Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-21
1xrEREsr1xG CoRREsroNDENCr.
TAe PrSseat OF MessTs. Mason, SIIdeIl
|. EuRfIs and McFarlandi

ted to the Federal Congress by WEILKs, LIsCoLN's
Secretary of the Navy is the protest to WINES by
Messrs. MASON. SLIDELL, EUsr1s and MCFARLAND
against their arrest on board the British steamer
Trent, at ses, November 8Ih. The following is
the protest and the reply of Capt MILES,:
u. s. STEAMER SAN JACTNTo, AT SEA, Nov oh.
Cdptaia TPbtes, 0. s. N Commanding San Jdcinto:
SIR I'VE desire 10 communicate to you by this
memorandum, the facts attending our arrest yes
terday on board the British Mail steamer Trent by
your order and our transfer to this ship
We, the undersigned, embarked at Havapa on
the 9TH instant, IS passengers on board the Trent
Captain Moir, bound to the Island of St Thomas
the Trent being of the regular mail and passen
ger line of the British Royal Mail Steamship Com
pany running from Vera Cruz, via Hsvana to st.
Thomas, and thence to Southampton, England. We
paid our passage money for the whole route from
Havana 70 Southampton, TO the British Consul, at
Havana, who acts as the agent or representative
of the said steamship company. Mr. Slidell being
accompanied by his family, consisting of his wife,
four children and a serVan and Mr.. Eusts by his
wife and servants. fs. ..7 30 ..- cd. 10 ,s.s7
The Trentleft the port of Havana about O'Clock
8. m. on the morning of the Tth inst, and pursued
her voyage unlnteTruptedly until intercepted by
the U. S. steamer San JaciRto, under your COM
usand on the day folls wing 1.-THE SIh inst } In the
manner now TO be related:
When the San Jacinto was observed several miles
distant the Trent was pursuing the usual course of
her voyage along the old Bahama or Nicholas chan
mel; was about 240 miles from Havana, aud in sight
of the light house of PoFadou GRANGE, the San Js-
cinto then lying stationary, or nearly So about the
middle of the channel, and where it was some Is
miles wide, since shown on the chart, the na-
tionality Of the ship then being unknown When
the Trent had approached near enough for her flag
to be distinguished, it hoisted at the peak and
at the main, and so remained for time. No flag
was shown by the San Jscinto When the Trent
had approached within q mile of the San Jscnto,
still pursuing the due course of her voyass, shot
ted gun was fred from the latter ship across the
course Of the Trent, and the United States flag at
the same time displayed at the peak.
The British flag was again Immediately hoisted ,
as before by the Treat, and go remained. When
the Trent had approached, still on her course
within two or three hundred yards of the San ia
cinto, second shotted gun was fred from your
ship, again across the course of the Trent When
the Trent got within hsiing distance, her captain
inquired what was wanted? The reply was under
stood to be: "Ihsy would send boat" Both ves-
sells were then stationary, with steam shut off A
boat was soon put of from your ship followed i'm
medistely by two other boats, with full crews and
armed with muskets and side arms. lieutenant
in the naval uniform of the United States Navy
and with side arms, boarded the Trent, and in the
presence Of most of the passengers then assembled
on the upper deck said 20 Captain NOR that he
came with orders to demand his passenger list The
captGin refused to produce it, and formally pro-
tested against any right 10 visit his ship for the
purpose indicated. After some conversation, i'm
parting renewed protests the part of the captain
against the alleged object of the visit and on the
part of the officer of the San Jacinto that he had
only to execute his orders, the latter said
THAT two gentlemen, naming Ne ssrs. Slidsll and
Mason, were known to be on board, as also two
other gentlemen, naming Msssrs. Eustis and Mac
farland and that his orders to take and carry
them on board the San JacintO." 1t should have
been noted that on first addressing the Captain he
announced himself q Lieutenant of the United
States steamer San JacintO. The four gentlemen
thus named being present, the Lieutenant address
ed Mr.. Slidel and afterwards Mr.. Mason, repeating
that his orders were to take them, together with
Eustis and mcfarland, and carry them off on board
his ship. Messrs Slidell and Mason in reply, pro-
tested in the presence of the Captain of the Trent
his officers and passengers, against such threat
ened violation of their persons and their rights
aud informed the Lieutenant that they wo1ld not
leave the ship they In unless compelled by the
employ of actual force greater than they could
resist, and Messrs. Eu8tis and mcfarland united
with them in expressing like purpose That eff
Ger stated that he hoped that he would not be
PEELED to resort to the Of force, but III would
become necessary TO employ it, in order to execute
his orders he was prepared to do SO.
He was answered by the undersigned that they
wo aid submit to such force alone. The lieuten-
ant then weHs TO the gangway where his boats were
the undersigned going at the same time to their
state rooms on the next deck below. followed by
Captain NOR, ard by the other passengers The
lieutenant returned with party Of his men, por
ton of whom were armed with side arms; and 9th
ers appearing to be & squad Of marines having
muskets and bsyonets 4r. Siidell In his state
room Immediately by and in full view. The Lieu
tenant then said Mr. Mason that having his force
now present he hoped to be relieved fIom the ne.
cessty of calling it INTO actual use. The gentem IN
again answered that he would only submit to sctu-
al force greater than he could overcome, when the
Lieutenant, and several of his men by his order,
took hold of him, and In manner and in numbers
sufficient to make resistance fruitless and Mr.. Sis
dell joining the group at the same time one or more
of the armed party took like hold of him. and thCs,
gentlemen at once went into the boat.
During this scene many Of the passengers became
highly exaspersted and gave vent to the strongest
expressions of indignation, seeming to indicate
purpose of resistance on their part, when squad
armed with muskets, with bsyODets fixed, made
sensible advance OF one or two PAGES with their
arms az a charge. 1t must be added here, omitted
in the course of the narration that before the par
" left the upper deck. officer of the Trent named
Williams, in the naval uniform of Great Britain,
and known TO the passengers IS having charge Of
the mails and accompanying them to England, said
to the lieutenant that the only person present
representing his government he felt called upon, in
language as strong and emphatic as he could ex-
press, TO denounce the whole proceeding as pirat
ical act.
Mr.. slideH and Ar. Mason, together with Mr.. Eus
tbs and McEarand, against whom force IN like man
ner had been used, were taken 70 the San JaeiDto
soon as they entered the boat. When they reachN
ed your ship, you received them the gaDgWay,
announcing yourself a. Capt. Wilkes, commander
of the ship, and conducted them to your cabin,
which you placed at their disposal. When the uaa
dersigned came aboard they found the men at their
quarters and the gsns bearing on the Trent, After
some time occupied In bringing on board our bag
gage and effects the San JaaintO proceeded to the
NOrthwsrd, through the Southern Channel, the
Trent having been detained from three to four
hours.
The foregoing is believed to be correct narra-
tive in substance of the facts and circumstances at
tending our arrest and transfer from the British
mail steamer to the ship under your command, and
which we doubt not will be corroborated by the
lieutenant present, as well as by all who witnessed
them,
The incidents here given in detail may not have
been witnessed BY each one Of the undersigned, in
dividusly but they were by one or more Of them.
As, for the most part they did not pass under your
notice, we have deemed it proper to present them
in this form before you expressing the wish, If con-
sdered incorrect in any part the Inaccuracies may
be pointed out, with respectful request that you
will transmit a copy Of the paper to the Governs
ment of the United States together with your re
port of the transaction, to facilitate which copy
is herewith enclosed. ...- -..
We have the honor to be- very respectfully, your
obedisnt servants, - JOIN SLIDELL,
..r -....# s7-. J. M. MAsoE,