Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-06
tPron the New York Tribune, Nov. 81
BANQUET 70 CAPT. WILKES.

I lProH tho New York Tribune, Nov. 81
BANQUET TO CAPT. WILKES.
BosToE, Tuesday, Nov. %, 1s6l.-A banquet
was given to Captain Wilkes and tho officers
Of the San Jacinto this evening, at the Revere
House, which was attended by about $50
guests. The affair was gotten up by a Com
mittee of gentlemen. Among the invited
guests were the Governor, Chief Justice Rig
low, the Commodore of this station, Mayor
Nlghtm8n, aud q number Of distinguished cit.
liens and strangers.
Tho Hon. I. Wiley Edmunds presided. At
ter the cloth was removed, he made a " welcome
speech to the distinguished guest, ,.aich was
loudly applaudcd.
Capt Wiley, OH rising TO respond, was re-
ceived with tremendous applause, the company
rising and giving him three times three cheers,
which wero thrice repeated.
Capt. Wilkes thanked the company for the
kind reception they had accorded him, and for
their Endorsement Of his acts. He spoke but a
account Of tho cruise CT the San Jacinto in
pursuit Of the privateer Sumter, after her ar.
rival OF the West Indies, which IVES ended by
the capture Of the rebel emissaries, Slidell and
Mason.
SapI "lthc5 IcudlhEu ludL III WUuiu uAfo
suffered the rebel emissaries to pursue their
way if they could show u pass from the
General Government. The noble sailor is not
| est, smiling countenance, and won by his &C.
NAL and bland manner upon the ready afec-
ton Of the company.
Gov. Andrew, on being introduced, said he
| rtioiced to be present on an occasion like this,
So tha ,,,,rnnca nf rouiDu thu ,,tT1psf hnl1Nr tD
the illustrious commander who was the guest
ring the past two weeks to make the name Of
Wilkes History.
lie had performed the most il!ustrious ser
| vice that has been rendered since the war be.
gan. Il had happened to him Gov. A 70 be
present on oDacia, business at tho War Depart
mcnt when the telegram announcing the cap.
ture of the two Rehel Ministers was re
ceived.
He thought it but courteous that the Score.
tary of War should lead in the cheers which
followed, but be begged 10 assume the com.
pany he was not behind the second man to
raise his voice in loud acclaim, and he had the
satisfaction Of knowing et a very carly hour
that the territory of Massachusetts would have
the opportunity of furnishing g prison to these
unnatural and rapacious traitors.
When he thought of the coRtumely and scoTn
our glorious New England bud received from
these men, once Senators, TOW captlVes, he
felt more than repaid in contemplating their
present condition. The Governor concluded
by proposing the health Of Lieut.. Fairfax. OF.
6cers and crew of the San Jlcinto. /. was re-
ceived with great applause. g.
Lieut. Fairfax, in rising 10 respond, ~ss re
csived with hardly less consideration than his
commander. The Lieutenant spoka at some
length, giving sorao OF the incidents attending
the cruise, and the par: be look in the capture
CT the rebel ambassadors. Although he v:s
q Souther: MAJ, he kncw Of but one Gag for
America, and that vas The glorious slars mud
stripes.
Chief Justice Bigeiow made q tervid speech.
There were occasions when 9 man did not need
to look into law books nor consult counsel
His own instincts and his own patriotism would
tell him what tc do. He vindicated the act OF
Capt. Wilkes as being in eIac! and strict coz
formity with international law.
He had occasion within the les. few days 70
consult tho last speech of Senator Slidoll, made
in the Senate of the United States. lie told
the Senators, in that speech, among other
.aings, tina: they (tEe "HJaisGcra,es") would
cover the seas with the R;l!t,a, and if you dsS
me where our ships, cur sailors, our ccmrlaa.
ders are to come from, | answer, wo will get
them from England.
The Chief justice would answer for il that
Slidells hopes Of getting ships and men from
England would prove quite as false as his hopes
CT representing rebellion in that country. He
vensured to say that England, unless She fals!-
lies her own conduct, the declarations OF her
statesmen, and the decisions y! her Judiciary,
cannot make an issue with Us ON the arrest i:
Slideil and Mason. We need only TO refer To
the recorded judgments of her great jurists to
see that she can mako no just quarrel with US
on this question.
Nothing could be more deplorsble than a
war With England but be trusted that if it
did come we were prepared to meet it like
men. We needed pesco With all nations, bp:
we should never buy i! ut the cost Of our own
degradation.
4 letter from Moj3r General Butler was
read in which he characterized the conduct Of
Captain Wilkes as equaling in Importance any
one of OUT naval recerds.
Speeches were made by Mayor Nightnap,
and by several other gentlemen. The greatest
good feeling prevailed throughout the evening,
until ten O'clock, whea the COMPANY separated
with cheers for Captain Wilkes, his officers,
the Navy, and the Stars and Stripes.
THANKSGIVING A IN LtScoLNDol.
Thursday, the 2sth ult, was observed as a
day Of thanksgiving in the Lincoln domains
In an editorial on the subject, the Baltimore
'Sun" ssys:
We have never written those words With so
little Of thanksgiving spirit as Sc DO to-day.
| V-ll.z- - .n-n - thn tr,,u,k n,,.o -
most patriotic devotion to the Union ard Con.
stitution, under whose auspices va were born
and bred, and whose honor and glory have
pride of lifs-we cannot find cause for glad
ness and Thanksgiving in sny aspect OF public
affairs which now presents itse!s. The States
distracted By civil Vet, which respec. for the
| Constitution and the maintenance Of equal
rights would have made impossible; the peo-
pie of one section repealed by :hs unnitigable
other ; the authorities Of each holding in pain.
fu!, weary and wasting Imprisonment good and
worthy citlz=ns of the other and all this as
the most malign effect of wanton iuterneddlins,
one portion With another. There is no cause
fo: thanksgiving here.
AFFAIRS AT FORT WARREN.
The Boston "TrsTeler," Of Tuesday speak
ing Of tine prisoners ia Fort Warren, says
Slideil and Mason have comfortable quarters,
which they share with their secretaries. As
they have funds, they have purchased various
articles for their convenience, not provided by
tue government, and ms tho prospect is that
they are likely to remain here soiae tine, their
money has been judiciously used.
Mr.. Mason, VINO wore an air OF nonchalence
on Sunday, when taken to the fort, mas apps.
rently found the place Less agreeable than he
anticipated. Perhaps the climate does not
agree with him. or it may be that ne means to
be exclusive, but it is remarked among the
nr;,o,or, that ha kaenc birncnif uerp cloea RI