Letters From The Past- George C. Childress to David G. Burnet, April 18, 1836

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[One of the Texan diplomatic agents sent to the U.S. to negotiate official recognition of the new republic's independence writes from Nashville, Tennessee, to the president of the Ad Interim Government that he doubts that the U.S. will accord that recognition immediately. Reports great interest in the Texas cause in both the South and the West, including the possibility that more volunteers may soon be on the way to Texas from Tennessee.] :

"Nashville Tenn. April 18th 1836 My Dear Sir,

I reached this place a day or two since on my way to Washington City. Mr Hamilton and I parted company at Natchitoches, he having gone by his plantations on Red River. We are to rendezvous at Washington on the first day of May.

The present is a long session of Congress and it is thought that it will not adjourn untill some time in June, there being many questions of great interest still undisposed of by that body. We are not sanguine of getting an immediate recognition of the Independence of Texas from the Government of the United States, but will open a negotiation and continue it untill crowned with success, unless otherwise instructed by your Excellency and the Cabinet. It is of great importance, I conceive, to obtain it as soon as possible as the moral effect in our favour would be great in the United States.

Many persons who now feel scruples in volunteering to take a part in the internal conflicts of a foreign country -would freely do so if the independence of the party with which they sympathize was recognized by the Government of their own country.

I set out for Washingtan to day or tomorrow. Allow me to remind you and the Secy, of State of the instructions we shall need on our arrival there, and without which we shall feel much at a loss. You will also instruct us with regard to any other matters that you may think could be effected by Mr. Hamilton and myself to further the interests of Texas. We have been endeavouring (with some success) to create as much interest as we can at those iwints in the South and West which we have touched at, and shall continue (through the press and otherwise) to agitate the United States as much as possible.

You will have received before this reaches you accounts of the public meetings and proceedings at Natchez and other places. So far as I can see the South and West is kindling into.a blaze upon the subject. So great is the interest felt upon the subject, and so numerous are the applications by letters from individuals, editors etc for information upon the Subject, that to do all the writing required and to keep copies of all relating to the public affairs requires more writing than any one or two men can do. We have therefore been under the necessity of employing upon our own responsibility a Secretary to the Mission, whose services will be especially wanting when we reach Washington, as we shall have to carry on a very onerous correspondence with the Government of the U. S., the Government of Texas, and with Secretaries of public meetings, committees, individuals, and editors of Newspapers in every part of the U. S.

Many of these communications will be of such importance, that we must of course take copies—of the official ones especially. We have engaged a young gentleman of fine qualifications to act in this capacity who will proreed with us to Washington. He has visited Texas, and intends to become a permanent resident of our country. We have told him that the first Congress would, in our opinion, appropriate an adequate remuneration for his services. This however will be left entirely with the Government. His services we need.

I met, at Natchitoches, Col. Waterson of Tennessee bearing a communication from Gen. Richard G. Dunlap of this State proposing to bring from Tennessee a force of two thousand men, provided he would have the rank he now has in Tennessee. Gen. Dunlap is now here, and I believe that from his influence and popularity in the State, and from the present state of feeling existing, that he can raise from two to five thousand men if he had the funds to transport them to Texas.

A Tennessee army would give confidence to the friends of the cause throughout the U. S. and would carry terror to the heart of the Dictator himself. You will have seen his proposition before you receive this and as I have no doubt that it will be accepted by your excellency and Cabinet I have induced Gen D. to proceed in the execution of the plan, and I wish your Excellency and the cabinet to write me immediately on the receipt of this to Washington City, and inform me whether if we succeed in our pecuniary negotiations at New York Mr. Hamilton and I could take the responsibility of advancing a sufficient sum to Gen Dunlap to transport the Tennessee troops to the seat of war. Please address Gen Dunlap also with regard to the whole matter at this place.

Ho will bring a sufficient number of troops (if provided with funds to transport them) to entitle him to the rank of a Major General, and wishes the power conferred of appointing the two Brigadier Generals to which he would be entitled—as he wishes to confer those commands upon two gentlemen of fortune, character and influence who have agreed to raise a thousand men each and to cooperate with him, and in whose military talents he has entire confidence.

I am Sir, with great respect,

Your obt Servt Geo. C. Childress

P. S. My respects to the members of the Cabinet."