Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-11-21
TILE w AR-
Tho Rebel Commissioners Caught
MASON AND sLIDEIL TAKEN PRISONERS ny THE
IArTNTO

MASON AND sLIDELL TAKEN PRISONERS ny THE
SAN JAcINTO.
The IT, S. war steamer San Jacinto. Com.
Wilkes, arrived at Fortress Monroe, Friday,
from the coast of Africa via the West Indies,
where she had been cruising for six weeks
Old Point was electrified by the tidirgs that she
had on board Messrs. james NJ. Mason and
John Slilell, who were going abroad as minis
tiers of the Southern Confederaey to England
and France, but were taken from the British
mail steamship Trent, in the channel of the
Bahamas.
Official dispatches received at Washington
from Com. Wilkes state that when the San
Jacinto stopped at Cienfuegos, the escape of
Slidell and Mason was ascertained. Proceed
ing thence TO Havana, it was understood they
had taken passage on the It'll inst, in the Brit.
ish mail steamship Trent, plying between Vera
Cruz, st. Thomas and Southampton.
While the San Jacnto was in the narrowest
part of the Bahama channel, about twenty-four
miles to the westward, she met the packet, fir
ed gun across her bows, and brought her to.
Two boats were sent to her, with 25 men, I'M
der command of Lieut.. Fairfax who boarded
the packet, and arrested Mason and Slidell
they being personally known to him. The re-
bel commissioners at first objected to being re.
moved without force. Their respective secre-
taries, Eustace and Mcfarland, were also
brought on board the San Jacinto. All their
private papers, documents and instructions
were seized. The British captain delivered
them up under protest. The remainder of the
passengers including the ladies and children
connected with the Mason and Slidell party,
Including Sldcl's wife and four chdren) were
not moested, but left free to pursue their jour
pey.
The official dispatches are voluminous, and
include several &c cunts Of the capture, togeth
err with the protest of Mason and Sidell
against being taken off a British vessel These
official dispatches are withheld for the present,
for satisfactory reasons.
Special dispatches state that when Com.
Wilkes message to the British captain demand
ing the surrender of Mason and Slidel was de-
livered by Lieut.. Fairfax. the reply was that
there was not force enough to take them
Com. Wilkes Immediately put the San Jacinto
in a raking position, opened his ports, and po-
litey told John Bull that he should try what
force would do. Thereupon the captain of the
steamer raved and swore, calling the U. S. Off
GERS 'piratical Yankees &c., but very prudent
ly gave up the obnoxious passengers. They
made but feeble resistance. Eustace, one OF
their secretaries was quite obstreperous, but
finally accompanied the traitors into confne-
ment. The British captain pretended to have
taken them on board without knowing who
they were, their destination or businessmen a
very likely story. The British steamer dis
played no flag excepting that of her own ma
ton.
Com. Wilkes is understood to have acted on
his own responsibility. In an interview with
Gen. Wool. Friday he reported the news il
person, and said that, right or wrong, these
men had to be secured, and if he had dont
wrong, nothing more could be done than tc
cashier him for it.
Gen. Wool granted Slidell and Mason per
mission to send open letters to their friends
The San Jacinto, with the rebels on board, lief
Fortress Monroe for New York, Saturday.
If England demands satisfaction for over
hauling one of her steamers, it will be our gov
ernment's plan to disavow the act, assert tina
Wilkes made the arrest on his own response
biltv, apologize if necessary, and promote
Wilkes to an admiralship.
MORE ARRESTS.
On board the steamer Champion which ar
rived at New York Friday from Aspnwall
were ex.senators Gwin and Brent, and Calhoun
Benham, the attorney general of the state o
California, under the administration of MI
Buchanan. brought to this cit, under arrest b
order of Gen. Sumner, who also arrived togeth
err with several companies of regular soldiers
and considerable quantity of small arms
The arrested persons took passage from Sa
Francisco to Panama on board the Orizaha
with the intention, as is believed, of making
their way to New Orleans from some of tn
West India islands. Before arriving at Pana
ma, however, they were placed under arrest b.
Gen. Sumner, who, it appears, had sufliciel
knowledge of their intentions to warrant hin
in the course he adopted. They were conveye
across the isthmus under guard of the nations
troops, notwithstanding protest on the par
of the New Granadian authorities, who consid
cred such a proceeding q violation of the neu
traity. The force at the command of Ger
Sumner was too formidable to be interfere
with, or forcible rescue would probably hay
been made The prisoners were uniortunatel
allowed to destroy quantity Of document
while on board the Orizaba, by throwing ther
overheard.
The Expedition to Accomac, Va.
\. IL