The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-13

The following is an abridged copy of the
report of Capt. Wilkes, assigning his reason
tOr the arrest of Mason and Slldell
U. S. STEAMER SAN JACrYTo.
AT Sea. Nov. l6. 1861.
The governments of Great Britain, France
nno Spain having issued proclamatOns that
tho Confederate States wero viewed con-
Bicetod and treated as belligerents, felt no
hesitation in boarding and searching all
vessels OF whatever nation | fell in with
aud have done so.
Tho question arose in my mind, whether
had the right to capture the persons of
the commissioners, whether they were ame-
nable to capture. There was no doubt thai
had the right to capture vessels with writ
ten dispatches.
They are expressly referred to in all au-
thorites, subjecting the vessel to seizure
and condemnation if the Captain of the
vessel had the knowledge of their being on
board. But these gentlemen wore not dis
patches in the literal sense, and no where
could hnd u case in point.
They had been presented to tho CaDtaiD
General of Cuba by IL b. NJ. Consul Gen.
eral, but tho Captain General told mo he
had not received them in that capacity. but
as distinguished gentlemen and strangers.
then considered them as the e,nbodi.
mont OF dispatches, and it therefore became
my duty to arrest tboir progress ana can
turo thom 1t they had no passport or papers
from tho Federal Government az nro
Vlded for under the law OF nations; namely
that foreign ministers of belligerent on
board of neutral ships, arc required to
possess pspers from tho other bolligerent to
permit thom TO pass free. As respects The
steamer in which they embarked, tho agent
of the vessel, the son OF the British ConsnI
at Havana, was we'll aware of the cbaracter
OF the persons. Thoy went in tho steamer
with tho knowledge and consent of tho Cant
who ondeavored afterwards to conceal them
by refusing to exhibit the passenger list and
the papers of tho vessel. There can be no
doubt he know they were carrying highly
Important dispatches aud were endowed
with instructions inimical to the United
states This rendered his vessel, though a
neutral, legal prize.
determined to take possession of the
vessel, and, as | mentioned in my report,
send her to Key West for aiudication.
forebore TO seize her, however, in conse
quence ofmy being so reduced in officers
and crew, and the arrangement il would
cause innocent persons, there beiug a
large number OF passengers who would
have been put TO great loss and inconven.
fence. as we'll as disappointment. from the
interruption it would have caused them
in not being able TO Join the steamer from
Ut. Thomas for Europe. therefore con-
eluded TO sacrifice the interests of my
officers and crew in the prize, and sui
fer the steamer to proceed after :he nee
essary detention 10 effect the transfer of
these Commissioners, considering | had
attained The important end l had in view
(Signed) CHAS. WILKES.
Mr.. GURLaY's CoNFlscATIoN BuL-Mr
Gurioy, OF Ohio, has introduced bin in tho
House, declaring all Rebel property con
hscated, aud all Rebel slaves freo. Tho bin
provides for commissioners in oach rebeI
state, to carry its provisions into effect
take charge of tho cOnhscatod slaves. and
employ them at fair wages in tho United
States service, transporting such as are nor
needed to Florida, where thoy are 10 be
aPprenticed for not moro than Blk wears. nj
reasonable wages, TO loyal proprietors, said
apprentices to DO free at tho expiration of
their apprenticeship. Florida ia IN ha
occupied by tho United Statos forces and
the rebel estates to be sold to oyal citizens
fhe slaves OF such citizens to be purohas,d
out OF the cOnfiscation fund. The Stnte|
ls 10 De governed by military law, as n
territory, until II contains q sufIieiont
number of loyal white inhabitants 10 onti,Is
IL to a representative in Congress when n
may form State Government and Con.
stitution excluding slavery.
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PARsoN BRowNLow.-It is reported tho,