Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1861-11-22

When fhe marines aieppiug forward and taking
them by the shoulder, they made no further
opposition;
Messrs Eustls and Mcfarland, the Secretaries
OF tho rebel ENJOYS, were also arrested -
! olidelt and hustis had tdeir families on board
the Trent, and The prospect of a separation
occasioned an affecting scene. Commander
Wilkes subsequently offered to allow their
famllles TO accompany them, bat the ladies
refused, preferIing the voyage to England and
protracted separation from their husbands,
rather than the risk of an Imprisonment ID the
| North. SlidelPs family consisted Of his wife,
| four children and servant. The baggage of
the prisoners was transferred to the San Ja-
cinto, and 1t is said that il contains important
documents, and among them their instructions
from JEFF. Dayis's Government ANY mail
matter which had been utrusted to them had
| probably been transferred to tue English
mali
No opposition was offered BY the officers OF
the Trent TO the arrest, other than verbal
| protest though one man who had charge Of
the mails on board iodu!ged 10 some gascos
made about the outrage committed, and was
loud in his assertions that the blockade would
be raised within mouth after The news reach
ed Englaad
After their transfer to the San Jacnto, the
prisoners united in drawing up statement of
the facts connected with their arrest, which
they addressed 10 Commodore Wilkes, and
accompanied it by request that it be forward.
cd to the United States Government. 1t does
not materially differ frem the narration have
gwen above. The signatures attached to the
document were evidently written while under
teallbg OF trepldation, and they appr oximate
to the irFeguarity of that Of Stephen Hopkins,
of 1776
Slidell and Mason are well known Eustis
was formsriy member of Congress from Lou
lslana. lie married a'daughter of Mr, Cor
eoran, the Washington banker, who, it ls said,
has betrayed much uneasiaess to-day in refer
enee to the arrest. Mcfarland is son or
nephew Of Wm. Mcfarland, bank President
10 Richmond, strong Union man, aud one Of
the last to succumb 10 the pressure of the re-
belliou He is bachelor.
On the San Jacinlo the prisoners were trea-
ted with marked kindness by Commodore
Wilkes and his ofi,ers. They conversed
freely upon various subjects, but politics were
not alluded to. When they arrive ia New
York, ,,they will be transferred to Fort Warren.
On reaching Hampton Roads, Captain Tay-
lor Of the United States sloop Of war Sarato-
"a was landed at Fortress Monroe to convey
dispatches to the Government.
OF course everybody is rejoioed that the
arch rebels are in custody, but the rcumstan-
ceS connected with thor arrest have created
some apprehensions OF consequences. The
right of search has always been asserted by |
Great Britain, and has been denied by the
United States. England aud France have |
not recognized the rebel States az nation, |
but have rceognizld lhsm as beIligerents, and
tho point Is now presented of an iDsurgent
claiming to be diplomatic envoy from State
not yet recognized, arrested whilo travelling, |
on q vessel of the nation to whom he is ao-
credited, and taken from it by a vessel of the |
nation against which be is in rebellion, and |
which still ,clalnas him as its subject. II seems
TO be conceded that Commodore Wilkes acted |
in the matter without Instructions, and what |
ever instructions may have been given to the |
Atlantic fleet to effect their capture 10 the |
FEeodorai IT was hardly contemplated that |
they should be taken in British vessel.
In view Of the intricate question of lnterna
tonal law likely to be raised, there is east~
ing about lor prccedents, and 10 the streets |
even Grotius, Huffendorf, Vattel, aud w heats |
on are learnedly appealed to for justification. |
am Informed that the Secessionists of Balti- /
more called upon the British Uonsai to day, |
and asked what Great Britain would do 10 the |
matter, and he expressed the opinion that the |
act did not interfere with any Law of nations; |
and that, In view of all the facts, probably no |
notice would DO taken of il. Members of the |
Cabinet think that the case presents an oppor
tanlty to test the point whether the British |
Gosernment will accept its own doctrines when
The American Boil goads the British Ok, and |
the general feeling seems to be, that the most
that will be required will be, that the Uulted |
States Government apologize Tor the act, whieh |
It will do and hold on to the prisoners.
Capt. Taylor reports that when the San |
jaeinto stopped at Cienfuegos the escape of
Slidell aud Mason was ascertained. Proceed /
ing thence to Hagaua, it was understood they |
had takeu passage on the 7sh inst, on the
British mail steamship Trent, plying between I
Vera Cruz, by way OF Havana, and st. Thom+ !
as and Southampton. While tue San Jacin /
to was in the naTrowest part of the Bahama |
Chanae, about II miles TO the westward she |
met the packet, and, as usual 10 such cases,
fired shot across her bows and brought her |
TO. Two boats were sent to her, under the |
command of Lieutenant Fairfax, who board I
ing the packet, arrested Mason aud Slidell, |
@ho were personally known to him. They at |
first objected 10 being remaVed without the /
employment Of force for that purpose. HoW-
ever, they We're soon after removed without /
further trouble, and conveyed to the San j a. |
ciDto. Their respective Secretaries, Eustis I
and Mcfarland, were also broughton beard,
aud are now on their way to New York.
The packet had no other save her own |
flag
The remainder of the passengers, including
the ladies connected with the Sndell aud M
son party, were not molested, and were theie-
fore left tree 20 pursue their journey.