Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-01
THE sLIDELL FAMILY.

THE sLIDELL FAMILY.
Referring 10 the recent promotion oil Col.
Mackenzie TO the rank of brigadier- general,
the Washington correspondent OF the Chi
cago Times declares that he is the nephew oil
the late Hon. John Slidell, of Louisiana,
and that the name of Mr.. Slidell "was Mac
kenzie when he lived in New York" Gems
Mackenzie is a nephew OF the gentleman re-
ferred to, but his name was not Mackenzie
when he lived in New York, or at any other
time. The founder OF the family bore the
name of Slidell. He was tallow-chandler
in the city of Gotham, where he waxed lat
and grew comfortable financially in the
pursuit of his humble but honorable calling.
He was the father of three sons-JQhn, the
Louisiana statesman; Thomas, who alter
ward became a judge of the Supreme Court
of Louisiana, and Alexander, who entered
the navy. John commenced life as
merchant 10 New York, where he te-
came involved in a duel, In which
he was seyeraIy wounded, and he
nuaffy made disastrous business failure.
Abandoning a commercial career, John Sill
dell studied law, and after being admitted to
the bar chose the city of New Orleans as the
scene of his future career. In his new home
he achieved success in his profession, became
a distins uished lawyer, married, made for
tune, and finally plunged into politics. Sew
,ral times elected representative IN Con-
| CESS. he became United States Senator, and
coupled that exalted position when his
! Stae seeded from the Union. He promptly
resigned, returned TO Louisiana, and after
the organization OF the Confederate govern
ment WIS appointed one OF the commission
ers to tn governments of Europe. The cpl
sode OF hhcapture, with his co-commissioner,
the Hon. Imes NJ Mason, and their secre-
tary, the Hon. George Eustis, while on board
the British mail steamer Trent, by
Com. Wilkes of the United States
navy, and heir subsequent surrender,
are too fresh in the public mind
to require further notice. Mr.. Slidel re-
manned in Europe during the war, and died
there some years since. One of his daughters
married the Baron Changer, the Paris
| banker and the head OF the famous ErlaDger
syndicate. Thomas Sidell, who followed
his brother John to New Orleans, aud rose
to the dignity of the Supreme bench, died
premaurely, years sgo, OF softenins OF the
brain. Yhe other brother, Alexander slidell,
entered the United States navy but whether
through the "strait gate" of-the Naval
Academy al Annapolis or by the side-door
of an executive appointment, we know not.
| After his first cruise, in the Mediterranean,
the young midshipman, returned to New
York. radiant with gold lace and brass nut
tons. As a matter of course he felt his I'M
portance, and one OF the stories OF
III. time shows how his vanity was
w7,..4dsd. A young lady, who met him at
an evening" reception, desiring 10 be consid
cred at once classic and aesthetic, ventured &c
ak him how he liked Greece, and the ielio"
was simple enough to regard 1t as cover
rstsronce to the old candle factory oil hi
father. and Redeemed to the roots oil his mar
We will not undertake to say that this illtie
circumstance dissatisfied MidsEipeSn Slideil
with the name his father gave BIN, ost Ger,
tain it is that not long afterwsfa ne changed
his name and was ever after Known as Aie@,
slidell Mackenzie. He vpae and published
readable book entald A Year in Sfsatn
which some OF our eldsr readers may remem-
her TO have seen. In the course Of time be
reached the rnk Of commander in the
navy. and in Is capacity, some forty yearl
AGO. ws.c& command of the brig
Sone.s, on board of which one
Of the most sad tragedies OF the
ocean occurred. The Somers was re-
turaing from some foreign station to the
United States. Among her officers was q
Young midshIpman named Spencer, uaere
boy. son eff the Hon. John c. Spencer, q dis
tipguished citizen of New York, who wa:
then secretary of war under President Tyler
| 1t was charged that young Spencer had or
1 sanized mctiny with view Of taking pos
session OF The brig and numbering the ON
GERS, and he and tgo seamen were arrested
/ placed in irons, ard Comm ander Slidell
/ Mackenzie Immediately ordered a court
martial for the trial OF Spencer and his al
legged accomplices. They were promptly
condemned 10 death. Commander Macken-
zie Immediately approved the findings Of the
court, and had Spencer and his feHow-pris.
oners as promptly hung from the yard-arm.
When the Somers reached New York Com
| pasuder Mackenzie posted to Washington,
| and the first news of the dreadful tragedy
came back from the capitol. The sensation
cseated by the publication OF the news was
most profound, and few events have been
more widely discussed and criticised by the
public press. There were not few who de-
nounced the execution Of young Spencer and
his companions as a brutal murder, and
Commander Mackenzie demanded a naval
court Of inquiry. The court was ordered,
and after long aud tedious investigation
| Commander Mackenzie was held to have
been justified in his action. Whether yodDg
Spencer and the seamen deserved the ig.
nominous and cruel death they suffered, it il
bootless now to inquire. Their bodies have
been reposing in old oceans caverns fol
forty years, and the hearts that loved them
have long since moldered into dust. Though
justified by q naval court, Commander