Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-12-24
FROM THE UNITED STATES.
From the Warrington. Star, Dec. 10.
SEREyADE TO CAPTAIN WILKES

0EhENADE ~
Capt Wilkes Of the San Jacinto, arrived at bis resi-
deuce corner OF Eleventh and Streets in this CITY,
Saturday evening, and received from hs admirers the
compliment Of 4 serenade.
The music was by the Marine Band, and they CON-
menced with HAL to the Chief" After several pieces
had been performed Mayor Wssch introduced Captain
Wilkes with the following brief speech
Fellow citizens: regret inform you that Captain
Wilkes not able to address you tonight as he would
ike to- In response the compliment paid him by this
unexpected serenade. he ia known to you ALL his past
clrecr stands out csar and usrous II s his last great
act the seizure of the rebel commissioners that adds
special usre to his name. 1t is lustre Of which the
citizens OF Washington have just reason to be proud
Allow me to introduce to you Capt. Wilkes, the hero Of
the Trent:
Captain Wilkes was greeted with enthusiastic cheers
When they had subsidized he spoke briefly ss follows:
Gentlemen and Fellow. Oitlzsns-I would like TO say
much to you tonight. feel in my heart that owe
much to you for this unexpected compliment Ali our
interests are identified. Coming, as this honor does
from you my fellow citiEen, and those who know me-
appreciate IL fully than Ii came from any other
source attribute this demonstration 70 my having
Gently performed act Of public duty. will not r,fer
more specifically 70 my course that OCCASION but viii
only say that should another similar emergency arise
should do exactly the same thirg again Allow me TO
bid you good night. ] would speak longer wee not
laboring under severe ndisposton.
At the close OF Capt. Wilkes speech he repeated
w luz uauu plilcu sefclhl mOTe pNCSH, anu
then Withdrew. Among those who were presen. to
welcome Captain Wilkes was Commander Shubrick.
REPORT OF CAPTAIN WILKES ON THE ARREST
OF MASON AND sLIDELL.s
The following Is the report Of Captain Wilkes, as
signing his for the arrest Of Messrs. Mason and
Slidell:
U. 8. SrrAMrR SAs JAcrsro,
At Sea- November IL.
Sin: In my dispatch by Commodore Taylor, confined
myself 70 the reports Of the movements Of this chin
and the facts connected with the capture Of Messrs
Mason Slidel Eustis and Aacfarand, intended to
write you particularly relative TO the REASONS which in
ducsd my action in making these prisoners.
When heard at Cienfuegce, on the south side Of
Cuba of these commissioners having landed on the
land OF Cuba ard that they at Havana and would
depart 10 the English steamer Of the 7h of November
determined 10 intercept thsm and carefully examined
all the authorities on international Law to which had
access viz: Ke.t Wheaton, Vatte besides various dc.
csions OF Sir Vim Scott and other judges of the Ad
mirslty Cour. CT Great Britain. which bore upon the
rights OF neufrals aud their responsibilities.
The governments Of Grea. Britain France and Spain
having issued procsmstons that the Confederate States
viewed, considered and treated az beligerens and
knowing that the ports of Great Britain France Spain
and Holland, In the West Iudies we're open to their
vessels and that they admitted to all the courte
sizes and protection Of vessels of the United States
ceived every aid al attention being given them proved
clearly that they acted upon this view and decision and
brought them within the international Law of search and
under the responsibilities. therefore, felt hesita-
ton iii boarding and searching all vessels of whatever
nation fell in with, and have done so.
The question arose in my mind whether had the
right to capture the parsons OF these commissioners
shether they amenable to capture. There no
doubt had the right to capture vessels with written
espaches-they expressly referred to in all author
tiles subjsctrg the vessel to seizure and condemnation
the captain Of the vessel had the knowledge Of their
beiug on board. But these gentlemen were not des-
patches In the literal sense and did not to come
uader that designation aud nowhere could find case
in point.
That they were commissioners had ample proof from
their svowA and bent on mischievous and traitor
errands against our counry-to overthrow its ins
tutons and enter into treaties ard alliances with foreign
States, expressly forbidden by the constitution. They
had been presented to the Captain General of Cuba BY e.
B. NJ CoUsulGsnersl but the CaptainG eneral told me
he had received them in that capacity bu. as istn
guishsd gentlemen and srangers
thea considered them as the embodiment of despatch
es and they had openly declared themselves charged
with authority from the Confederate government to form
treaties ard alliances tending the Establishment of their
independence became satisfied that their mission was
adverse aud criminal to the Union and 1t therefore be-
my 10 duty arrest their progress and capture them
il they had no pas ports or papers from the Federal Gov
crament provided for under the Law OF nations viz
"rha foreign ministers Of begersnt bolrd of neu
trail ships are hired to possess papers from the other
be- g rent to rois them to PISS free"
port aud assumption gave them the title of minis
ers France and England, bat inasmuch as they had
not been received by either Of these powers, did not
nceive they had immunity attached TO their persons
but escaped conspraors plotting and coutving to
overthrow the government OF the United states and they
therefore. not to be considered having any claim
to the mmunes attached to the character they thought
fs TO assume.
As respects the steamer In which they embarked as
certained In II vapa that she q merchant vessel
pling between Vera Cruz the HAvana and st. Thomas,
carrying the mail by contract
The agent of the vessel the son Of The fish Consul
at Havana we'll OF the character of these per-
that they engaged their passage and did embark in
the vessel his father had visited them, and introduced
them ministers Of the Confederate States on their way
to Eaeland and France
They vent In the steamer With the knowledge and
consent Of the captain Who endeAvoured afterwards 20
eopcea them By refusing to exhibit the passenger list
aad The pspsfs Of ths vssss. There can b no doub,