The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-11-23
The Arrest OF Mason and sIideli.

We copy tho following particulars of the
arrest of Mason and Slidell from the Fort
Monroe Correspondence of the n. Y. World.
We need only to add, that the Government
fully justiiies the action of Capt Wilkes,
and that Mason and Slidsll, with their
| Secretaries, have been sent to Fort Warren,
near Boston.
| The I. S. steam frigate San Jacinto,
! Captain Wilkes, arrived here yesterday at
noon, bringing the rebel Commissioners,
Sideli and Mason, with their secretaries,
] Mcfarland and Eustis The frigate was
en- route from the coast Of Africa via the
/ West Indies, and on stopping at Cienfuegos,
became acquainted with the escape of
Slidell and Mason. Being made aware
also of the resolve of the administration to
capture, if possible, the rebel emisaries, the
officer in command at once resolved that
it should be no fault of his if they made
good their escape. Capt Wilkes, Therefore,
proceeded directly to Havana, and there
I discovered that the Commissioners with
their families. had sailed on the It'll inst
in the British mail steamer Trent running
between Vera Cruz and Southampton ria
Havana and ST. Thomas. The San Jacinto
accordingly set out in pursuit, and came
up with the Trent in the narrowest part
Of the Bahama channel. The commander
telegraphed across her bows in the way
best known SO naval officers, and the Trent
hove to. Capt Wilkes dispatched two
boats with five officers and thirty five men,
under command of Lieut.. Fairfax who pos
sessed q special adoption for his duty in
having special knowledge of the rebel
dignitaries. On boarding the Trent they
met with grsiff reception from all parties
round. The captain denounced the party
as . Yankee pirates" and talked largely OF
the rights of neutrals and the law of nations
Lieut.. Fairfax had no response to all this,
but that his orders were to arrest certain
agents Of the rebellion against the United
States government; and he forthwith pro
ceeded 10 the seizure OF his men kbe
excitement on deck then became intense,
increased not little By the protestation
of the wives of the Inflated emissaries.
Messrs. Slideil aud Mason were at first dis
posed to resist the officers, declaring they
could be taken only by force; but on second
thought, yielded themselves up quietly to
their new custodians
One Of the secretaries, Eustis, threaten
ed resistance to the death, but ultimately
followed the submissive precedent of his
master. The distress Of the divorced
wives Of the Ministers may be easily con
ceived. Lieut.. Fairfax politely offered
:hem safe passage to New York, which
they refused, thinking Europe a safer
place for the friends Of rebels than any
place on this continent. On the return
Of the boats, Capt Wilkes stood on the
side of his vessel to receive the captiyes.
and received them in silence, although
both Slidell and Mason were known to
him. Eustis, who had been so denonstra-
tive on Board the Trent, apparently
thought he could carry his airs on board
the San .Iaciu:o and conducted himself,
on entering the vessel with considerable
bravado; in response to which Captain
Wilkes remarked, 4" Sir, am the captain
of this ship when Eustus bowed an
apology and put on better manners.
During the voyage the party maintained
a suilen reserve, evidently feeling deeply
the disappointment Of their mission and
the fate that awaits them. On arrival
here Capt Wilkes at once communicated
with Gen. Wool. who was taken with pro-
found surprise al his appearance with such
pressed his opinion that his action was
perfectly right; and said that, whether or
not according to Guuther, he was prepared
TO stand by it, hoping that, in the eyes Of
his countrymen. the end would Justify the
means. Capt Taylor was dispatched to
Washington with an official account of
the capture. The emissaries were not al
lowed TO leave the vessel here. but re-
questcd Of Gen. Wool that he would for
ward letters to their friends. which was
readily asseuted 10. II was rumored here
that the party would be sent to Fort La
tayette, but have reason for stating that
they have been sent to Fort Warren.