The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-02-17
MIR. BENJAMIN'S LETTER
Showing that the S0uthCOntemplateo
Renewing Allegiance to Great
Britain.

New York, Jan. 28.-The tribune
reproduces from advance sheets the
following letter from Judah 2. Benla'
min, written when he was Senator
from Louisiana. to the British consul
in New York, left among ThurloH
Weeds papers, and given in the vol
ume of memoirs OF his grandfather,
which Thurlow Weed Barnes is now
carrying through the press:
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 conf
Dental interview with you.
My apology for this breach OF con.
ventional usage, in presuming to adj
dress you without the formality OF an
introduction, msy be pardoned in
conseq ence of the very extrsordl-
nary nature of the business which
induced me to approach you without
the friendly intervention OF third
party. Indeed, it would not only
have been unwise but actually dan.
gerous for me TO have even borne 3
letter of introduction.
Having assumed the whole respon.
sibility O; this very critical step can
not use too much caution and cir
oumspection to ensure my personal
safety and the successful accomplish.
ment of the mission / have in view.
Therefore Iprefer trusting my own
judgment in approaching q genteel
stranger en- such business TO that OF
bringing into my service the scrawls
of governors or members Of Congress-.
with whom, perhaps. you are 90 little
acquainted az myself.
The official confidence which your
government seems to repose in you,
BY entrusting to your charge its great
commercial affairs in the most i'm
por.ant city on this continent, I think
ia sufh cient to warrant me in trusting
to your discretion. patriotism and
loyalty . secret Of tho greatest i'm.
portance and interest to her Britannia
Majesty's kingdom.
The present disastrous condition Of
political affairs in the United States
which has no parallel in the past
history Of the country seems to have
split the Democratic party into many
contending factions, all OF which are
70 hungry after the public spoils that
ts disintegrsted parts render them
IN easy prey to the opposing black
The doctrines maintained by the
Republican party are 30 unsuitable
10 the great interests Of the whole \
,outh th& an election of their osndi-
late. which is almost certain.
amounts 10 total destruction Of all
Interests. which the south,
Is sure as there is God in heaven,
will not submit to. Sooner than yield
10 arbitrary dictates OF traitorous
allies and false friends, who have
proven recreant to the solemn obliga-
lions OF our old Constitution, We will
sither secede from the Union and
form q separate government, or upon
certain conditions, at once return to
our allegiance to Great Britain, our
mother country. Z
Many, very many OF the most veal
thy and influential planters through-4
out the south have already discussed
this alternative, in heevent of th67
of Mr.. Lincoln. and toe
of the proposition seems
to pass from one to another almost
with an elastic Eapidi,ysSsh is true
they have made no public demou-
OF their intentions, for such q
course would be attended with dire
ful consequences at this time. But
the pear will be fully ripe before No.
vember. Z
Gossiping newsmongers and bah
bling pothouse politicians are not
allowed to know what is going on in
their very midst.
Select dinner parties come off every
day throughout the whole south, and
not one OF them ends without strong
accession 10 our forces.
/ have even heard some of them
address each other by titles already.
My object in approaching you is to
cultivate your friendship. and pro-
cure your cooperation in aid OF
accomplishing this grand object of
returning to the dominion OF our
fathers kingdom. Through your
kindness and loyalty to your Queen,
I am desirous of properly approach
ing her Majesty's minister at WASH
ington City, with a view to the ac-,
complishment of this great end. you
will condescend to grant me the nee
essary assistance for this purpose,
you will soon receive the meritorious
reward of your most gracious Queen,
and the hearty cheer from every true
Briton's heart, for having aided 10
the return of the national prodigsls.
Reposing that conf ience in Won
which your position in life warrants
me in doing, you must q. prtsebt
excuse me for not signing my name
for fear of an accident. This much
your may know: I am southron and
am q member of Congress-. whose nm.