The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-11-26
CAPTURE OF MESSRS. MASON AND
STTDEII,

News reached Richmond on Sunday, the 18th,
that Messrs Slidell and Mason, Ministers to Eng
land and France, with their Secretaries, had been
brought into Hampton Roads by Federal war
vessel and delivered to the custody of Gen. Wool,
at Fortress Monroe. The fact communicated
bv Gen. Wool under flag of truce, to Gen.
Huger, at Norfolk.
1t seems that they had taken passage on the
royal mail steam packet from Havana to Liver
pool and that the steamer was boarded by the
e. S. man of war San Jacinto, under command of
Capt. Wilkes, for the purpose of arresting these
gentlemen, who, with their Secretaries, were
brought forcibly off, The ladies of the commits
sioners were left board. 1t is thought that the
boarding was effected shortly after the steamer
had left the port of Havana The U. S. Consul
at Havana gave information of their embarkation
on the British packet.
The mere capture of two citizens is, of course,
small loss to the Southern Confederacy. The
affair assumes importance only in respect to the
treatment it may receive from the British Govern
ment The deck of British vessel is as sacred
as British soil To board British vessel forcbly
/ and carry off persons, is as great an insult to
British sovereignty, to send armed men to
London and to capture ambassadors assembled
amid her Court 1t is in this aspect of the case
that the capture of Messrs Mason and Slidell
assumes importance. The British Captain protes-
ted against the whole proceeding, and will doubt
less report l. to his Government.-Rich.D Dispatch.
The seizure of Messrs. Mason, Slidel and
others, diplomatic agents of the Southern
Confederacy, on their way to England, on the
high seas, upon the deck of British mail
steamer and under the British flag, is proof of
desperate imbecty in the present Government Of
the United States which will fill the world with
amazement. The imprisonment of these two
agents does not cripple the Southern Government.
1t loses two good men. But it may send twenty
others tomorrow on the same errand. The Gov
eminent of the United States gains nothing beyond
the qualification Of its spite against two individ-
uas, and engages itself irretrievably in an open
quarrel with the Government of Great Britain,
whose indisputabe and cherished right of mari
time independence it has outraged in manner so
clear and so decisive to render immediate naval
hostities almost certain.
If the Government of Great Britain has not
become more spiritless than any Government ever
was before, this escapade of Commodore Wilkes
will cost Lincoln dearer than any adventure of
the war; and Messrs Slidel and Mason may be
found more useful to the Confederacy within the
walls of their prison than they could have hoped
to be, under the most favorable circumstances
either at St. James or in the Tuilleries. -Rich.
Examiner.
U0w Commissioners arrre ouertdken-
Late intelligence explains how Messrs Mason and
I -
Jacinto. The Commissioners arrival in Havana,
and the nature Of their mission far from
being secret there, that they received the marked
Inequalities Of the Captain 6 General of the island
Immediately upon their arrival the Consul of
Lincoln, one Shuteldt, sent fast yacht, the Non
pareil, to Key West with the news. Thus the
enemy had abundant time to mature all their
arrangements for the COUP The Commissioners
had taken passage the royal mail steam packet
from Havana to LiyernoOl
On the 9th inst, shortly after leaving the port
Of Havana, the steamer boarded by the Uni
ted States man-of-war San Jacinto, under COM
mand Of Capt Wilkes, for the purpose of arrestng
Messrs Mason and Sldell, who with their Secreta-
ries, were brought forcibly off, The party of
ladies who accompanied the Commissioners pro-
cceded on their way, and took with them, it is
said, the official letters and dispatches of the Com
missioners.-C Charleston Mercury.
The Norfolk Day Book learns that the capture of
Messrs Mason and Sdell was against the protest
of the British Captain and under threats, and,
indeed, the actual exhibition Of force. One re-
port is that several shots were fired. 1t learns
that the capture took place as the mail steamer
left Madeira.