The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-12-24

Wilkes. The protest was made the day after they
were seized from the British steamer:
L. s. STEAMER SAN JAcINro, AT SEA, !
November 9th.
Capt Wakes, L. s. N, Commanding San
.Jdcinf0:
SIR-We desire to communicate to you, by
this memorandum the facts attending our arrest
Yesterday on board the British Mail steamer
Trent by your order and our transfer to this ship
We, the undersigned, embarked at Havana on
the 9TH instant, as passengers on board the Trent
Captain Moir, bound to the Island of St. Thomas,
the Trent being Of the regular mail and
passenger lire of the British Royal Mail Steam
ship Company running from Vera Cruz, via Ha-
yana to ST. Thomas, and thence to Southampton,
England. We paid our passage money for the
whole route from Havana to Southampton, to the
British Consul at Havana, who acts as the agent
or representative Of the said steamship company,
Mr. Slidell being accompanied by bis family, con-
sisting of his wife, four children and a servant.
and Mr. Eustis BY his wife and servants.
TIE Trent left the port Of Havana about s
O'Clock H., the morning of the 9Th inst, and
pursued her voyage uninterruptedly until inter
cepted By the L. S. steamer San Jacinto, under
your command, on the day following, (the 9Th
inst in the manner now to be related
When the San Jacinto was observed several
course Of her voyage along the old Bahama or
Nicholas channel; about 240 miles from la
vana, and in sight of the light house of Poradon
GRANGE, the San Jacnto then lying stationary, or
nearly so. about the middle of the channel, and
where ii was some fifteen miles wide, since
shown ns on the chart, the nationality of the ship
being then unknown. When the Trent had ap-
preached near enough for her flag to be distn-
guished, it was hoisted ct the peak and at the
main, and So RENAME ;oc time. No flag
shown By the San Jacia;o When the Trent had
approached within mile of the San Jacinto still
pursuing the due course Of her voyage, shouted
gun fred from the latter ship 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 Trent, and so rcfI'aned. When
the Trent had approached, sill Oh her course,
within two or three hundred yards Of the San
Jacnto, second shotted gun wGs fred from your
ship, again across the course Of the trent. When
the Trent got within hang distance her captain
inquired what was wanted? The 7.T.ly was under
stood to be: They would send boat" Both
vessels were then stationary. with steam shu: of.
\ beat soon put off forn your ship, followed
by two othev boats with full crews
and armed with muskets ard side arms. 4 lieut.
enant, IN the naval uniform Of the United States
Navy, :nI with side arms, boarded the Trent and
in the presence Of most Of the passengers, then
assembled the upper deck, said to Capt. Mor
that he with orders to demand his passenger
list. The captain refused to produce it, and
formally protested against any ri ght to visit his
ship for the purpose indicated. After some con-
versation imparting renewed protests on 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 Mr.. Slidell and
Mason, were known to be on board, also two
other gentlemen, naming Mr.. Eustis and Mac
farland and that his orders we're to take and carry
hem on board the San ,Iacinto" 1t should have
been noted that first addressing the captain he
himself lieutenant of the United
States steamer San Jacinto. The four gentlemen
hus named being present, the lieutenant addressed
MIR. Slide and afterwards Mr.. Mason, repeating
that his orders were to take them, together with
Eustis and mcfarland, and carry them on board
his shi D. Messrs Slidell and Mason, in reply, |
protested in the presence Of the captain Of the
Trent, his officers and passengers, against such
threatened violation Of their persons and their
rights, and informed the lieutenant that they
would not leave the ship they were in unless com
PEELED by the employment Of actual force greater
than they could resist, and Messrs. EustIs and
mcfarland united with them in expressing like
purpose. That officer stated that he hoped he
would not be compelled to resort to the OF
force, but if it would become necessary employ
it, in order 10 execute his orders he WAS prepared
to do so.
He was answered By the undersigned that they
would submit TO such force alone. The lieut.
euant then went to the gangway where his boats
were, the undersigned going at the same time to
their state rooms the next deck below, followed
by Captain Nor, and by the other passengers.
The lieutenant returned with party Of his men,
3 portion Of whom were armed with side arms |
and others, appearing to be squad of marines, |
having musketS and bayonets. Mr. SlideIl was in
his stateroom Immediately by and in full view. !
The lieutenant then said to Mr. Mason that hav- |
ing his force present be hoped to be relieved
from the necessity of calling it into actual use.
That gentleman again answered that he would only /!
submit to actu.i force greater than he could over
come, when the lieutenant, and several Of his
men, by his order, took hold If him, and in man
ner and in numbers sufficient TO make resistance
fruitleas; and Mr. Siidel joining the group at the
same time more 81 the armed PARTY took
like hold of him, aud tlose gentlemen at once
went into the boat
During the scene many Of the passengers be-
came highly exasperated. AMI gave vent to the
strongest expressions of ind gnatiou, seeming to
indicate purpose of resistance On their part, !
when squad armed with muskets, wish bayonet
fixed, made sensible advance of one or two PAGES
with their arms at a charge. It must he added
here omitted in the of the narration, that
before the party left the upper deck an officer of
the Trent, named Williams, in the naval uniform