The Northern Pacific farmer., 1885-05-07
Secrets of the Trent Affair.
s. 3. Cox's ''Three Decades of Federal Legisla
tion."

Being Upon the foreign affairs COM
mittee of the House of Representatives
when the Trent affair occurred, the
writer attended dinner given by the
Secretary Ut his then happy home. This
was at time when men held their
breaths in trepidation, lest Great Brit
ain and the powers of Europe might
make the Trent matter the pretext to
cousummate their Recognition OF South
efn independence. Some feared that
a disparted republic would have to give
way before the jealous encroachments
of those who sought to divide our
country, as they endesvored Is I'M
perialize Mexico On the
right Of Mr.. Seward was seated
burly English heartiness ihcarnated
in Mr.. Anthony Trollope, the novelist.
His presence was almost 9 surprise, if
not satire on the 5Ecasion, as it con-
cluded: AT the other end of the table
sat John J. Crittenden. He was then
chairman of foreign affairs IN the House.
The author was on his right, as he was
nearer by sympathy to him than others
on the committee. The dinner progress.
ed. One incident led to another: Until
Mr.. Seward, with bfhsqueness entire
ly prepense UPON his part but surpris-
ing to lss, drew the attention of all by
saying:
this country to whom I allowed unre-
stricted communication with Jefferson
Davis since the war, never asked him
what he wrote to Mr.. Davis. I trusted
his honor and loyalty. He is here.
I drink the health of Mr.. Crittenden!"
Mr.. Crittenden, throwing back his
shoulders, as was his custom when
pleased or excited, said: :.
"Mr. Secretary, Inever told you what
I wrote to Jeff Davis. I will tell you
now, sir. I have two sohs in the war
one is a Union and the other Confed-
crate general. They are both, of
course, dear to my heart. I wrote Mr.
Davis: For Gods sake, sir, since you
have the gallantry Of one of my boys
on your side, don't send him to or
against old Kentucky"
This little by-play sent out CLEAN
of pleasure that sparkled around the
board. It was intended by Mr.. Se-
ward to placate Mr.. Crittenden for
what was to follow, and it did. Then
Mr.. Seward, with his exquisite diplo-
matte savoir faire, said, looking around
the board:
II think I must now trust my guests,
as I trusted Mr.. Crittenden. Twill di.
vulge to you secret. To-day the or.
der was issued to release Mason and
Slidell."
A dead pause ensued! All awaited
the response of the venerable and pa
triotic chairman of foreign affairs. He
was not entirely cordial with the Con-
federate Ambassadors. With puzzled
look of anger and chagrin the great
Kentuckian hesitated for moment. He
seemed held back by the hand of courte.
sy. He then brought down his dainty
glass of sherry with sudden crash
upon the table. The little fragments
flew about his plate. The golden con-
tents bejeweled the writer's invest
ments. Then pausing another moment:
half IRONICALLY and jocosely, he re-
piled:
"A good riddance, sir! You sent
them away none too soon, sir! They
were doing much mischief here;" and,
regardless of the occasion, little murky
cloud of profanity dimmed the atmos-
phere about the table. Never, since the
days of good old Uncle Toby, was en-
phasis more excusable.
It was not until nine days after the
release of the prisoners that the public
were brought to realize what great
diplomatic victory Mr.. Seward had
won. The demand of the British
Government had no foundation in in
ternational law. It was against British.
precedent. It harmonized only with
distin ctively American doctrine II
would have come we'll from our govern.
ment had Great Britain been the ag-
gressor. Mr.. Summer, than whom
none was better qualified to discuss the
true merits of Mr. Stewards course, de-
livere1 a3nasterly speech in the Senate
on the 9th of January, 1862. It set
the public mind at ease by showing
that we had emerged from tho pending
trouble not only with honor, but by
putting England in position which
neither former diplomacy, nor, as Sec-
retary Seward said, "the arbitramen'
Of war" itself had placed her. !
congressional sppor6onment bill passe3
the Pennsylvania senate by 26 to II, stric. |
narfv vote r. eivaa ninafaen rAnu klican and |