The Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1861-1862, 1861-12-21

Capture.
The Secretary n the Navy has tfansmittec
10 Congress the protest signed by ,Messrs
slidsll Mason. Ehstis and MeFarlsnd, con
tanning their account u their capture On bOsfa
Of the Trent they say dc 6rsl nOtee giysn
by the San. .IaOiplo was ~, ,friag Of shOtlsd
gun across the course Of the Trent, followed
BY another at short interval; the Trent hay-
ing in the meantime hoisted the British flag.
A United States Lieutenant then put off from
the San Jacinto in boat, followed immedi-
ately " two other boats with armed Crews
The lieutenant boarded the Trent AMI de-
manded her passehgsr-Est, which the Captain
refused to produce, and protested against the
visit for the purpose indicated, The Lieu
tenant then stated that he knew Messrs Sill
dell and Mason, ETC., were on board, and that
his orders were to take them and carry them
to the San Jacinto. They declared that they
would not be taken except by force, and ac-
cordingly the Lieutenant ordered up his men
from the boats, who presented muskets, with
bayoncts charged. The party still resisted
sufficiently to require the actual laying on Of
hands, which they say was done. When
they arrived on board the San Jacinto, they
say they found the men at their quarters
and the guns bearing on the Trent. While
still aboard the latter vessel, the British naval
officer in charge of the mails said to the Lieu
tenant that, as the only person present repre-
senting his government, he felt called upon,
IN language as strong and emphatic as he
could express, to denouncc the whole pro.
cecding as piratical act.
The report of Captain Wilkes is also pub
lishcd. He SAYS that he heard at Cienfucgo
that the rebel Commissioners would take TIL
English mail steamer, and that he therefor
Immediately sat down and consulted all tn
authorities on International law to which b
had access He found that there was il
doubt that he had the right to seize dcspatehe
thus transmitted, but there was a questio
whether he had right to seize persons. Ii
overcome this diff ultv, he declares, by cor
sidcring them "ds the embodiment of dii
patches, and as they had openly declare
themselves as charged with all authority fro,
the Confederate Government to form treatit
and alliances tending to the establishment {
their independence, l became satisfied tht
their mission was adverse and criminal to I'll
r Union, and it therefore became my duty
arrest their progress and capture them,
they had no passports ftom the Federal Go,
eminent, as provided for under the law of ns
tions, viz THAT foreign ministers Of belli
gerent on board Of neutral ships are require
to possess rapers from the other beligerent
to permit them to pass frcc."
The Trent, he had 'ascertained, was mer
merchant vessel, carrying the mail by con
tract he was satisfied, also, that the captain
knew the character of his passengers, the,
having been introduced by the British Consu
to him, and he consequently considered th
vessel itself lawful prize, but he forebore t.
seize her in consequence Of being short OF Of
ficers and men, and ON account of the de-
rangement itwould cause innoccnt persons
His orders to Lieutenant Fairfax authorized
the latter to use force if necessary to effect the
arrests. sa t.r.. ...-... ....