The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1884-03-08
A BIT OF SECRET HISTORY,
How Judah p. Benjamin Wanted to
Annex the South to Great Britinn.

4 How Judah p. Benjamin Wanted to
Annex the South to Great Britain.
u New York Tribune.l
THE following letter from Judah T. Benia-
min then United States Senator from Iouisi.
anna, to the British Consul in New York, was
n left among Thurlow Weed g papers, and is given
/ iu the volume of memoirs Of his grandfather
which rhurlow Weed Barnes Is now carr yiDg
! through the press. 1t Is reproduced here from
the advance sheets of that volume.l l
New YORK, Aug. II, 1860.
Dear Sir: | exceedingly regret your
absence from New York at this time, as
the important object of my visit is to
have personal and confidential inter-
view with you.
My apology for this breach Of conven.
tional usage, in presuming to address you
without the formality of an introduction,
may be pardoned in consequence of the
very extraordinary nature of the bust
ness w'l;>h iaduced me to approach you
without the friendly intervention of
third party. Indeed, it would not only
have been unwise but actually dangerous
for me even to have born an introduc.
: ton.
Having assumed the whole responsi.
bility of this very critical step, l cannot
use too much caution and circumspec.
tlon to insure my personal safety and the
successful accomplishment of the mission
II have in view. Therefore prefer
trusting my own judgment in approach.
ing genteel stranger ON such business,
to that of bringing into my service the
scrawls OF Governors or members of Con-
gress with whom, perhaps, you are as
little acquainted as myself.
4 The official confidence which your Gov.
Eernment seems to repose in you, by in
trusting to yonr charge its great CONNER
clal affairs in the most important city on
this continent, I think is sufficient to
warrant me in trusting to your discretion,
patriotism and loyalty secret of the
greatest Importance and interest to Her
Britannia Majestys Kingdom.
E The present disastrous condition of
Hpoitical affairs in the United States
(which has no parallel in the past history
lof the country seems to have split the
great Democratic party into many con-
BENDING factions, all of which are SO
hungry after the public spoils that its
|sfilslntegrated parts render them an easy
prey to the opposing Black Republicans.
E Inc doctrines maintained by the Re-
publican party are so unsuitable to the
great interests of the whole South that
|zan election of their candidate (which is
almost certain) amounts to total de.
8struction OF all plantation interests,
(which the South, as sure as there is a
ZOO IN Heaven, will not submit to.
seooner than yield to the arbitrary die
'ates OF traitorous allies and false friends,
who have proven recreant to the solemn
Ooleatlons OF our old Constitution, we
Will either secede from the Union or
FORM a separate Government, or, upon
'er'ain conditions, 'at once return to our
sllegance to Great Britain, our Mother
Country"
Many very many of our most wealthy
ana influential planters throughout the
south have already discussed this alter.
Ia'lVe In the event of the election of Mr..
lincoln, and the popularity of the propos.
y','on seems to pass from one to another
almost with an elastic rapidity, 1t is
"ue they have made no public demon.
'''a'lon OF their intentions, for such a
'Oufse would be attended with direful
consequences at this time, BUT THE PEAR
.aI BE FULLY RIPE BEFORE NOVEMBER.
"ossiplng newsmongers and babbling
p0'nouse politicians are not allowed to
midst WY
select dinner parties come off every
throughout the whole South, and not
s; s VI Them ends without strong acces.
s'on to our forces.
nave even heard some of them ad.
s Ms each other by titles already.
y oolsct in approaching you is to cul.
your friendship and procure your
pr,ns p'ls',0n '.. in aid of accomplishing this
|;on Au OBJECT of returning to the domin.
kvous :. our fathers kingdom. Through
ii M ~. Ananess and loyalty to your Queen.
'H' oesirOus of properly approaching