.
roads of foreign enemy, or the force of
a sudden insurrection.
Conceiving that the exceptional emer-
gency had arrived, as the Camanches
! frequently committed ravages within
sight of the capitol itself. Houston, who
then resided at Washington on the Bra
Eos, dispatched an order commanding his
subordinate functionares TO send the
State Records to the latter place, which
he declared was pro tempore the seat of
government.
1t is impossible to describe The stormy
excitement which the promulgalion of
this fiat raised in Austin. The keepers
OF hotels, boarding houses, groceries and
faro banks, were thunderstruck. mad.
dened 10 phrensy for the meas ure
would be death blow to their prosperi.
ty in business and accord in gly they
determined at once TO take the necessary
steps 10 avert the danger. by opposing
the execution Of Houston's mandate.
They called mass Meeting Of the citi.
zens and farmers of the circumiacent
country, who were all more or less inter.
ested IN the question, and after many fl.
cry speeches against the asserted tyran
ny OF the administration, it WAS unani.
mously resolved to prevent the removal
OF tho archives by open and armed re.
slstance. To that end they organized a
company of four hundred men, one moi
ETY. OF whom relieved the other at regu.
lar periods of duty, should keep con.
stant guard around the State House un.
til the peril had passed by The com.
mander OF this force was one Col. Nor.
ton, who had achieved considerable re.
nown in the war for independence, and
had still more recently displayed desper.
ate bravery in two duels, in both of
which he had cut his antagonists nearly
TO pieces with the bowie knife. Indeed
from the notorety of bis character for
revenge, as well as courage, it was
thought that President Houston would
renounce his purpose touching the ar.
chiyes. SO soon as he should learn who
was the leader of the opposition,
Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully
equalled his personal prowess, encour-
aged and justified the prevailing opinion
by his boastiul threats. He swore that
il the President did succeed in removing /
the records by the march of an over.
powering force, he would then himself
hunt him down like wolf and shoot him /
with little ceremony He even wrote the I
hero of San Jacinto to that effect. The
latter replied in a mole with laconic bra
very:
= Ii the people of Austin DO not send /
the archives | shall certainly come and
take them and if Col. Morton can take
me lie Is welcome TO my ear cap"
On the reception OF this answer, the
guard was doubled around the State
House. Chosen sentiuels were stationed
along the road leading TO the capitol, the
military paraded The streets from morn.
Ing ull night. and a select caucus held
permanent session in The City Hall. In
short everything belokened coming
tempest.
One day, while matters were in this
precarous condition. the caucus al tho
City Hall was surprised by the sudden
appearance of stranger. whose mode OF
entering was as extraordinary as his
looks and dress. He did not knock at