Ashbel Smith to Anson Jones, September 20, 1843

Summary: Smith enclosed several letters to Jones. The most important one concerned Texas anti-slavery men who met with the British government pushing for compensated emancipation and implying that the Texas government supported the idea. Smith called their actions "disreputable".

47 LEGATION OF TEXAS, PARIS

September 20, 1843

Hon ANSON JONES

Secy of State

SIR,

I have the honor to enclose herewith copies of the following communications; to wit;

I. A note to the Earl of Aberdeen concerning the attempts making by certain parties in London to procure the abolition of slavery in Texas. After mature reflection I decided to make this communication inasmuch as the parties alluded to had addressed themselves to Her Britannic Majesty's Government asking their cooperation, and had represented to that Government that a large portion of the citizens of Texas were disposed to abolish slavery, provided pecuniary means should be furnished to enable them to do so. It was also distinctly intimated that the Government of Texas tacitly sanctioned this scheme. I believe the citizens of Texas as well as their Government were misrepresented and that an attempt was made to deceive the British Government. It was disreputable to our standing in England, to have its great interests apparently in the hands of the persons who compose the Exeter Hall meetings, pretending to act in concert with a numerous portion of our citizens and in effect placing Texas in the odious light of proffering to barter for a price for the abolition of slavery. I have added a printed copy of the debate in the House of Lords on slavery in Texas wherein Lord Aberdeen announces the policy of his Government in relation thereto.

II. A note to Lord Aberdeen covering a copy of the Letter addressed to me on the 10th of June from your Department.

III. A note to Monsieur Guizot covering a copy of the same Letter of June 10th from your Department.

IV. A letter to Mr Martin du Nord in acknowledgment for some official documents. The documents in question will be forwarded by me to Texas by the first safe opportunity.

I have the honor to be

Your very obedient Servant

ASHBEL SMITH.

Source Copy Consulted: Ashbel Smith to Anson Jones, September 20, 1843, 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., 3: 1137