The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1870-09-23
cMistellantous.
DEAF SMITH,
The Celebrated Texan Spy.

About two years after the Texan
revolution, difficulty occurred between
the new government and a portion of
the people, which threatened the most
serious consequences-even the blood
shed and horrors of civil war. Brief
ly, the cause was this: The constitu-
tion had fixed the city of Austin as the
permanent capital, where the public ar
chives were to be kept, with reserva-
tion, however, of power in the Presi-
dent to order their temporary removal
in case of danger from the inroad of
foreign enemy, or force of sudden
insurrection.
Conceiving that the exception emer.
gency had arrived, as the Camanches
frequently committed Outrages within
sight of the capitol itself, Houston, who
then resided at Washington, on the
Brazos, dispatched an order command
ing his subordinate functionaiies to
send the State Records to the latter
place which he declared to be, pro tenn.
pore, the seat of government.
1t is impossible to describe the stor-
my excitement which the PRONUNCIATION
of this fiat raised in Austin. The keep.
ers of hotels, boarding houses, groceries
and faro banks, were thunderstruck,
maddened to frenzy; for the measure
would be a death blow to their prosper
ity in business, and accordingly they
determined at once to take the necessa-
ry steps to avert the danger, by oppos-
ing the execution of Houston's man
date. They called meeting of the cit.
izens and farmers of the circumjacent
country, who were all more or less in
terested in the question; and after ma
ny fry speeches against the asserted
tyranny of the administration, it was
unanimously resolved to prevent the
removal of the archives by open and
armed resistance. To that end they or
| ganized company of four hundred
armed men, one party of whom, reliev-
ing the other at regular periods of duty
should keep constant guard around the
State House until the period passed by.
| The commander of this force was one
| Col. Morton, who had achieved consid-
cradle renown in the war for independ-
ence, and had still more recently dis.
played his bravery in two des.
perate duels, in both of which
he cut his antagonists nearly to
pieces with the bowie knife. Indeed,
from the notoriety of his character for
revenge or courage, it 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 proves, en-
couraged and justified the prevailing
opinion by his boastful threats. He
swore that If the President did succeed
in removing the records by the march
of an overpowering force, he would
then himself hunt him down like IT,
ger and shoot him with little ceremony
or stab him in his bed, or waylay him
in his walks for recreation. He even
wrote to the hero Of San Jacinto to that
effect. The latter replied in note OF
laconic brevity:-
"If the people of Austin do not send
the archives, shall certainly come and
take them, and If Col. Morton 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 sentinelswere stationed
along the road leading to the capitol
the military paraded the streets from
morning till night, and select caucuses
held permanent sessions, in the city
hall. In short, everything betokenet
a coming tempest.
One day, while matters were in thi
precarious condition, the caucus at tn,
city hall was surprised by the suddel
appearance of stranger, whose mod
of entering was as extraordinary as hi
looks and dress. He did not knock a
the closed door-he did not seek admis
sion at all; but climbing unseen smal
bushy-topped live oak, which grew be
y side the wall, leaped without sound o