Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1861-12-05
ETbe following article was in type

EThe following article was in type
last week, but unavoidably crowded
out in consequence of publishing the
Delinquent List. Although late in the
day, it may not prove uainterestipg to
cur readers: sfogr ,zer
gThe arrest of Mason and Slidell
still occupies the public mind. Many
nervous old masculine ladies fret them
selves greatly. regarding the light in
which England will view it. Thus far,
no news has reached us, but we venture
the prediction that the Queens proclaim
alton will be adhered to, strictly. After
enumerating many things prohibited,
she says, cor by carrying officers. sold.
iers, dispatches, arms, military stores,
or materials, or any articles considered
eontraband Of war, according to the law
or usages of nations, for the use or SER
vice OF either contending parties"
Now as to articles contraband, the
latest work on the question is from the
pen of DR.. R. Phillimore, Advocate of
the Admiralty Office at London, in
which he says Of contraband, at is in
deed competent to belligerent to stop
the ambassador Of his enemy on his pas
sage" In regard to the right of search,
England has sealed her own lips, and on
that point she will be silent. Indeed in
every aspect of the case English prece-
dents are abundant to show that Com.
Wilkes did exactly right save in not
sonfscating the vessel.
Aside from any further argument, we
can hardly refrain from loud guffaw
Of laughter when rejecting on the cap
tnre and its consequences. No two
men in the Southern Confederacy, will
feel more acutely their disgraceful stu.
stion, than these two embryo embassa-
dors. Both proud, naughty and inso-
lent, their present status is to both Of
them Notifying in the highest degree.
Mason has been for years Senator.
but noted for nothing except insolent
abuse of Northern men. He carried
with him the offensive plantation man
ner toward all from the North with
whom be came in contact. Slavery
was his Alpha and Omega. and anything
beyondi it met his foul and loud-mouthed
abuse. Receiving his wealth mostly
from Philadelphia, he never ceased af-
fecting the overseer toward those from
whom be obtained it.
For two years past. he has worn a
suit of Virginia gray homespun, out Of
hostility to Northern manufactures, and
Yankee enterprise, but as Virginia
don't make buttons, he was forced to
wear Connecticut make or 60 without,
which his vanity would not permit
Full of pride and that pompous style
peculiar to Virginia F. F. VS.. his ca
reer is about closing in the cells of a
prison. Having done his best to
plunge the nation into bloodshed and
sorrow, the nation will look with com.
placency upon his Incarceration, where,
solitary and alone, his vanity can brood
over fallen greatness, his pride be nur-
tured by association with felons, and
his conscience, if any he have, be smit-
ten with sense of the awful crimes to
which he has lent willing hand.
AS for Slidell, instead ef being the
pompous fool as Mason was, he was
sly, cautious, dark, insinuating. and
unscrupulous. For years be has striv-
en- to bring about this rebellion. For
this purpose he opposed Douglas with
the intensity of a fend, defeated his nom-
ination, and by his intrigues. brought
about the selection of his fellow conspir-
ator Breckinridge.
A Northern man by birth, he espoused
Southern principles from choice, and
like all renegades went beyond the
"yilest of the vile." Driven from New
York city by commission of high crimes,
he took up his abode in New Orleans,
and adopted the respectable profession
of gambler, and some time after.
ward that Of lawyer. in both Of which
be was skilful practitioner.
In politics he revelled. as it gave scope
to bis peculiar forte which is fraud
We all remember the celebrated Pla
quemine frauds which elected Poll
over Clay in 1914. The very head o
this infamous fraud was Jno. Slidell.-
The Houmas land grant was another o
his gigantic schemes of plunder ant
fraud. The developments made befor,
Congress, prove him to be deeply i'm
plicated. =
As he had his family with him. it /,
highly probable he never intended re-