Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-04-24

Some Tacts About Texas.
The recent arrival of Gen. Lew. Wallace ia
Washington. on his return from bis late mission
10 Mexico and Texas, furnishes proper occa-
siou Ter stating fes facts regarding Affairs in /
that state. Which are. perhaps. not generally /
Ger. Banks I'D the Red river. the country has |
been periodically visited with rumoFs aud specu- !
latioIs about the detection OF Kirby Smith from
the confedersey the probability OF speedy peace,
&c, till most persons have become incredulOus.
But in this, IS in many similar cases which will
be recalled to mind these frequent and persistent
eruptions of rnmoT., demonstrated that there was
an under-current OF truth, of which ell these
were Only surface indications Only few facts
were positively known, even to the best informed,
and the time was not yet ripe for divuging
them, much wild and random conjecture was
sent sdrft, darkeuing the public understanding
Ia regard to Kirby Smiths specGlations in cot
ton, o time has now arrived wien they may be
spoken of with more freedom than regard Tor
the public interest has heretofore permitted. 1t
has been perfectly understood by those who have
paid any attention 10 matters in that quarter, that
cotton Is, and has been for msny months. brought
down Red river through the military lines oil both
armies. and sold al New Orleans OF course
this could not be doDe without the connivance OF
the rebel commanders not without even their CO.
operation This extent the general knowledge
bad, by inference; no more. The exact terms of
the contract we're net discov cradle. Ii appears
that certain well known business man, whose
name and residence must, for the present, be
withheld but whose transactions are fully known
and sanctioned by the government.) has sxciu-
sive control of this trade 10 rebel cotton.
He pays the owners OF the cotton fair price
for the article delivered at convenient stations,
and Kirby himself receives fifty dollars in green
backs per bale, decentralization Of an uninterrup,-
ed passage being given through his picket lines
Though Misrepresentation pays the owners what Is
perfectly satisfactory 20 themselves. he is said TO
have realized an immense fortune from his prof
iis In this connection, il is we'll 10 notice the
fact that the rebel general keeps his head
quarters always in Shreveport, on the Red
river, although all danger Of federal attack in
that quarter has long since passed away. and the
| center OF interest and activity Is much nearer
| Galveston IL Is not difficult TO assign motive
| for this action.
| Some time last winter Kirby sent message
| to Washington, proposing certain terms on which
| il would be agreeable to- him TO make n arrange
ment by which bis army should gradually be re
stored TO status of loyalty. and the state TO is
| original place in the union. 1t Is understood
that tue leading propositions made by him were
that the cotton trade should continue until suffi-
cient funds were accumulated to pay his troops a
considerable amount. if not their full dues, in
| greenbaeks that they we're then to be dsbanded
| receive he oath of amnesty, aud go to their
| homes Is vas expected that many Of them
/ from force OF habit, would prefer to continue in
| service, in which case they we're TO have an Op-
portunisy Of enlising in the federal ranks, to dc
service in Mexico. or elsewhere, as might be de-
sired. Few things are more agreeable TO the
Texan mind than the prospect OF a war with
| their old enemy; and, IN addition, the iedera
bounty of $500 would enable them 10 restore
| their families at once to a position of tolerabls
| comfort
Upon the receipt of this proposition, Genera
| Lew Wallace was seat on mission, ostensibly
| to Mexico. Ii will be remembered that he went
to Matamoras on putatse commission to In
| quire into the alleged surrender, By the imperial
General Meja, of union refugees from Texas in
| to the hands Of the Texas rebels. His errand al
Matamoras was brief. He soon left there, and
crossed over TO Brownsville where he held an
interview with The rebel Brigadier Genera
| Slaughter Immediately after communicating
| with him, Lieutenant Colonel Wooley, OF bis
| staff, was sen, TO New Orleans, by specis
United States dispatch boat. the steamer Clinton
He came for the purpose of securing the services
! Of General Davis, prominent Texan exile, then
| residing in New Orleans General Davis return
ed With him to Braxos General Slaughter, as NJ
inferior officer. had referred General " allace e
his superior. General " alker, commanding th:
district of Texas
Walker. unlike Slaughter and Kirby Smith
was found to be bitterly rebelious and intracta
ble and regarded the whole matter with abhor
renee. II would appear that he had in some
manner become appraised OF the nature of Gen
eral Wallace's mission. and the flag of truce
sent by the latter for permission to ente
Galveston and confer with Walker, wa!
turned back and not allowed TO enter. Here tbs
negotiations have, for the present. dropped. i
seems to be unfortunate that General Wallace
was not sent directly to Kirby Smith. command
erin chief of tho trans Mississippi department
For some reason this not done, and after sc
great disturbance as had been created by Wal
ker's rejection OF the mission, it seems TO have
been deemed prudent to postpone, for the present
all further negotiations in that direction. HI
obstinacy spoiled the trsde-Cinciuna,i Com
mercial