The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-01-24
Intercepted Correspondence Of the
Confederate Government

ator OLDHAM and Secretary BExsAMrE,
in reference 10 the French. Texan in.
trigue. They will be found very inter
estiDg.
RICHMOND, October 10, 1862.
His Ercel1ency Jefferson Davis, Pses-
ideat &c.
Sra: On to-day Mons. Tabouelle
French Vice Consul at Richmond, sought
an introduction to me in the Senate
chamber, and stated that he desired TO
obtain from me certain statistical infor.
nation in regard to Texas, told him I
did not then have the time TO give him
the desired information, but If be would
call at my room l would take pleasure
in giving him any information which /
possessed. He promised 70 call this
evening, which he did, and has Just left
my room. ! deem il proper to give you
the substance of the conversation be-
tween lus, as il had connection with
the subject-matter of the correspond.
ence between the Governor of Texas and
French Consular Agent at Galveston, of
which you advised Gen. Wigfall and
myself few days since.
After had furnished him with infor-
nation in regard TO the area, population,
debt taxes, and agricultural productive
capacity of Texas, he remarked that the
resources of the State were magnificent
and capable of supporting po,oerf,sl and
Independent people and then asked me
a0ietier I AiugM IL toould not be to the IN
terest Of the State to assume an independent
nationality | told him that the people of
Texas, being mostly emigrants from the
old Southern States. were strongly at
tached to those States and to our fedora
tive system of government, which | at
some length explained to him. told
him that they never could have been in
duced TO secede from the United States
! but to preserve that form of government
which was in danger of being destroyed.
! | further stated to him that not only the
affections and sympathies, but also the
! interests of the people of Texas bound
| them to the States of the ConfederaeY:
that their institutions, pursuits and APP
ricultural products were the same, and
that mutual safety required harmony
! among them, which could only be in
sured by a Confederacy;that as a sepa-
rate and independent State, Texas would
be weak and incapable of self defense:
that we were sensible we would be subject
to be involved in collisions with our sis
! ter Southern State; that the similarity
Of institutions and productions, which
are now bonds of union and the cause of
harmony, would become causes of rival
ries, jealousies, and perhaps wars be-
| tween tho States that in the Confedera.
| cy we would not be a weak and depend
ent people, incapable of resenting insult
or repelling aggression. The stbiect
was then waived, and we talked of other
matters
Butfor the fact you had called my at
tention to the CORE spond ence between
the Governor of Texas and the French
Consular Agent at Galveston, this con-
versatiOn would perhaps have made no
impression upon my mind, but as an in
PRODUCTION to me was sought by the Vice
Consul, with the view to obtain statisti-
cal information in regard to Texas, and
! the subject OF the separate Independence
of that State, was thus introduced by
BIN, it struck me that il was not casual
or accidental. He furthermore stated to
me that he had written TO the Consular
Agent at Galveston for information upon
the resources of Texas, and had received
from him specimen or sample Of Texas
swool, which he either had or intended to
send to France.
have deemed it proper TO commnni.
cate the foregoing to you, as ailording
conlirmatory evidence to the canclusien
that it is the object Of Louis Napoleon, |
and perhaps of other of the European
Powers, TO induce Texas to assume an
independent nationality. The fact COM
municated by You TO General Wigfall |
and myself put me on my guard, and |
caused me 20 be more explicit and spe- |
oific than | might otherwise have been, /
for the purpose of dissipatipg such de-
sign if it exists, and TO indnce whatever
steps that may be taken 10 be for the
benefit of the entire Oonfederacy.
am, sir, respectfully, your Obedient
servant, W. 81 OLDHAM.
Mr.. BENJAMIN, writing in October IL /
to Mr.. THERON, French Consul at Calves
ton, orders him TO leave in these terms
This attempt on your part IS considered |
by the President as an abuse Of the hos
pitality of the OonfederRcy, and as in
dicaling hostility on your part TO this
Government and people
Your presence within the Confederacy
can no longer be permitted. Yon are
therefore required 70 depart Immediately,
aud not 10 return without the previous
permission of this Government.
Benjamin writes, on the same day, to
Magruder, in Texas
The President requests that you will
have this order executed as promptly as
can be done without undue harshness,
and that you have Mr. Theron conveyed
under surveillance TO MatamOras, or any
other convenient point on the Mexican
800. 49, IL. 90 a.nnrI lu. Luun..o |