413
PAPERS OF MIRABEAU BuoNAPARTE LAllfAR
Pinkney Henderson by the last mail, relative to l\fr McIntosh whom he left behind to represent our nation in France. l\I,r H expresses him- self "mortified and dissappointed" that McIntosh has not received the appointment of Charge, which he says he wrote Mr Mcintosh would be confered on him with power to treat with Belgium. Mr H having un- derstood from Mr Waldren (the gentleman who visited Austin with a view of procuring the situation) that no Charge would be appointed until Gen Hamilton should negotiate the Loan, states that he feels responsible to l\lr l\Ic'Intosh for what he had written him, and accoril- ing to his instructions requests you to relieve l\lr l\1 from his present situation by the appointment of some gentleman as Minister, intimating that he may not hold on to the office until a successor is appointed but that the vacancy will occur forthwith. The result is that you will have to consider that office as vacant, I presume, and it may be highly im- portant that a successor should be appointed with but little delay. f have stated this as you might wish to make a selection of some gentle- man before returning to Austin. l\Ir. Bordens term of office will ex- pire before your return. According to the Conversation had with you just before your departure, I presume his reappointment will be a mat- ter of course. He wishes however for written authority to act, par- ticularly as he desires to be absent during the month of July, which he informs me he stated to you before you left. As l\lr B does not wish to be guilty of the least impropriety, he is solicitous that you intimate your consent to his leaving, in writing. I presume it will be sufficient to indicate your wishes, in any of your letters to Judge Webb, or to any other person, without a formal permission directed fo l\Ir Borden Dr Starr has doubtless informed you of the necessity which impels him to resign. I am satisfied from conversation with him that he can- not be induced to remain until the meeting of Congress. You will therefore be compelled to select some suitable person to fill his place. The negroes who ran away from this place shortlv after you left, were brought from San Antonio, a day or two since. After being properly whipped, they made some disclosure. The black boy, John, who is now with you, had agreed to go with them. Mr Moreland's yellow John was also engaged with them, and both would ha,'e started when the others left, if they could have got any money to bear their expeni:;es. There were two white men who aided the negroes in all their plans. One has been discovered and made to quit the city after a few hours warning. Would it not be prudent for you to sell black John in the lower country instead of bringing him up here, where the Mexicans and renegade whites may again encourage him to run away. The Militia we understand will turn out in considerable numbers, Gen F. Huston is in Bastrop and has reported himself to the War Department ready to obey any orders.- If the military turn out in obedience to the Call, as we now understand they are doing, it will require great prudence as well as energy to make the "movement" re- sult creditably to the Administration-I take the liberty of suggesting to you the propriety of giving specific directions, with a plan of opera- tion, in case you do not return in season to direct measures, in person. The expense of maintaining the Militia in the field, even for a short time will he large, and you can understand the importance of their
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