TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
44
the matter when the article first appeared - If he did I have en tirely forgotten the circumstance probably from the fact that, the state ment was so preposterous that I gave it no thought. I have endeav ored to find this paper to see whether it deserved any public notice but can not yet get hold of it. I called on Gov. Pease who tells me that he saw the paper but regarded the matter as unworthy of notice, acting upon the supposition that those who felt any interest would in quire and ascertain the truth, and that the news paper paragraph would do you at least no injury - He remarked that if he had con sidered it of any consequence he would have spoken of it to you while here. I called also on Mr Clark who had never heard of it before but who is exceedingly annoyed that such a paragraph should have ap peared and caused in your mind a misapprehension. I will state the facts. Some time since I can not recollect how long a paper was pre sented me by Mr Shaw or by some one for him, which amounted I think to about this. It stated that Texas ought in justice to have an appointmt made from among her citizens to some one of the German States a portion of Europe from which we receive much emigration, that Col. James Riley would be a suitable person for such a mission There was something said of Gen Rusks being in favor of his appoint ment which I took for granted though I knew nothing about that. At this time I had not heard that you desired or would accept. a mission to any governmnt. Had I known you to be an applicant for one, and supposed that any conflict could arise between yourself and Col Riley, and that only one could receive an appointment I should have declined to put my name to the paper - Gov. Pease states that between your self and Col Riley his preferences would have been most decidedly As for Clark he basely knives Riley and says his preference would have been for you against any person who would have been at al likely to apply - I can therefore speak for three of the signers and assure you that none of the three had heard that you were seeking an appoint ment at the time Col Rileys recommendation was made - I learn from Mr. Fontaine and understand him to have obtained his informa tion from you, that a paper was signed almost unanimously by the members of the last Legislature suggesting you for an appointment upon a foreign mission. This I had never heard of before - Gov. Pease & Mr Clark from official position were in early communication with the members, neither of them as they inform me heard of it. I mention the fact as you might naturally suppose we would at least have receivd information of this. Mr Fontaine says that you felt aggrieved that at least some of us should have taken such a course as that sug gested by the newspaper paragraph. It would be very natural that you should for it would have given evidence of the worst duplicity. I have not seen Mr Shaw and cannot speak for him but for the two gentlemen I have named and for myself I can. If there be any occa sion for noticing this fugitive paragraph in a public manner they will both I dont doubt write with me in contradicting it - Mr Fontaine spoke of your expressing surprize that I should be found acting with intriguing enemies of yours - I can assure you General that I knew of none such, You have certainly be'en misled if you have been induced to rank either Pease or Clark with such. This I know from long and familiar intercourse with both - I can not
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