New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-20
THE REPORTED FRENCH INTRIGUE
IN TEXAS.
The French Government no Party 10 the
scheme-It Originated with Galveston
Grocer.
nal Correspondent.

From An Occaii0nsl Correspondent
WAsHisGTos, JAN IL, 1863.
The conduct Of the French consular agents Theron
and TabouelIe concerning the separation of Texas
from the Rebel pretended Confederacy, being calcu-
lated to be used as n text for ignorant comments by
certain newspapers, allow me to give you the fol.
lowing information which | derive from the, most
authentic sources. You will thereby learn that the
French Government, which is accused of having
connved at such transaction, does not even know
Of it, and that the whole responsibility Of the affair
falir upon unknown agents, and subaltern officers
who, desirou, Of distinguishing themselves, have, on
their own account, assumed certain functions IN.
warranted by their rank and position
Re time Of the admission Of Texas into the
Union, there were, you remember two pst!ie..-one
in favor Of that measure, the other desrOds OF secu-
ing the ade pendence Of that State under the project
crate of France. The latter party was so strong that
it dispatched / believe, Gen. Lamar TO Paris in
order TO make proposals to Louis Philippe TO that
effect The offer was declined, and after long and
stormy discussion Texas was admitted by Congress
into the Union by a majority of one vote.
understand that since tLst ume there has always
been party in Texas attached TO the old idea Of To-
dependence and to the French protectOrate. Some
members Of that party, believing that tue troubles in
which the Union was plunged afforded a favorable
opportunity for the triumph OF their fayorite idea
went to Theron, grocer established in Galveston,
and advised him to sound the present Governor oil
Texas, Mr.. Lubbock, TO see whether he would not
be inclined lend his influence 10 the party Of inde-
penC<nce and to deiaoh Texas from the Rebel pre-
tended COnfederacy.
Yuu know that according TO French usages
Consular Agent has no official rank, receives NO
pay, and is even unknown 10 The French Govern
ment. lie is appointed by French Consul Of the
nearest city, upon certificate of good character and
standing, without reference to his intelligence and
knowledge. In tho case alluded to, Mr.. Theron,
who ia grocer established for some time in Calves
ton received from the French and Spanish consus in
Orleans the mi sson 10 actas agent for France and
Spain-that is to say, to sign passports and to per
form certain other trfing duties. You Will see oy
this simple definition of the attributes OF the Consul
lar Agent, that the French Government would IN no
manner have trusted such an unimporant parsonage
with 80 delicate a business as tho dlsmembering Oh
Government and tho revolutionizng OF STATE
As TO the action Of Mr. Tabouelle the Chapeelor Vi
tho French Consulate at Richmond, he seems 10 n'V'
received erroneous information from Theron VII"
whom he was acquainted before, that ieAA, was VI
the eve of separating from the Rebel pretended Con-
federacy. and in consequence wss encour'geu 10 act
conformity with him in that work. T"1oueiie, whose
oaSe is equivalent 10 that of clerk in tho French
ConsulAte. ayailed himself OF tho absence OF MI
pan, III, French Consul, who was then at New
york 70 show bis zeal for the Government he serves
ond beicved to have found an opportunity for pro-
m",on, He then lent himself ignorantly to the 10
treue, which, as 1 have already said, orig inated
With the friends of Texan independence, and went
vi,b the documents sent TO him by Theron, to the
eonator from Texas, Mr.. Oldham, to whom he made
The propositions referred to by Mr.. Benjaman in his
dispatches to Mr.. Siidel. The proof, however, that
he acted nnocenty in that transaction, is to be found
in the resembling of the order which had expelled
him and Theron from tho Coufedoracy. That order
as you may observe shows that there was no con-
eerted action between the two men, and that Taoon'
clio was 10 party IN the intrigue Will add 10 'nis