The daily Wabash express. (Terre-Haute, Ind.) 1857-1867, 1861-11-22
summary Action of Gcaeral sasaaer


Seizure Of DR. Giria. Calhoun Benham. and
Senator Brenf-Atfemftd Arrest Of GsHeT-
al Summer b. fke Authorities Of Panara--
The Priso Rers Transported Across the
Isfkmas Under Gasrd Of United States
Troops.
Icorespondsnee 81 the se~ York nmes-l
AsrfSwAlI. "Wednesday. Nov. 8. 1861.
When the steamer Orixaba. from san
Francisco tor Panama. had got well clear
from tie wharf. Capt. Pearson first discover.
Cd that ne had three distinguished persons on
board. whose names were not on the passcn-
ger list. viz: VIM. N. Own. late Senator of
the United States: Calhoun Benham. Mr.
Buchanan's Attorney General for California.
and Mr.-Brcnt. late State Senator Of Cali
fornia. al three being veil known seces-
sionists. u was no marvel 20 the captain 90
End them his clandestine guests. Ii happen
ed that Gen. Sumner. with 500 United States
troops and 900 rhed muskets. were also
on board the Oriz ,5a. Dr.. Gwin and his
companions exhibited little unessiness as
the vessel approached AIcatFaz. 10. receive
salrte, but from that time until she was with
in two DAYS from PAnami, nothing further
occurred to disturb their equan.rity. On the
morning Of the ID. Gen. Sumner politely In.
formed the trio that they we're his prisoners.
he having good evidence that they were
plotting against the peace and safety OF the
United States of America He At the same
time siggifed to them that they would not be
| placed under close arrest ill the ship reached
anchorage in the B ~ of Panama. But Gen.
Sumner cid not proceed 10 do what would
have seemed 70 be the next most natural
thing: TO sezo the papers OF he aforesaid in
1 Af..I = ks.t III I'll L. -
Int his cigar. Upon this Ar. Brent and Mr..
Benham went stragh; 10 their rooms. and
threw from their windows large packages OF
papers and documents. which no doubt would
have been OF mDre value 10 the Government
than fifty such gentlemen as the distinguish
ed prisoners. Otcourso after the horse was
stolen, the General locked the stable by
placing seals upon the trunks and parcels.
and taking the articles under his own charge.
A carpet bag was also seen floating astern.
supposed 20 have been thrown from Dr..
OWNS room.
The O.Iz aba reached her anchorage al
Panama ut 5 y A.. ". Yesterday morning. but
the tide being too far out TO enable C,pt.
Pearson to land his muskets before night, the
passengers we're mostly kept on board Al
ter breakfast the news OF the arrest having
reached the shore. Mr Ran. Runols. OF Tex.
rs. who has just vac tied the Office OF United
States Consul ut Chinandega. Nicaragua, and
Mr.. .Theo. J. De Saba, OF Tennessee. late
United States Wee Consul nc Panama. mp
piled 10 tho authorities 70. the arrest of0en
Sumner. charged with restraining the liberty
OF De-. Gwin. and with intent 10 forcibly
carry him out of New Grenada. In contemp
other sovereignty. and in violation of hel
territ. ry. The Governor Immediately in
stituted an inquiry. and finding the facts tc
be rs charged, issued orders 10 the Chief O.
Pc ice. and 70 the commander oil tho riilitsi /,
force. TO prevent any such procedures. n J
or eirty men we're accordingly guarding ths
landing psscs al day yesterday, while ths
Governor. General Herrsn. and the Cnitct
States Consul. we're endeavoring 10 nego
tiato. H,wcver, all diplomacy was futile. a
General Sumner shut of further argument
by declaring that he must take the prisoner
across the Isthmus, and leave his Govern
ment to settle matters Of violated sovereign
~, &c. This morning AZ s o'clock the priso
ners were landed under strong guard u
United States soldiers. and placed in the carr
with ,ut any m litnry resistance on the part @
the Panama authorities. they having onlj
275 men in the place. while Gen. Sumne
had 466. armed with Minie guns. The Gov
! ernor. however. strongly protested aSains
the action OF Gen Sumner, as we'll in violst
ing the territory by the violent transporta
! tiou of prisoners across II. as by the landing
and placing in a warlike attitude armed me-
on the soil.
The doctor ard his companions took pas
sage only TO Panama, trom San Francisco
It's understood they intended 10 30 iron
Aspinwall 20 Havana via St Thomas, IN III
hope Of reaching New Orleans.
The prisoners reached Aspinwall At i
O'Clock this morning. On getting out fror
. the train they were marched through clos
ranks Of soldiers drawn up on both sides Q
the track, preceded and followed BY srme
men.