, 1863-01-23


CONFEDERATE STATES OF A4En1cA4
Dept Of State, Richmond, Oct. II, 1862. (
SIR-Since my No. e of oGtA ult., of which
duplicate Is herewith forwarded, some cir
cuInstanccs Of 4 very remarkable character
have come to the knowledge Of the President,
10 which your earnest attention is invited.
On the 7th inst. The President received from
copy is annexed, marked 4, with enclosures
Nns. and g.
Tic very singular nature Of this correspond
cncc, Initiated, as you will perceive, By II. B.
Theron, French Consular Agent and Spanish
Vice Consul at Galveston, naturally excited
lively interest, but we had not yet arrived ut
any satisfactory. conclusion as to the nature
and extent, nor the source Of the intriguccvi-
IDENTIFY on foot, when, on the 18th inst, the
President received from the Hon. ". 8. Old
ham, Senator from Texas, letter, Of which
copy, marked B, is herewith enclosed.
The concurrent action Of two French Con-
sular officers at points SO remote from each
other as Galveston and Richmond; the cyi-
dent understanding which exists between them,
tho similarity Of their views and conduct; the
choice Of Mr. Oldham IS the party to be ap-
preached, he being generally Identified With
while MI. Wfgfall is the supporter; oil CON
cnf in satisfying us that there is not only con-
cert Of action between these officials, but
that their conduct has been dictated By some
common superior: In plain language, we feel
authorized to infer that the French govern
1nent has, for some interest of Its own, in-
structed some Of its consular agents here to
feel the way, and If possible to provoke some
movement on the part Of the State Of Texas,
which shall result in It's Withdrawal from the
Ccnfcderacy. It is difficult, ifnot impossible,
on any other hypothesis, to account for the
I have, In accordance with the instructions
Of the President, expelled both n Theron
and Ai. Tabouelle from the Confederacy, and
hnvc forbidden tlcir return without the pre-
close you copies Of the orders Of expulsion
marked c and D.
In cndcayoring to account for such course
Of action on the part Of the French Govern
mcnt, can only attribrte 1t to one Or both of
tic following Causes:
1st. The Emperor Of the Trench has deter
mined to conquer and hold Mexico as i col
ony, and is dcslrous of interpreting weak
power between lis new colony and the Con-
fedcrate States, in order that he may feel &C.
cure against any interference with his designs
OIL Mexico.
I'd. The French government is desi1ous Of
securing for itself an independent source Of
cotton supply, to offset that possessed BY
Great Britain in India, and designs to effect
this purpose by taking under its projection
the State Of Texas, which, after being acknowl-
edged rs an independent republic, would in
France, and as sul,seryient to French inter
; csts, as if a French colony.
It is more than probable that both these
conscientious would have weight in the
t councils of tho French Cabinet, and We arc
F., not without suspicion that the tortuous diplo-
macy of Nr. Seward may hare had some In
! d,sence in inspiring such designs. The desire
! to weaken the Confederacy, to exhibit it to
| The world as "a rope Of sand,'' without CON
| eistencc or cohesion, and therefore not worthy
; of recognition rs an independent member Of
! tho family of nations, would afford ample
! motives for the adoption Of such course by
the Cabinet OF the United States, which is
/ driven to diplomacy Of cxpcdients in the
+! desperate effort to avert the impending doom
| which awaits the partyn now In rowcrin Wash.
| iDgton. :,
!; you may receive us purely conJcctural On my
part. It is known to lne, personally, that nt
i The date Of the annexation Of Texas to the
United States, Mr.. Dubois dc Saligny, the
present French Minister in Mexico, and who
was at that time French Charge d. d-A6airss tc
the republic Of Texas, was vchcmently oP
posed to the annexation, and was active ir
cndeayoring to obstruct and prevent it. Ever
Mt that date, the dispatches Of NJ Guizot
which had in opportunity Of reading, wers
filled with arguments to show that the in
tcrcsts Of Texas were identical with those O
France, and that both would be promoted ~
the maintenance Of 4 separate nationality il
Texas. The intrigue now on foot, therefore
aecords completely with policy ia regard t.
Texas that may be almost said to he tradition
al with France; and It is not impossible tha
Tie movement Of the consular agents here hi
received its first impulse from the Frcnc'
legation in Mexico, instead Of the Cabinet O
the Tuilcries.
Mr. Benjamin, writing on October II, t
| II. Theron, French Consul at Galveston
orders him 10 leave in these terms:
This attempt on your part is considered b
The President as an abuse Of the hospitality c
the Contcdcracy, and Us indicating hostiiit
On your part to this government and people
} Your presence within the Confedcracy ca
: no longer be permitted. You are therefor
required to depart Immediately, and not t
, return without the previous permission {
l this government.
Benjamin writes, on the san1c day, to II,
gruder, in Texcs:
t The President requests that you will hay
this order executed as promptly as can |
done without undue larshncss, and that 70
i have Theron conveyed under surveillance
e Metamoras, or any other convenient point G
y the Mexican frontier, where he can depart Il
U Europe if he chooses.