The New York herald., 1871-07-31
o p 7 = q A r Y .
John Slidell.

telegram from London apprises us OF the death
OF this prominent politician of the late so called
Confederate States. IL is singular that his demise
should follow after that of his former fellow
Commissioner. Mr. Mason.
Though Identified so completely with the lost
cause, Mr.. Slidell was a native OF the city of New
York, where he was born IN the year l793. AS o
young man he was an actor In an adventure rather
gallant than respectable, and which resulted in
duel with MIR, Stephen Price, of the old
Park Theatre. Price was wounded, but Sill
dell forced to nv and landed with
scarcely a dollar and not single friend in
New Orleans somewhere about the year 1920. He
had already studied law, and he now went into
prsctice His skill, diligence and acuteness soon
brought him conspicuous success He also engaged
In politics. and under Jacksons administration was
appointed United States District Attorney
for the State of Louisiana, and soon
after was elected to the lower House OF the
Legislature. In 1s43 he was elected United States
Representative in Congress for the First Louisiana
district and was reelected but did not serve out
thls TINS second term as he was appointed Dy
Slidell in Congress distinguished himself more
by his adroitness than his eloquence but
speaker Ideas and facts flowed on his tongue in
abundance, but he did not take particular pans to
present them In a very attractive form. vIgor
rather than elegance was MS distinguishing Charac
terstic as an orator.
Mr.. Slidell remained in Mexico until the breaking
out OF h0stilities, acquittng himself with singular
skill In the delicate duties which fell to his charge.
In 1858 President Pierce appointed him Minister
to Central America, but this post was declined,
He was next elected to the United States
Senate to fll the uneXpired term OF MIR. Soule who
had accepted the Spanish Mission. He was
elected and from this time took conspicuous part
In the stormy six that preceded the great re-
belion. He Was among the first to leave the United
States Senate and throw in his political fortunes
with the seeding states. He was soon afterwards
appointed representative Of the Jelr Davis govern.
reacn the shore Of France there occurred that noO
rlous TRENT trouble which nearly threw us into
from Charleston IN the Theodore on the
2Sth october, 1861 and in due time arrived at Ha
vana. He was here. III company with Mr.. Mason,
Jeted by the Cuban Captaln-General After short
British steamer Trent for Europe. Captain
Wilkes, in command Of the San JaclntO
followed this vessel. overlook 1t In the Ba-
hama Channel on the sth November, carried
safely delivered them at Fortress Monroe, whence
they were sent to Fort Warren Boston harbOr The
British government, however, requested their sur
render, on the ground that they had been taken
from under the protection OF neutral nag, and as
the immunity OF neutral vessels had long been q
settled principle OF American diplomacy, Secretary
Seward wisely resolved to release his prison
ers in spite Of strong popular feeling against
for Europe on the % Of January, 1862. slide how.
ever failed to bring his mission to sue.
cessful termination; and since the war he
has remained In Europe, quietly living
most rebels OF Northern extraction. he was
more intensely In favor OF Southern independence
than Southerners themselves. lie was undoubtedly
q man OF genius. but 1t Is not too hard thing to
His death removes another actor In the stormy
drama Ol the Davis rebellion.