The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-08-04
Death of Hon. John Slidell.

Hon. JOHN SLIDELL died in Eu-
rope lastMonday. He was one of the
leaders of the Southern Democracy
before the war, took prominent part
in the seccssian movement, and DUR
ing the war between tie States,
labOred with great zeal and faith
fulness for the success of the South
ern cause. Since the war he has
resided in Europe. Mr.. SLIDELL was
born in New York in 1893, and was
therefore in his 18th year when he
died, lie commenced life as a
merchant. but not succeeding
however, he went to New Or
leans where he embraced the
profession OF the law, became one
of the most prominent members of
the Louisiana bar, and was appoint
ed by President JACKSON United
4 states District Attorney. lie was
frequently elected to the State Leg
islature. and was representative in
Congress from 1913 to 1916. In the
latter year President POLK appointed
him Envoy Extraordinary and Min
lister Plenipotentiary to Mexico TO
negotiate for the settlement of the
threatening questions then in dispute
between the two countries, but his
mission proved fruitless, and he re-
turned home in the spring of 1916.
In 1888 hc was elected to the United
States Senate for the uneXpired term
of Senator SoULE, who had been ap-
pointed Minister to Spain, and was
thereafter elected for six years. lie
spoke rarely in the Senate. but
served upon the committees on Ma
val Affairs and Foreign Relations,
and eXerted great influence. lie
was a strenuous supporter ofthe doc
trines of the Southern Rights party,
and after Louisiana had passed the
ordinance of secession, and his col
league, Hon. j. =. BENJAMIN, with
drew from the Senate ON the eth of
FEBRUARY, 1861, both making memoir
able speeches, which will be used by
the future historian, who undertakes
to portray the spirit ofthose times.
I'm the fall of ISL, the Confederate
Government appointed him commits
sioner to France, and, in company
with Mr.. Mason, of Virginia, who
was appointed in similar capacity,
TO England, he ran the blockade at
Charleston, ). c., and subsequently,
embarked at Havana on board the
English steamer. Trent. On the Sth
of November, 1851, the Trent was
brought to- by Capt. WLKEs, of
the United States frigate San Jacinto,
in the narrow passage of the old
Bahama channel, opposite the Pana
dor Grandc light. \ Lieutenant in
the uniform of the United States ma
", and with side-arms, boarded the
Trent, and in the presence OF most of
the passengers then assembled on
the upper deck, said to Capt.
MON, of the Trent, that he came
with orders to demand his passen-
ger list. The Captain refused to pro-
duce it, and formally protested against
any right TO visit his ship for the
purpose indicated. The Lieutenant
said that two gentlemen, naming
McsSrs. SLIpELL and Mason, were
known to be on board, and also 9th
cr gentlemen, naming Messrs. EUsTI>
and MCFARLAND, the secretaries of
the former, and that his orders were
to take and carry them on board of
the SAN Jacinto. The four gentlemen
named being present, the Lieutenant
addressed Mr.. SLIDELL, and after
wards Mr.. Mason, repeating that his
orders were to take them, together
with Mcssrs. EUsTIs and M,FAR-
LANp, and carry them on board his
sli0. Messrs. SLIDELL and Mason,
in reply, protested in the presence of
the Captain of the Trent, his officers
and passengers, against such threaten
ed violation of their persons and their
rights. and informed the Lieutenant
that they would not leave the ship
thew were in unless compelled by the
employ ment of actual force greater
than they could resist. The Lieuten-
ant stated that he hoped he would
not be compelled to resort to the use
OF force, but if it should become ne
ccssary tG'employ it, in order to eX-
ecutc his orders, he was prepared
to do so. subsequently the armed
force referred TO appeared, when
the Lieutenant and several of his
men, by his order, took hold of Mr..
Mason, and others took hold of Mr..
SLIDFII, and those gentlemen were
1t once conveyed to the boat belong
ing 10 the San Jacinto. One account
SAYS an exciting scene took place be-
tween Mr.. SLIpELL's eldest daugh-
ter, noble girl devoted to her faith
CT, and the Lieutenant. With flash
ing eyes and quivering lips, she
threw herself in the doorway of the
cabin 10 which her father had re-
treated, resolved TO defend him with |
her life, till, On the order being given
to the marines TO advance, which they |
did with bayonets pointed at this !
poor defenccless girl, her father end
cd tie painful scene by escaping /
from the cabin by a window, when
he was Immediately seized by the |
marines and hurried into the boat.
The commissioners and their sccrc-
taries were taken by the san JaCinto /
to Fort Warren, in Boston Harbor, /
where they were confined as prison
crs. y most intense excitement was
around in England upon the arrival
of the news OF the transaction. Pre-
partitions for war with the United
States were commenced, and a for
nal demand was made for the surren-
der of the commissioners and an
apology for the act by the Govern
mcnt OF the United States, which
was promptly complied with, and
McsSrs. SLIDELL and Mason and