Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-01-17
Mr.. Bea;amia TO Mr. .StideU.

I
SIR: siuce my No. Of Goth ultimo. of which dupli-
cate is herewith forwarded some circumstances of
remarkable character have TO the knowledge of the
President to which Your earnest attention ia invited
On the eth instant the President received from Gov
lubbock of Texas, letter of which copy 10 annexed
marked A, with enclosures Nos. and 2
The very singular nature of this correspondence initial
ed you will perceive, by Mr.. Theron French Con-
sular Agent and Spanish Vice Consul at Galveston natu
rally excited lively interest but had not yet arrived
at any satisfactory conclusion to the nature and extent
nor the of the intrigue evidently on foot when on
the 18th instant the President received from the Hon W.
s. Oldham, Senator from Texas letter of which copy
! marked b. ia herewith enclosed
The concurrent action of two French Con uar officers
at points remote from each other as Galveston ard
richmond; the evident unders landing which exists be-
tween them; the similarity Of their views and conduct
the choice of Mr.. Oldham the party to b approached
he being generally considered identified with The party
opposed to the Administration, while Mr. Wgfali is is
supporter oil in satisfying that there not only
concert OF action between hese officials but that their
conduct has been dictated by superior In
plain language feel authorized to infer that the French
Government has, for interest Of it's instruc ed
of its consular agents here to feel the way, and if
possible to provoke movement the part of the
State Of Texas which shall result in its withdrawal from
as Confederacy. 1t is dicalt if not impossible ANY
other hypothesis to account for the these agents
have, in accordance with the instructions OF the Pres
dent expelled both Mr. Theron and Mr. Tabouee from the
Confederacy and have forbidden their return without the
previous permission Of the Government enclose you
copies of the orders Of expulsion marked c and D.
In endeayorng to account for such of action
1
| it to both of the following causes:
let The Emperor of the French has determined TO
qner and hold Mexico colony and is DESTROYS Of inter
posing weak power between his colony and the Con-
ederate States in order that he may feel against
any interference with his designs on Mexico
ID The French Government is desireus of securing for
itself independent Of cotton supply to Offset that
by Great Britain Iudia and designs to effect
his purpose by taking under its protection the State Of
Texas which, after being acknowledged independent
republic, would in its opinion be in effect dependent
French French
| coouy.
is than probable that both these considerations
would have weight in the councils Of the French Cabinet
and without suspicion that the tortuous diplomacy
Of Mr.. Seward may have had some influence in inspiring
such designs The desire to weaken the Conderacy, to
exhibit It To tho world rope If san1, without
ssence cohesion, and therefore worthy of recog
milton independent member of the family of nations,
would afford ample motives for tho adoption Of such
by thu Cabinet of the United States which driven
TO diplomacy of expedents in the desperate effort to
avert the impending ON which awaits the party in
power in Washington.
One ether suggestion occurs to me, which you may re-
ceire purely Iscura on my part 1t is known to
personally that At the date Of TIE xaon of Texas
the United States, Mr. Dubois de Sapny the pressn
| French Minister ia Mexico, AID who at that time
French Charge dAfares to the Republic of Texas
yecmenty opposed to the annexation and sctve in
endea'orng 10 obsruc and prevent it. Even at that date
the despstchts OF Mr. Guizo', which had opportunity
of reading, filed with arguments to show that the
interests If Texas identical with those of France
anl that 9TH wJu be promoted by the maintenance of
separate nationality in Texas. The intrigue foot
therefore sccords completely with policy in regard to
Texas that may be almost said TO be traditional with
France; and il is not Impossible that the movement of the
consular agents here has received its impne from the
French legation in Mexico instead of the Cabinet of the
\ lotteries
These movements nre not onsilered as having the
slightest importance far their effect Texas is
earned The Of Governor Lubbock and the letter
OF Mr. Oldham will satisfy you how little tho gentlemen
were Opposed to encourage such Attempts while the popu
lar feeling Texas best eynced by the fact that she has
seventy Regiments of counters in army But the
evidence thus afforded OF disposition the part of
France to seize this crisis Of fate her occasion
for the promotion Of selfish interests and this the
assurances Of friendly disposition or, at worst impartial
neutrality which you have received from the sadrg public
Of France, cannot but awaken solictude; aud the
President trusts that you will every effort discover
the urce extent and designs Of these intrigues and
whether the United States parties to them 1t may
perhaps be Ia your power TO make of this discovery
also by awakening the Brdh Government to of
the fact that designs enterteacd which that Govern
mebt Is not probably aware AID which il may be unwilling
| to accomplished.
An enlarged and generous saicsmanshp would seem to
indicate 80 clearly that The establishment of Southern IT.
dependence on secure basis (agd with strength ssf
cent to couDerbaance the power Of the United Stats ss
well as to prevent extensive French colonization
Southern 6oder) would promote The true interests Of
Great Britain, that we find difficult to account for her
persistent refusal to recognise Independence The
knowledge OF secret attempt the part of France to
obtain sep9rste advantages OF such magnitude
perhaps induce change in the views Of the Brti.h Cabi
net peak Of the attempt secret for it scarcey pos
sbe to suppose that the act Of the French agents
taken with the c0nnvanc of the British
Government III you the conclnsinn that these
cnecures are We'll founded you at lbe rty to make
known 10 her ys Government the facts herein COM
muncaed either through the British Minister at Paris
by c0Bcet with Mr. Mass 1t is deemed desirable that
in either event you should adye Mr. Mason OF the
you may adopt it is very probable that the Engish
Government Will learn from Richmond the fact Of tho ex
p-on Of the Conu and the OF tse action of ts
Government, which frsm its very nature il accompanied
with degree OF publicity
enclose /, Mr. Mason for his Information copy of this
communication. Your obedieut servant
j. T. BENJAMIN, Secretary az State
Hen JoHE SLIDELL Comm ssioner sc &C. Paris
OCTOBER 90 1862
p S Siac, the foregoing written have had an in
tergew with Mr. Tabouee and from the explanations Of
Tered by him and certain facts which have cms b. my
knowledge, have become satisfied that notwthstsnd No
the singular coincidence between hs conversation with
Mr. Oldham and the communication Of Mr. Theron 10 Gov
Lubbock, there concert Of action between them
and nt Tabuee is party to the intrigue referred to
The order for bis expulsion has been therefore revoked a
sou will perceive by the annexed copy OF letter to him.
marked II.
1t is barely possible though think not probable that
Theron ay acted bis ideas of what he sup
pc cd would be agreeable TO bis supeors and not In con
sequence 81 Instructions The whole matter il one Of
great decacy aud NUT leave to your discretion
how best 80 treat it, after endeavorng TO sat sly yourself
whether Thefons movements dictated by the French
Cabi1et Very respectfully, Your obedient servant,
}. r. BENJAMIN, Secretary OF s. ate
Private and confident nj
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
dustin. Teas September IL 1862
ar nav