Oldham to Jefferson Davis , President, October 13, 1862

B.

Sir: On to-day Mons. Tabouelle, French vice-consul at Richmond, sought an introduction to me in the senate chamber, and stated that he desired to obtain from me certain statistical information in regard to Texas. I told him that I did not then have the time to give him the desired information, but if he would call at my room I would take pleasure in giving him any information which I possessed. He promised to call this evening, which he did, and has just left my room. I deem it proper to give you the substance of the conversation between us, as it had a connexion with the subject-matter of the correspondence between the governor of Texas and the French consular agent at Galveston, of which you advised General Wigfall and myself a few days since.

After I had furnished him with information in regard to the area, population, debt, taxes, and agricultural productive capacity of Texas, he remarked that the resources of the State were magnificent, and capable of supporting a powerful and independent people, and then asked me whether I thought it would not he to the interest of the State to assume an independent nationality. I told him that the people of Texas, being mostly emigrants from the old southern States, were strongly attached to those States and to our federative system of government, which I at some length explained to him. I told him that they never could have been induced to secede from the United States but to preserve that form of government, which was in danger of being destroyed. I further stated to him that not only the affections and sympathies, but also the interests of the people of Texas bound them to the States of the confederacy; that their institutions, pursuits, and agricultural products were the same, and that mutual safety required harmony amongst them, which could only be insured by a confederacy; that as a separate and independent State Texas would be weak and incapable of self-defence; that we were sensible that we would be subject to be involved in collisions with our sister southern States; that the similarity of institutions and production, which are now bonds of union and the cause of harmony, would become causes of rivalries, jealousies, and perhaps wars between the States; that in the confederacy we would not be a weak and dependent people, incapable of resenting insult or repelling aggression. The subject was then waived, and we talked of other matters.

But for the fact you had called my attention to the correspondence between the governor of Texas and the French consular agent at Galveston, this conversation would perhaps have made no impression upon my mind; but as an introduction to me was sought by the vice-consul, with the view to obtain statistical information in regard to Texas, and the subject of the separate independence of that State was thus introduced by him, it struck me that it was not casual or accidental. He furthermore stated to me that he had written to the consular agent at Galveston for information upon the resources of Texas, and had received from him a specimen or sample of Texas wool which he either had or intended to send to France.

I have deemed it proper to communicate the foregoing to you, as affording confirmatory evidence to the conclusion that it is the object of Louis Napoleon, and perhaps of other of the European powers, to induce Texas to assume an independent nationality. The fact communicated by you to General Wigfall and myself put me on my guard, and caused me to be more explicit and specific than I might otherwise have been, for the purpose of dissipating such a design if it exists, and to induce whatever steps that may be taken to be for the benefit of the entire confederacy.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,