Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-11-19

. Iswas understood home time aiuce that y y

.HI. - 4 L..
eam ttsaa understood scme time since that the
,shsl confederacy had dispatched JAMEs M.
,'.s MASON, OF Virginia, and JoHS SLADELLsoi Lou
erc ls,sna, a. speeIal commissioners to England and
lobaFraSce. The report was that they had put 70
csSs ssa n me steamer Nashville, and thatA United
\ stataa vessSl had been sent In pursnit, Bat no.
iss thing having been heard Of them for some
go weeks, ii was supposed theyha landed saie'Y
~ in Europe. s7 g. tfas u ~.
~ hIsssems, however, that the very means snsse
80 rebel penipo extraordinary usep 70 -
sa cane detection have fortunately led % their cap
,s,'ture.. They had themselves transferred IRON
y the Nashville, frst TO one British vessel ana
than 10 another, and at last Commodore WILKES,
Of the u. 8. steamer San Jaointo, returning
40 from The coast Of Africa, got on their trail' and
bverhauled them OF Bermuda. Firing shot
across the bows. of the British packet ne
brought her to, sent party on board, captured
the Confederate Ministers and arrived with
them at Fortress Monroe on Friday, the 18th
.lns.ant, "a III. M 1L
Both these gontlsmen have held impottaanlt
and honorable positions under the Goyernme-t
which now holds them, not only as prisoners oi
war, but az rebels and traitors. Both were Sen
ators from their respective States in the last OF
XXXvIth Congress. These positions they re-
-s signed for the purpose Of taking on active par
in the secession rebellion. II is probable thai
they were selected by The Confederate auihorl
ties for special and extraordinary mission ta
Europe, on account Of their real or supposed
Diplomatic abilities and familiarity with Ameri-
can foreign relations. Mr.. SLiDELL was former.
ly our Minister to Spain, and Mr.. Mason, at
the time be resigned his seat in the Senate
~ heldthe post OF Chairman of tie Committee OF
Foreign Relations. Probably DO two men could
have been found 0moDg the rebel leaders SC
%" we'll qualified as Messrs Mason and sLIDELL
for the contemplated secret mission. s4
, The forcible seizure of these men on board q
vessel belonging to foreign and neutral pow
el, and sailing under It's flag, may have been
somewhat informal, and may lead to come
sharp diplomatic sparring between John Bull
and Uncle Sam. But whatever other rights may
have been trenched upon, there has been no
breach Of those due to ambassadors. Messrs
MASON and SLIDELL were not the accredited en-
VOy5 OF ministers Vi any reOOSulHeu n1hVuai 0r
independent power. The most favorable light
in which they can be viewed by foreign powers,
is as the agents of belligerent or Of a party
at war With the Government to which they owe
allegiance, and that Government can regard
them in no other light than as the tools of a
conspiracy and the minions of an organized re-
bellion.
Not less important than the capture of these
rebel leaders is the seizure Of valuable papers
aud documents found in their possession, which
~ will doubtless give the Government an insight
inso the schemes and plans Of the Southern
Confederaey. The door ia now opening for the
exercise of severity or clemency, as may best
compOrt with safety to the Government and the
restoration OF peace and harmony. Taken al
together, this capture of Messra. MASON and
SLlpELL may be regarded as one OF the most
important and decisive events Of the war.