, 1861-04-18
peaf smith, the Texas spy.

most serious consequences, even the blOodshed and
horrors Of civil war. Briefly the case was this
The constitution had fixed the city Of Austin
as the permanent capital, where the public ar
chives were to be kept, with the reservation, how
ever, Of power in the President to order theiI
temporary removal in case Of danger from the in
roads Of foreign enemy, or the force Of sudden
insurrectiOn.
Conceiving that the exceptional emergency had
arrived as the Camanches frequently committed
ravages within sight Of the capital itself, HOus
| ton, who then resided at Washington, on the Bra
zos, dispatched an order commanding his subordi
nate unctiOnares to send the State records to the
latter place, which he declared was pro tenPOrt
the seat Of government
1t is impossible to describe the stormy excite
ment which the PRONUNCIATION Of this fat raised
in Austin. The keepers Of hotels, groceries
clearinghouse, and faro banks, were thunder.
struck, maddened TO frenzy; for the measure
would be death-blow to their prosperity in busi.
ness and accordingly they determined at once
to take the necessary steps to avert the danger
by opposing the execution Of the mandate Ol
Houston. They called mass meeting Of the cit
izens and farmers Of the circumjacent country,
who were all more or less interested in the ques-
ton, and after many fiery speeches against the as
serted tyranny Of the administration, ii was unan-
imously resolved to prevent the removal Of the
archives by open and armed resistance. To that
end they organized q company Of four hundred
men. one mOiety Of whom relieved the other at
regular periods Of duty, TO keep constant guard
around the State House until the peril had passed
by. The commander Of this force was one Col.
Morton, who had achieved considerable renown in
the war Of independence, and had still more re
Gently displayed desperate bravery in two duels,
in both Of which be cut his antagonist nearly to
pieces with the bowieknife. Indeed, from the no
tOriety Of his character for revenge, as well as
courage, II was thought that President Houston
would renOunce his purpose, touching the archives,
as soon as he should learn who was the leader Of
the opposition.
Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully equalled
his personal prOwess, encouraged and justified the
prevailing opinion by his bOasting threats. He
swore that Il the President did succeed in remov-
ing the records by the march Of On overpower-
ing force, he would then himself hunt him down
like wolf. and shoot him with as little ceremony.
He even wrote to the hero Of San Jacinto to that
effect. The latter replied in q note Of laconic
bravery - fE -l .I
"Ir the people Of Austin do not send the ar
chivcs, shall certainly come and take them aud
IL Col Morton can take me, he Is welcome to
wear my cap"
On the reception Of this answer, the guard was
doubled around the State House. Chosen senti-
nels %Cfe stationed along the road leading to the
capital the military paraded the streets from morn
ing till night, and q select caucus held permanent
session in the City, Hall In short, everything
seemed TO betOken a coming tempest. s a.s
One day, while matters were in this precari0us
condition, tho caucus at the City Hall was sur
prised by the sudden appeatnnce n stranger
whose mode Of entering was as extraordinary as
bis looks aud dress. He did not knock at the
closed dOor-he did not seek admission there at
all but climbing, unseen, upon q small bushY-
topped live oak which grew beside the wall, be
leaned without sound or warning through q lofty
window. He was clothed altogether in buckskifI,
carried long and very heavy rife Ii his hand,
wore at the bottom Of his left suspender huge
bowie-kniie, and had in his leaihern belt couple
Of pistols half the length Of bis rife. He was
tall, straight as On arrow, active as panther in
his motions, with dark complexion and luxufiant
lefty hair, severe, iron-like eountenance that
seemed never to smile, and eyes Of q vivid black,
wild and rolling, and piercing as the point Of q
dagger His strange advent inspired q thrill Of
involuntary fear, and many persons grasped the
handles Of their side arms
aWho are you that thus presumes to intrude
among gentlemen. without invitation Z" demanded
Col. Morton, essaying to COW down the stranger
with his eye
The latter returned his stare with compound in
terest, and his long bony fingers on his lips, as
o sign, but Of what the spectators could not i'm
agine.
Who are you Speak or win cut on an
swer out Of your hearth shouted Morton, almost
distracted with rage at the cool sneering gaze Of
the other, who now removed his finger from his
lip, and placed bis hand on the hilt Of his mon,
strous knife.
The fiery Colonel then drew his dagger and was
in the act Of advancing on the stranger, when sew
eral caught him and held him back demonstrating.
"Let him alone, Morton, for Gods sake. The
man Is crazy" -.. -,
At this moment Judge Webb, man Of shrewd
intellect and courteous manners, addressed the In
truder my good friend, l presume you have