i y1 i : . "WE CO WHERE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES POINT THE WAY; WHEN THEY CEASE TO LEAD, WS CEASE TO FOLLOW.' . BY JOHN G. GIVEN. EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 1850. VOL. G. NO. 27. D KXSOBLLANSOUS. The Celebrated: Texan spy. fc About two years after the Texan revo lution, a difficulty occurred between the new government aud a portion of the peo ple, which .threatened the most serious consequences even bloodshed and hor rors 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 to be kepV with the reservation, however, of a power in the president to order their temporary removal in ease of danger from the inroads of a foreign enemy, or the force of a sudden insurrection. Conceiving that the exceptional emer gency had arrived, as the Camanches fre quently committed ravages within sight of the capital itself, Houston, who then resi ded at Washington, on the Brazos, dis patched an order commanding the subor dinate functionaries to send the state re cords to the latter place, which he de clared to be, pro tempore, the seat of gov ernment. ' , It is impossible to describe the stormy excitement which the promulgation of this Jiat raised in Austin. The keeper of ho tels, boarding-houses, groceries, and faro banks were thunderstruck, maddened to frenzy; for the measure would be a death blow to their prosperity in business; and, accordingly they determined at once to take the necessary steps to avert the dan ger, by opposing the execution of Hous tiu's mandate. They called a mass meet ing of the citizens and farmers of the cir cumjacent countrv . who were all more or less interested in "the question; and after many fiery speeches against the asserted tyranny of the administration, it was unan imously resolved to prevent the removal of the archives by open and armed resist ance. To that end they organized a com pany of four hundred men, one moiety of whom, relieving the o'her at regular peri ods of duty, should keep constant guard around the state-house until peril passed by. The commander of this force was one Colonel Morion, who had achieved considerable renown in the war for inde pendence,' and had still more recently dis played desperate bravery in two desper ate duels, in both of which hp had cut his antagonist nearly to pieces with the bowie knife. Indeed, from the notoriety of hi character for revenge, as well as courage, it was thought that President Houston would renounce his purpose touching the archives, so 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 boastful threats. He swore that if the President did succeed in removing the lec ords by the march of an overpowering force, he would ihen himself hunt him down like a wolf, and shoot him with little ceremony or stab him in his bed, or way lay him in his walks of recreation. He even wrote the hero of San Jacinto to that effect. The latter replied in a note of la conic brevity: If the people of Austin do not send the archives, I shall certainly come and take them, and if Col. Mortoii 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 pa raded the streets from morning , till night and a select caucus held permanent ses sion in the city hall. In short everything betokened a coming tempest. One day, while matters were in this precarious condition, the'eaucus at the city hall was surprised by the sudden appear ance of a stranger, whose mode of enter ing was as extraordinary as ' I is looks and dress. . He did not knock at- the! closed door he did not seek admission thereat all; but climbing unseen . a small bushy topped live oak v which grew. .beside the wall,' he leaped without sound or warning through :a lofty window. He was clothed -altogether in buckskin, carried a long "and very heavy rifle in his hand, wore at the button of his left suspender a large bowie knife, and had in his leathern belt a couple of pistols half the length of his gun. He -was tall, straight as an arrow, active as a panther in his motions, with dark com plexion and luxuriant jetty hair, with a severe iron-like countenance, that seemed never. to. have known a smile, and eyes of intense vivid black, wild and rolling, and piercing as .'the point of a dagger. . His trange advent inspired a thrill of involun tary fear, and many present unconsciously grasped the handles of their side-arms. ..' I. Who ate you, that ; thrs presumes to "intrude among gentlemen without invita tion?? demanded Col. Morton ferociously essaying to cow down the stranger with his eye. The latter returned his stare with com- '" pound interest, and laid his long bony fin ger on his lip, as a sign but of what, the spectators could not imagine. "Who are you? Speak! or I will cut an answer out of your heart!" shouted Morton, almost distracted with rage by the cool-sneering gaze, of the other, who now removed his finger from 'his lip. and laid it on the hilt of. his monstrous knife. The fiery colonel then drew his dagger, and was in the act of advancing upon the stranger, when several caught him and held him back remonstrating. "Let him alone, Morton, for God's sake. Do you not perceive that he is crazy?"' At that moment Judge Webb, a man of shrewed intellect and courteous man ners, stepped forward, and addressed the intruder in a most respectful manner: My good friend, 1 presume you have made a mistake in the house. This is a private meeting, where none but members are admitted." The stranger did not apppar to compre hend the words, but he could not fail to understand the mild and deprecatory man ner. His rigid features relaxed, and mo ving to a table in the centre of the hall, where there. were materials and imple ments for writing, he seized a pen and traced one line: '! am deaf." He then held it up before the spectators, as a sort : of natural apology for his own want of po liteness. Judge Webb took the paper and wrote a question. "Dear Sir, will you be so obligtng as to inform us what is your bus iness with the presunt meeting. The other responded by delivering a letter inscribed on the back, "To the citi zens of Austin." They broke the seal; and read it aloud. It was from Houston, ! and showed the usual terse brevity of his style: "Fellow -Citizens: Though in error. and deceived by the arts of traitors, I will , give you three days more to decide wheth er you will surrender the public archives. At tfie end of that time you will please let me know your decision. Sam. Houston." After the reading, the deaf maa waited a few seconds, as it for a reply, and then turned and was about to leave the hall, when Colonel Morton interposed, and sternly beckoned him back to the table. Thf stranger obeyed, and Morton wrote: "You was brave enough to insult me by your threatening looks ten minutes ago; are you brave enough now to give me sat isfaction?". The stranger penned his reply: "I am at jour service!" Morton wrote again: "Who will be your second?" The stranger rejoined: "I am too gen erous to seek an advantage; and too brave to fear any on the part of others; therefore I never need the aid of a sec ond." . : Morton penned: "Name you terms." The stranger traced without a mo ment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this e vening; place, left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin;. weapons, rides; and dis tance, a hundred yards. Do not fail to be in time!" , . ' ' . He then took three steps across the floor, and disappeared through the window as he had entered. . .. "What!". exclaimed Judge .W'ebb, "is it possible Colonel Morton,, that you in tend to fight that man? He is a, mute, if not a posiiive.maniac. Such a meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish the lustre joi your laurels." - ' - , - - ." . "You are mistaken," replied Morton, witli a smile; "that mute is a hero whose fame stands in .the record of a dozen bat tles, and at least half as many bloody du els Besides, he is th favorite emissary and bosom friend of Houston. If I have the good fortune to kill him, I think it will tempt the President to retract his vow against venturing any more on the field of honor." ' . "You know the man then. "Who is he? Who is he?" asked twenty voices to ficther. . - ' , : 'Deaf Smith," answered.Morton coolly. "Why no, that cannot be: Deaf Smith was slain at San Jacinto,' remarked Judge Webb. ' V "There. again, your honor is mistaken" said 'Morton. ; "The story of Smith's death was a mere fiction, got up by Hous ton to save the life of his favorite from the sworn vengeance of certain Texaus, on whose conduct he had acted as a spy; I fathomed, the artifice twelve.: months since' : : .' !. - : f ..- , - . t'lf what you say le; true, you are a madman yourself!" exclaimed Webb. "Deaf Smith was never known to miss his mark. He has often brought clown ravens in their most rapid, flight, and killed Ca manches ard Mexicans a distance of 250 yards. . : . . r 'r V . . ' '.' : '. S.ay no more," answered CoY. Morton in tones of deep determination; ' "the thing is already settled. I have already agreed to meet him.' There can be no disgrace in falling before such a shot, and if I suc ceed, my triumph will confer the greater glory!" Such was the general habit of thought and feeling prevalent throughout Texas at that period. Towards evening a vast crowd assem bled at the place appointed to witness the hostile meeting; and so great was the pop tdar recklessness as 10 affairs of the sort, that numerous and considerable sums were wagered on the result. At length the red orb of the summer sun touched the curved rim of the western horison, cover ering it all with crimson and gold, and fil ling the air with a flood of burning glory; and then the two mortal antagonists, arm ed with long ponderous rifles, look their station, back to back, and at a preconcert ed signal the waving of a white" hanker chief walked slowly and steadily ofT in opposite directions, counting their steps until- each had measured fifty They both completed the given number about the same instant, and then they wheeled, each to aim and fire when - he chose. As the distance was great, both paused for J some seconds long enough for the behol ders to flash their eyes from one to the oth er, and mark the striking contrast betwixt them. The face of Colonel Morion was calm and smiling, but the smile it bore'had ! a most merderous meaning. On the con trary, the countenance of Deaf Smith was stern and passionless as ever. Aside-view of his features might have been mistaken for a profile done in cast-iron. The one. too, was dressed in the richest cloth, the ! other in smoke-tinted leather. Hut that made no difference in Texas then; for the I heirs of heroic courage were all considered j peers the class of inferiors embraced i none but cowards. Presently two rifles exploded with sim ultaneous roars. Colonel Morton gave a prodigious bound upwards, and dropped to the earth a corpse. Deaf Smith stood erect, and immediately began to re-load j his rifle; and then, having finished his brief I task, he hastened away into the adjacent forest. Three days afterwards. General Hous ton accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten other men, oppeared in Austin, and with out further opposition removed the state papers. The historv of the hero of the forejro ing anecdote was one of the most extiaor dinary ever known in- the West. He made his advent in Texas at an early period, and continued to reside there un til his death, which happened some two years ago;" but although he had many warm personal friends, no one could ever ascertain either the land of his birh,' cr a single gleam of his previous biography. When he was questioned on the subject, lie laid his finger on his lip; and if press ed more urgently, his brow writhed, and his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of j iivid fire! lie could write with astonish ing correctness and facility, considering his situation; and although denied the ex quisite pleasure and priceless advanta ges of the sense of- lienrmrr ' iinliiri l.nd 0 - - , "o T t given him ample compensation, by an I eye quick aud hr-seeing as an eaghi's and a smell keen and incredible as that of a raven. He could discover objects moving miles away iri the far-ofT prairie, when others could perceive nothing but earth and sky; and the rangers used to declare mat he could catch a scent of a Mexican cr Indian ot as great a distance as a buzzard could distinguish the odor of a dead 'Carcass. ' . . ,.. It was these qualities which fitted him so well for a spy, in which capaciiy he rendered invaluable services tollouston's army during the war 'of independence. He always went alone, and generally obtained the information desired. His habits in private lile were equally singular. He l comd nevei be persuaded to sleep under the roof of a house, or even to use' a tent cloth. Wrapped in his blanket, he loved to 1 c out in the open air, under the' bi'ue canopy of pure; ether, and court t the- stars, I or gaze with a yearning look at the mel ancholy moon. , When not employed asH a spy or gmae, tie subsisted by hunting, being often'absent on solitary excursions for weeks and even "months together in the wilderness. IJe was a Genuine son t)f nature, a grown up child .of, the woods and prairie, which he worshipped vith a sort ol Pagan adoration. Included by his infirmities from cordial fellowship with his kind,' he made , the inanimate things of the earth his friends, and enter ed by the heart's own adoption into broth erhood with the lurnfnaries of heaven! Wh ere ver there' was land or water, bar- ren mountains or tangled bra kes of wild waving: cane, there" was Deaf Smith's home, and there he was happy; but in the streets of great.cities, in all the great tho roughfares cf men, wherever there was flattery or fawning,"base canmg or -craven fear, there was Deaf Smith an alien and an exile. Strange soul! he hath departed on the long journey, away among those high bright stars which were his night'lamps; and he bath either solved or ceased to ponder the deep mystery of the magic word, "life." He is dead; tkerfore let his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues bs rememdered with hope. HAPPIEST MOMENT of MY LIFE. In all the pride and condescension of an inmate of Grosvenor-square, I looked upon Lady Motley's At Home. 4Yes, 1 said, flinging away the card, with a tragedy twist of the fingers yes; 1 will be there. For one evening I will encoun ter the tedium and the taste of a village ball. For one evening I will doom my self to figures that are out of date, and fiddles that are out of tune; dowagers who make embroidery by wholesale, and de moiselles who make conquests by profes sion; for one evening I will endure the inquiries about Almaek's and St. Paul's, the tales of the weddings that have been and the weddings that are to be, the round of curtsies in the ball-room, and the round of beef at the supper-table; for one evening 1 will not complain of the everlasting hos tess and the everlasting Boulinger. of the double duty and the double bass, of the great heiress, and the great plum puddidg: "Come on, come all, Come dance in Sir Roger's hall " And thus by dint of civility, indolence, quotation and antithesis, I bent up each corporal agent to the terrible feat, and 'would have the honor of waiting upon her ladyship" in due form. 1 went: turned my uncle's one-horse chaise into the long old avenue, about an hour after the lime specified, and percei ved by the lights flashing from all the windows, and the crash of chairs and carriages returning from the door, that the room was most punctually full, and the performers most pastorally impatient. The first face I encouutered on my en trance, was that of my old friend Villars; I was delighted to meet him, and express ed my astonishment at finding him in a situation for which his inclination, one would have supposed, was as little adapted. By Mercury!' he exclaimed, 'lam me tamorphosed, fairly metamorphosed, my good Vyvyan; I have been detained here three months by a fall from Sir Peter, and have amused myselt most indefalaga bly by humming tunes and reading news papers, winding silk, and guessing con undrums. I have made myself the admi ration, the adoration, the very worship of all the coteries in the place; am reckoned very clever at cross purposes, and very apt at what's my thought like!' The 'squires have discovered 1 can carve, and j the matrons hold me indispensable at loo. j Come! I am of little seivice to-night, but' ray popularity may be of use to you: you j don t know a soul: 1 thought so; read it in your face the - moment you came in never saw such a there, Vyvyan, look there! I will introduce you." And so saying, my companion half limped. halt danced with me up to Miss Amelia Mesnil, and presented me in due form. When I look hack to any particular scene of my existence, I can4ver keep the stage clear of second-rate characters. I never think of Mr. Kean's Othello with out an intrusive reflection upon the Sub ject of Mr. Copper's Cassio; I never call to mind a gorgeous scattering forth of ro ses from Mr. Canning,' without a painful idea of some contemporary effusion of poppies from Mr. Hume. And thus, beautiful Margaret, it is in vain that I en deavor to separate your fascination from the group which ' was collected around you. Perhaps that dominion, which ' at this moment 1 feel almost revived, recurs more vividly to my imagination when the forms and figures of all by whom it was contested are associated in its renewal. '. First comes Amelia the magnificent, the acknowledged ' belle of the country, very stifTand very dumb in. her unheeded and uncontested supremacy; and next." the most black-browed of fox-hunters, Augus ta, enumerating the names of her father's stud, and dancing as if she imitated; and then the rno3t accomplished Jane, vowing that for the last month she had endured immense ennui, that she thinks Lady Ol ivia prodigiously 'fade, that her cousin Sophy is quite brillante to-night, and that Mr. Peters plays tub violin a merveillel I am bored, my dear Villars positive ly bored! the light is bad and the music abominable! there is no r spring in 'the boards and less iu the. conversation; it is a lovely moonlight night, and there is noth ing worth looking at in the room.' '' I shook hands with my friend, bowed to three or four people, and was moving ofl'. As I passed to the door, I met two ladies in conversation;- "Don't you dance any more, Margaret? said one. 0 uo,' replidd the other, I am bored, my dear Louisa positively bored; the light is bad and the music abominable; there is no spring in the boards, and less in the conversation; it is a lovely moonlight night, and there is nothing worth looking at in the room." I never was distanced in a jest. I put on the look of a ten years acquaintance, and commenced parley. Surely you are not going away yet; you have not danced with me, Margaret; it is impossible you can be so cruel! The lady behaved with wonderful intrepedity. 4She would allow me the honor-but I was very latc;-really, I had not deserved it; and so we stood up together. Are you not very impertinent?' Very; but you are very handsome. Nay; you are not to be angry; it was a fair challenge, and fairly received." And you will not even ask my pardon? No! it is out of my way! I never do those things; it would embarrass me be yond measure. Pray, let us accomplish an introduction; not altogether an usual one; but that matters little. Vyvyan Joy euse rather impertinent, and very fortu nate at j our service. Margaret Orleans very handsome, and rather foolish at your service.' Margaret danced like an angel. I knew she would. I could not conceive by what blindness I had passed four hours without being struck. We talked of all things that are, and a few beside. She was something of a botanist, so we began with flowers; a digression upon China roses carried us to China the mandarins with little brains, and the ladies with little feet the emperor the Orphan of China ; vouaire zayrc criticism ur. Johnson the great bear the system of Coperni cus stars ribbons garters the order of the Bath sea-bathing Dawlish Sid mouth Lord Sidmouth Cicero Rome Italy Alfieri Metastasio fountains groves gardens and so, as ihe dancing concluded, we contrived to end as we be gan, with Margaret Orleans and botany. XT 1 . " fF w-v V a i Margaret talked well on all subjects, and wittily on many. I had expected to find nothing but a romping girl, somewhat amusing, and very vain. But I was out of my latitude in the first five minutes, ana out of my senses in the next. She left the room very early, and I drove home, more astonished ' than I had been for many years. j Several weeks passed away, and I was about to leave England, to join my sisters on the Continent. I determined to look once more on that enslaving smile, whose recollection ' had huanted me more than once. I, had ascertained that she resided with an old lady who took two pupils, and taught French and Italian, and music and manners, at an establishment called Vine House. Two days before I left the country, I had been, till a late hour, shoot ing at a mark with a duelling pi?tol an entertainment, of which, perhaps from a lurking presentiment, I was very fond. I was returning alone when I perceived, by the light of an enormous lamp, a board by the wayside bearing the welcome inscrip tion, Vine Hcuse."' Enough,' I exclaimed, 'enough I one more scene before the curtain drops Ilomeo and Juliet by lamplight! I roam ed about the dwelling place of all I held dear, till I saw a figure at one of the win dows, in the back of the house, which it was quite impossible to doubt. I leaned against a tree in a sentimental position, and began to chant my own rhymes thus: Pretty ccq-iette, the ceaseless JIJ . Of thine unstudied wit. And lUy dark eye's remembered my Iy buoyant fancy lit. And thy yunij fureliead' clear expanse, Where the lock'u slejt.. as through the dance. Dreamlike 1 saw lli.-e flit. Are far too warm, and far to fair. To mix with aupbt of earthly cro, IJuttlie vision khall come when my day is done, A frail and a fair! and a fleeting one! "And if the many bo!d!y -gize On that bright brow of thine. And if thine eye's undying rays, On countless coxcombs shine. And if thy wil llitig out its mirth, Which echoes more of air than earth,. For vther cars thnn mine. I hoed not thU, ye are fickle things. And I likej-our very wanderings; I ghze, and if thousands thare toe bit, lctty capricious! I heod nut this. In sooth I am a wayward youth, ' " Ai fick'e s the sa. And very apt to speak the truth, Unpleasing tliougli ilba; I am no lover, yet, as long . As I have heart for jest or son, ... An image, tweet, of thee. Ijoeked in my heart's remotest treasures, . Shall over to one of its hoards. I pleasures. This from thu scoffer thou lust won, , ' And muro t!mn - this l.e gives tv none. Are they' yniur own verses?' said my idol at the window. They are yours, Margaret! I was only the versifier; you were the muse herself. ". The muse herself is obliged to you.--And now vhat is your errand? for it gnows late, and you must be sensible no, that you never will be but you must be aware that this is very indecorous. I am come to see you, dear Margaret; which I cannot without candles; to see you, and to tell you, that it is impossi ble I can forget Bless me! what a memory you hare! But you must take another, opportunity for your tale! for Alas! I leave England immediately? A pleasant voyage to you! there, not word more; I must run down to coffee. Now may I never laugh more, I said, 'if I am to be baffled thus;' so I strolled back to the front of the ' house and pro ceeded to reconnoitre. A bay-window was half open, and in a. small neat draw ing room I perceived a group assembled; an old lady, with a high muslin cap and red ribbons, was pouring out the cof fee her nephew, a tall awkard young gentleman, silting on oue chair and rest ing his legs on another, was occupied in the study of Sir Charles Grandisoa: and my fair Margaret was leaning on a sofa, and laughing immoderately. Indeed, Miss,' said the matron, 'you should. learn to govern your mirth; people will think you came out of Bedlcm. I lifted the window gently, and slept into the room. Bcdlam, madam! quoih I, I bring intelligence from Bedlam; I ar rived last week. The tall awkard young gentleman stared: and the aunt half said, half skriek cd 'What in the name of wonder ar you? Mad, madam ! very particularly mad ! mad as a hare in March, or a Chcapside a a blood on Sunday morning. Look at me! do I not foam? listen to me! do I not raie? Coffee, my dear madam, coffee; there is no animal so thirsty as your madman in thedog days. Eh! really!' said the tall awkward young gentleman. My good sir, I began;- but my origi nal insanity began to fail me, nd I drew forthwith upon Ossian's Fiy! receive the wind and fly; the blasts are in the hol low of mv hand, the course of the storm is mine! Eh! really! said the tall awkward young gentleman. I look on the nations and they vanish; my nostrils pour the blast of death: I come abroad on the winds; thf tempest is before my face; but my dwelling is calm, above the clouds; the fields of my rest aro pleasant. Do you mean to insult us? said the old lady. Ay! do you mean to insult my aunt? really! said the tall awkward young gen tleman. I shall call in my servants, said the old lady. Iam the humblest ofkthemt' said I, bowing. I shall teach you a different tune, said the tall awkward young gentleman, really!' Very well, my dear sir; my instrument is the barrel organ; and I cocked toy sweet little pocket companion in his face, "Vanish, little Kastril; for by Hannibal, Heliogabalus, and Holaphernes, lime is valuable; madness is precipitate, and hair triggers is the word: vanish!' Eh! really!' said the the tall awkward young gentleman, andperformed an en trechat which carried him to the door; the old lady had disappeared at he first noto of the barrel organ. I locked the door and found Margaret "m "a paroxysm of laughter. I wish you had shot him, she said, when she recovered, I wish vou had shot him: he is a sad fool.' Do not talk of him; I am speaking to you, beautiful Margaret, possibly for the last time! Will you ever think of me perhaps you will. But let me receive from you some token that I may dote upon in other years; something that may be a hope to me in my happiness, and a consolation in calamity. Something nay! I never could talk romance; but give me one lock of your hair, and I will will leave England with resignation. . You have earned it like a true , night, said Margaret; and she severed from her head a long glossy ringlet. Look, she continued. you must to horse; the country has risen' for your apprehension. I turn ed towards the window. The country had indeed risen. Nothing was to bo seen but gossoons in the van, Tand gossips in the" rear, red faces and white jackets, gallants in smock frocks, and gay damsels in grogram. Bludgeons were waving and torches, were flashing, as ftr as the gaze could reach. All the chivalry of the place was arming anu cuauiig, ouu aumj; for a volley of pebbles and oaths together. I kneeled down and kissed her hand. It was the happiest moment of my life! Now, said I, 'an revoir, my sweet Mar garet. and ia a moment I was in the lane. ".. This was my first folly. I looked at the lock of hair often, but I never saw Margaret again. She has become th wife of a young clergyman, and resides with him" on a small living in Stafford shire. I believe she. is very happy, and I have forgotten the color of her cye.
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