The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-16
IMPORTANT ARRESTS.
Ex-senator Gwin, Calhoun Benham and j
Brent Arrested on the South Pacific.
Action Of the New Granadian
Authorities.
SKETCH OF SENATOR OWN,
&C., &C., &c.

BY the Pacific mail steamer, which arrived hero early
yesterday morning. received intelligence Of the arrest
Of DR.. Gwin, late United States Senator from California
and two other gentlemen, suspicion Of being aders
and abettors OF secession. The arrest was made on
board the Uncle Sam and great excitement was
created in Panama, well as On board the vessel.
It appears that DR. w. NJ, Gwin, Calhoun Benham andJ
Brent Of California were board and being Of known
secession principles their baggage searched and pa
pers found compromising them with the rebels General
| Sumner, who was . passenger board, at once
issued an OF der for their tho troops under his
| command.
As there was not time land the passengers by that
mornings tide they could not be sent over until the after
noon and meanwhile the report Of the arrest OF the gen
| tlcmen got currency on shore.
Some friends OF Dr. Gwin who were in Panama at the
time applied the Governor to annul the arrests on the
ground they made IN the waters OF New Gran
ada and that foreign government had no right to trans
| port political prisoners the territory.
General Herran who is intimate friend Of DR.. OWNS,
also used his influence behalf and was that
the Governor issued order prohibiting the convey
ance Of the prisoners across the lshmus aud large
soldiers sent to the station to release them
as they landed
Eventually matters were brought crisis The Unod
States Consul went board tho Uncle SAM and 1t was
Settled that tho prisoners should be allowed to cross tho
shmus SUCH and the question Of future arrests was
referred to Washington.
In connection with this matter will be interesting to
know that day ago Superintendent Kennedy, Of
the Metropolitan Police received despatch informing
him that ex-senator Gwn and Calhoun Renham, OF Cali
ornia passengers board the steamer Champion
and that they would need watching. He communicated
with the government and instructed not to arrest
hat, fan
posed secessionists.
The police officers boarded tho Champion yesterday
morning and learned that Dr. Gwn Calhoun Benham and
!. L. Brent, the latter Of whom Is said TO have been
actively engaged in the secession movement in Southern
California, had already been placed under arrest by
General Sumner. who was on board the snip They
reported tho fact to the Superintendent.
Mr. Kennedy then called on General Sumner, and
asccrtained what our correspondents fully state that
after the ship sailed from San Francisco he had
placed these three under arrest board ho
believed that they connected with the sccessionists
and were coming New York the purpose proceed
ing rebel agents to Europe
When they arrived at Panama some of the passengers
represented to the Panama officials that three passengers
were held under General Sumner and asked for
the interference Of tho authorities procure their
lease The Governor of New Granada accordingly
the General and informed him that in the existing treaty
between tho United States and New Granada no oxtrad
clause existed and that consequently he had right
to allow the transit Of prisoners across the Is,hmus.
The General reported to have said that he had
time to the treaty, but that he would examine
matter when he arrived in the States with the prisoners
As Senator Gwin and associates already held by
General Sumner the Superintendent declined to interfere
in the matter and Mcssrs Gwn Benham and Brent have
been released upon their parole Of honor that they will
II
| the government. Meanwhile the government has been
notified Of their arrival in the city. Mcssrs. Gwin and
| Bcnham stopping at the New York Hotel.
Thero are very few additional particulars be OBJ
tanned among tho passengers Of the steamer Champion in
regard to the circumstances which led to tho
Senator Gwin. The statements made by many Of them
very contradictory, stating that they had
him. or Of his associates, throw books and papers
overboard while others say is entirely false Some
them however state that they did not hear him make
use of any reasonable language during the voyage.
OUR AsPINwALL CORRESPONDENTS.
Asr1NwAIL, Nov. 6, 1861.
arrest Of Senator Gcn Calhoun Benham and Mr.. Brent
by General Sumner-ARemN to Take them A,cdy from The
General al Panama, dc.
little excitement at last Yesterday morning the
California steamer reached Panama with 500 United States
soldiers and officers the chief Of the latter being General
Sumner 1t was noised about Panama that there
were political prisoners board and little later il was
known that these prisoners DR.. William Gwn late
United States Senator Calhoun Bcnha late United States
District Attorney for California and Mr. Brent Of Cali
ornia 1t appears that these gentlemen were arrested
two days from the port Of Panama by General Sumner
and that they charged with treason but placed
in confinement. Immediately after the notification OF
arrest Brent went to bis stoteroom and threw large
quantity papers mars &C. from the Fort hole into tho
| t1xa laJ.sa
Sumner he seized the trunks of all the party and placed
seals upon them.
In the Of the day, the passengers having
been Immediately taken across the sthmus on account
Of the company wishing TO got large quantity of
arms FIRST, which destined for the United States
Ran unnels Esq., late United States Consul at San Juan
do Nicaragua and Theodore do Sabla late United States
Vice Consul at Panama, applied to the Governor and
courts of Panama to issue warrant for the Of
General Sumner charged with intent to forcbly abduct
persons from the lsthmus. The Governor instituted I'M
inquiry and together with General Herran, New Grana
dian Minister on his way to Washington, demonstrated
against the violation Of the territory OF New Granada
The also gave orders to the police and military
force that these persons should be protected and drew
up sixty the landing for tho purpose. But all was
OF no avail. General Sumner had FIVE hundred mon
with him armed with Mimic muskets, who
were a little too strong for the negro Zouavcs
Of the Governor who counted only three hundred men
So his Excecncy confined bis action to energetic pro
test and this morning the prisoners landed under
strong United States guard and placed in the for As
rinwa which they will reach at about nine O'Clock
Colonel McKee, the Uncd States Consul assentcd to the
action OF General Sumner. DR.. Gwn and companions
tickets only to Panama, intending 20 from Aspn
wall by the British steamer to Havana. This doubt
violation of the sovereignty Of New Granada and is
doubtful if the good accomplished by he seizure Of Dr
Gwin and his coadutors will compensate for the wrong
done.
Nov. 1-10A b.
Dr. Gwin and companions have just been placed on
board the steamer Champion under military guard
SKETCH OF EX-SENATOR GWIN.
William NJ Gwin. the gentleman whose has thus
prominently been brought before the public III