Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-11-25

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patriot .m, ~hcn l vi.ited Bunker Hill,
a. !, was when that battle WAS fought"
As long ago as March last, he said in
The Senate that 'he recognized no ale.
glance to tbs Government; none what
ever" And yet for a considerable slime
after this, retained bis seat in the United
State, Ser ate.
JOHN sLiDElL.
This arch cons pisstor is a native Of
( c State Of New York. lie was born
in the year 1903, and as soon as lie
reached manhood lie ~cLt TO New
Orleans to seek his fortune, anil shortly
.feI undertook TIE practice of law III
tn !, city. lis * Il ard adroi.ness soon
~cn for HIN high p!aoe a, the New
Ole rs bar. lii success as a lawyer
US Unparalleled, and lie Was retained,
on one side or the other, in almost every
important lawsuit which arose. His
i.t pub ic service appears TO have been
as Uni'cl States District Attorney at
New Orleans, TO Which Office lie WAS
appointed Ly Gen. Jackson. lie was
Fl, quentiy sent to the State Legislature
OF Louisiana, aud WAS afterwards chosen
one + Il c Louis ana delegation to Con
y:ess. H. The House hv VAS remarked
to, S tact aud sk.l AS q manager, and
SIdell was selected by the President
I, act as minister plenipotcntiaIy aud
yoy-cx,raordinary to Mexico. The
circumstances impat,t VI usual impor-
lance 10 the mission. War was actually
on the point OF breaking out. Taylor
va, on the Rio Grando. aud the Anne. !.
can Squadron lay Oft Vera Cruz. Pre-.
y'cus to firing the ii st gun, however,
President Polk, protesting still to be
anxious to pr. serve peace, and Mexico
having minated that new envoy from
the United State, would be received,
SIil,ll was accredited. The mission did
70. achieve any useful purpose. After
many aud futile discuss ons, the Mexican
Government refused to receive Siidcll,
aud lie finally demanded his passports
and returned home. When MIR. Sonic
vacated lis seat in the Senate &c fill the
post Of Minister TO Madrid, Slldell was
appointed to succeed him for the un, X.
pircd torn aud, At the close OF his term,
he was reelected for six years. 10 The
caucu.es Of tie extreme Southern patty
with which he acted, 20 members adj
vice carried moro weight than Sldell's.
During Guchanan's reign he WAS the
controlling spirit. In person, Slidell is
striking; Of middle height, stout figure
and with bod nicn. lie is utterly un.
pr:ncipled, and his political career in
l. uisiapa is a record Of villainies that it
would he hard to parallel. In 1874, by
the celebrated PIaqueminc frauds, he
dciraulcd the Wings Of the vote OF
Louisiana, and thereby defeated Henry
Clay aid made Polk President. For
his Infamous work at this time he &C
qured the sobriqurtot Baron Paqucmine.
Again, u later day, in the matter OF
tic lIonmas land grants, in Louisiana,
he Was guilty OF frauds so palpable and
outrageous that even New Orleans, with
its easy virtue, almost spewed him out.
BY this he acquircd the nom 0e plume
OF Old lIoumas. But his browning
fraud on the people Of Louisiana and on
his country was when he swnJ!ed his
adopted State out Of the Union.
CAPTAIN CHARLKs WILKES.
The name Of Captain Charles Wilkes.
who SO neatly nabbed SIideIl and Ma
so",is name known both in navigation
and In science. lie was born in this
State in 1905, and originally entered
the naval service OF his country in 1918,
at the carly age OF thirteen years. In
1888, having previously distinguished
himself Ly his scientific ability, he re-
ceived from the American Government
the command Ola naval expedition in.
tended 10 explore the countries border.
ing on the Pacific and Southern oceans.
Ills command consisted Of two sloops-ot-
war, a brig,and two teuders,au he him
self had the grade of captain. Leaving
here shortly after his appointment, he
doubled Cape Horn, crossed over to
Poly nesia, Van Dieman's Land, and An.
stralia, advancing as high as the s,xtv.
first degree Of south latitude; ne then
visited the Feejec Islands s:ad Bo,neo.
and returned to New YORK in ls42..fter
having visited Signapo 20 and the Cane
Of Good Hope. This memorable erne.
dtion of four yes.s was fertile in useful
observations, which Captain Wilkes re.
counted ir q very able work 10 ave &C.
tavo volumes, entitled "A Narrative o1
the United States Exploring Expedi.
tlon." In ls4s the Geographical Soci.
" OF London presented him with q gold
medal as token Of their appreciation Of
his labors.
lie has also, since then, published ,
work entitled western America" which
contains valuable statistical and geopra.
pn'ca' facts. aud maps relating to Cali
fornia and Oregon. Commodore Wilkes
received. his present commission in 1855.
~ hss been in the service altogether
ofsys three year,. Ten OF these years
ne, has been on sea service; twenty.ai,
engaged on shore or other duty and sew
en- years unemployed. For some wear,
latterly he has been assigned specia
duty near Washington. He is now re-
turning from the coast of Africa will
tie Y. 5. steamer San Jacinto. On hi,
way home be found orders to cruise 70,
pr'vateers or vessels attempting to rus
the blockade, which duty ho has bee.
performing for the mat .;v -.