A Guide to the Alfred Paul Reports, 1860-1861 Paul, Alfred, Reports, 1860-1861 22992

A Guide to the Alfred Paul Reports, 1860-1861

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 22992

Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Trenton Hizer

Repository

The Library of Virginia

Accession Number

22992

Title

Alfred Paul Reports, 1860-1861

Physical Description

22 leaves and 66 pages

Creator

Alfred Paul

Language

French

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Alfred Paul Reports, 1860-1861. Accession 22992. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased, December 1948, from I. A. Feldman and Company, Cairo, Egypt.

Biographical Information

Alfred Paul was the French consul in Richmond, Virginia, during the Civil War. He often served as the diplomatic link between the governments in Paris and in Richmond.

Scope and Content

Reports, 1860-1861, of Alfred Paul, French Consul at Richmond, Virginia, to Edouard Thouvenel (1818-1866), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paris, France, describing the political situation in Virginia in the days between Abraham Lincoln's (1809-1865) election as president and his inauguration, stating that Virginia will side with the South in any potential confrontation. Paul comments on the 1860 election, South Carolina's secession, Governor John Letcher's (1813-1884) hopes for compromise, slavery, Fort Sumter, the Virginia state convention, Virginia's efforts at compromise, the likelihood of Virginia's secession, and the inevitability of Civil War. The reports are written in french, but there are transcript translations into english.

Contents List

Report, 8 December 1860, discussing the presidential election of 1860 in Virginia and noting that Virginia will side with the South in any potential confrontation.

Report, 22 December 1860, sending word of South Carolina's secession and speculating on what Virginia will do in response.

Report, 9 January 1861, describing Governor John Letcher's hopes for compromise and reconciliation, and discussing the possibility of civil war and slavery.

Report 18 January 1861, noting that Virginia has called a state convention and is hesitantly working for compromise, also news about South Carolina and Fort Sumter.

Report, 26 January 1861, concerning a commission Virginia has sent to Washington D.C. to work for compromise, Paul notes that Virginia's effort lack strength.

Report, 10 February 1861, stating that southern proposals for compromise would mean the Republican party giving up its principles and noting that all attention is turning to Virginia.

Report, 24 February 1861, noting that Virginia is receiving delegates from other southern states, that Virginia secessionists know what they are doing while opponents do not, and that civil war is likely.

Report, 9 March 1861, stating that Abraham Lincoln's inaugural address is seen as a declaration of war, that compromise is now impossible, and that Virginia will likely secede.