Jos Waples to William Barron, October 12, 1840

Summary: Waples gave his opinion about the incident of Mr. Taylor's prosecution for allegedly shipping slaves to Texas. Taylor wanted an inquiry to clear his name but Waples did not think that was necessary. He was confident the British could not prove the charges because Texas law did not turn free blacks into slaves.

REPUBLIC OF TEXAS

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Austin Octr 12th 1840

SIR

I am requested by his Excellency the President to transmit you the enclosed Copy of a communication to Lord John Russell relating to the affaires of your Client Mr John Taylor of Barbadoes. Mr Taylor has requested that a commission be instituted here to enquire whether certain persons of Color whose indentures were disposed of by him to gentlemen in Texas in the year 1836, were at any time during their stay in Texas held de jure or de facto for or as Slaves etc; etc. such an inquiry would be attended with some trouble and expense and the President does not consider it essential to the vindication of Mr

Taylor as the affirmative must be proved before he can be convicted of such a charge. No man can be reduced to Slavery in Texas who was not held in lawful Slavery on his arrival here

Very Respectfully etc.

JOS WAPLES

Acting Secty of State.

To WM BARRON Esqr

4th Upper Charles Street

West Minster

London

Source Copy Consulted: Jos Waples to William Barron, October 12, 1840, 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: 904-905