John Forsyth to Memucan Hunt, July 31, 1837

Summary: Forsyth informed Hunt of the military and naval measures taken by the United States to prevent an upcoming slave smuggling operation from Cuba to Texas.

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Washington [City,] 31st. July, 1837.

SIR

I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 28th. instant, and to inform you, that it is the intention of the Secretary of War to establish a military post at some eligible point on the Sabine river. Orders will also be given to the commander of the naval forces of the United States in the Gulph[sic] of Mexico to cruise off the mouth of that river to prevent the landing of African negroes in the United States. It is hoped that these measures will conduce to the defeat of any project that may have been formed to introduce such negroes into Texas by the way of this country.

I seize this occasion to renew to you the assurances of my high consideration.

(signed) JOHN FORSYTH

To His Excellency, General MEMUCAN HUNT.

etc etc etc[sic]

Source Copy Consulted: John Forsyth to Memucan Hunt, July 31, 1837, in George Garrison, ed., Diplomatic Correspondence of the Republic of Texas, Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1908, (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1911), 3 vols., 2:251