Memucan Hunt to John Forsyth, July 28, 1837
Summary: Hunt responded to questions by Forsyth about specific details of an intended slave smuggling operation through the United States into Texas. Hunt could not offer details but claimed the practice was common because of the high price of slaves in the U.S. Also claimed that stopping the trade required a large naval force in the Gulf, which he hinted would be better served by the U.S. rather than Texas.
TEXIAN LEGATION, WASHINGTON
July 28th. 1837.
SIR,
I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your two notes of the 24th. instant in reply to mine of the 18th.
In answer to the one, desiring to know what ground my government has for believing that a project is in contemplation for the introduction of negroes from Cuba by way of the United States into Texas, and the particulars upon which that belief is founded? and who are to be the actors and participators in the plan? and at what point or points and when the negroes are to be delivered?--I have the honor most respectfully to reply, that the information, imparted in my note of the 18th. was transmitted to me in a despatch[sic], dated the 20th of May as having been recently communicated to the Secretary of State of the Republic of Texas, stating that it was the intention of a company to import and land negroes from Cuba near the Sabine river, within the United States, to evade the law, which prohibits their introduction from all other places except the United States. But the precise time, at which it is to be done and who they are proposing or intending to do this was not communicated. It is a practice which, without the constant attention of an ample naval force in the Gulph[sic] between the United States and Cuba, it is supposed, must exist for the reason that Slaves in Cuba do not sell there generally for more than half the amount of what they are worth in the United States. Consequently, the frustration of the plans of a Company in one shipment of negroes from Cuba in this way would not, it is believed, prevent a continuance of the practice, and in asking your attention to this subject in my note of the 18th. it was not to procure Cruizers[sic] in the Gulph for a week or a month, but to inform this government that there were arrangements, it was understood and believed, in contemplation to violate the laws of the United States, by introducing through its territory, negro slaves from Cuba into Texas. Should the Government of Texas ascertain when and at what time this or any other company may intend to land negroes from Cuba near Texas, as limited as is her naval force it is considered sufficient to make it unnecessary to desire the aid of the United States for so specific a service in checking the intruders.
It gives me pleasure to avail myself of this opportunity to offer to you renewed assurances of my most distinguished consideration.
(signed) MEMUCAN HUNT.
Honorable JOHN FORSYTH,
Secretary of State of the United States.
Source Copy Consulted: Memucan Hunt to John Forsyth, July 28, 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., 2:250-251