The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-11-28
The Arrest Of Mason and SIiden
IntcrCStiur neipflr

publish at present the official reports made
by the officers of the war steamer San ia
ointo, in reference to tho capture Of Mason
aud Slidel, Tho general facts are these;
Com, wilkes, evidently man of grit, was
sent out to bring home the San Jacinio from
the coast of Africa; on his return he touch
cd at Cienfuegos, where he ascertained that
Mason aud Shdell had run the blockade, and
were on route to Europe, probably by the
way of Cuba, lie sailed up and went into
port at Havana There he ascertained that
the Confederate commissioners had been
gone few hours, having sGiled in the
British mNil steamship Trent, the evening
before, 9TH Novembur) He Immediately
put to sea, directing his course 80 as to in
teroept the vessel. When about forty miles
OF Matonsos. in the old Bahama Channal, th,
Trent hove in sight. and the two vcssels
were soon within hailing distance. Com.
mudore Wilkes sent n shot across the bows
of the Trent. To this no attention was paid,
when another was directed near the bow.
This brought the steamer to. Lieutenant
Fairfax, to whom both the Confederate pas
sengers We're personally known, was sent
on board in u boat supported with two
more boats filed with marines. Lieutenant
Fairfax went ON deck and called for Messrs.
Mason and Sldcll who soon appeared
blcu(Cldhl fNIldA pOlitcly lululhleu lhClh
of the object OF his mission, and asked them
to go on board his boat. To this they OBJ
iected, Mason remallliig that they had paid
their passage to Europe, to the British
Consul at Havana, (who acts as agent for
the mail steamship line) and he would not
Leave without force, Lieutenant Fairfax,
pointing to his marines drawn up on decks
of the British steamer, said You sec, sir. |
have the force, if that is what YOU requirc.'
Then YOU must use it. replied Mason
With this Lieut.. Fairfax placed his hand
upon the Senator's shoulder and pressed
him to the gangway. At this iuncturc the
passengers rushed forward, somewhat eX-
cited and attempted to interfere The ma
rines Immediately showed their bayonCts,
and Mason consented to the decision OF
Lieut. Fairfax, asking that ne might be per-
mitted to make his protest in writing. just
then Il imo specimen of an Englishman rush
cd on deck in military or naval uniform (thC
officer in command OF the mails, probably,)
and demanded why passengers on board
that ship were molcstcd. 1T. Fairfax inform
ell him that he had stated to Captain Moir,
of the packet, why he had arrested two OF
his passengers, and further than that he
had no explanations to make. Protests were
then drawn up, and Mason and Slidell. with
o e.r Secretaries, Eustis and Mcfarland,
went into the boats of the San Jacinto.
Com. Wilkes sent message TO the ladies
that his best cabin was at their service II
they disred to accompany the prisoners
back to the United States. They, however
declided, and proceeded on the voyage
The arrest was made on the Sth, and the
san Jacinto arrived with the prisoners at
Fortress Monroe on Friday. Lieut.. Taylor
was dispatched to Washington with the of
fetal papers, and the San Jncnto was order
| ed to New York, whence the prisoners will
be forwarded to Fort Warren in Boston
| harbor.
The Trent, is not, as has been supposed
an intcr-coloniaI steamer, playing between
the West India Islands. She is a British
international packet, carrying the British
mails, and plying between southampton
England, Vera Cruz. Havana, st. Thomas
and thence back to southampton
Lieutenant Taylor arrived here at noon
yesterday, and the news OF the arrest Great
ed profound sensation, and very genera
and almost unbondcd rejoicing, The ae
! is, outside Of the departments, very general
! ly approved tho there are vcrious opinion
expressed in the speculations as to the light
| in which England will view the transaction
| One thing is evident; England has alway
! favored the right of search; and it is a ba,
law, or rule that will not work equally wei
both ways. Captain Wilkes was disposeC
to seize the packet, under the charge o
| favoring the enemies Of our country ano
bring her to Key West; but finding that i
would seriously disappoint a large number
of passengers, he abandoned his purpose.
Mason, as all our readers probably know
is Virginian, about 63 years Of age. HI
father and great-grandfathcr were lamou
men. and he has therefore held prominer
Offices for years, though excessively stupid
Slidcll 10 a man of much more Talent, and Il
four or five years older than Mason. He is
however, a "played out politician in Lous
ana, the State of his adof ON. He is na
tive of New York city, and OF his parenlag'
the Trjbaue publishes the following account
Slidcl is remembered in his youth b.
n any old gentlemen i'll this city. lie wa'
the son Of tallow chandler, a pareltage O
which he had the weakness to be ashane {
and which was q source then, and probabl
is now, of continual modification. 1t is re
lated Of him that on one occasion in cor
versation with lady, noted and dreade
for her wit, he expressed desire for ioreig
travel. "Ah! said the lady, 81 have no dout
you would find yourself very much at hom'
in Greecel" Slidell withdrew precipitatel,
from the encounter. "rhat young man,
SalQ MS prosecutor, as lie IclItdlCu, icCA
to be dipped over again, for he has not bee
well mOlaed' lie viii now be put where h
can reflect at his leisure upon the pcacetr
and respectable qualities OF the father an
grandfather-wh was also a tallow char
dler--of whom he has always been ashaH
cd
Com, Charles Wilkes, whose name is q
this moment exultingly spoken by thousand
of persons, has long been most iavorabl
known. He was born in New York in l60'
and has been in service forty-three year
From 1888 to 1912 he WAS in command {
the United States Exploring Expedition /
the Pacific and Southern Oceans. His nal
rative Of this expedition, in FIVE volumes,
familiar to all, at least by name. He is ais
the author of work entitled "Wester
America" which contains valuable nformt
ton relating to California and Oregon
When he performed the exploit for whic
he will receive the thanks of every patrlo
he was on the way home from the Coast G
Africa.
Bsy~The establishment of Bureau a
Washington under the control of Govern
ment clerk, to which all the Department
newspaper correspondents stationed q
Washington can have access, was some tim
since suggested. The New York Heral
says that the Government has taken TIN
idea into consideration, and has decides
that such Bureau shall be opened. Is.
this means the Government will be able 4
supply the public with reliable official re
norris of Denartment and business transac