The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-04
a SELF-EXILE.
The Career of Confederate Agent IL
Europe.
From Galignanrs Messenger.

From Galignani's Messenger.
Ambrose Dudley Mann, whose death we
announced 10 yesterdays issue, was the last
of the three ENJOYS whom the so-called con-
federate states sent to Europe during the
civil war in America to induce the powers
to recognize the southern confederacy.
They left the United States in March, 1861,
and Mr.. Mann swore then he would never
return to his native land until the south had
gained her cause, and he kept his word. He
lived more than twenty-eight years without
a country, and died alone and almost for
gotten here in Paris.
The story OF his coming abroad and of
what the commission did and did not &C.
complish was told the writer of these lines
by Mr.. Mann himself short time since.
Many years before meeting the deceased
the writer knew of him as q person who
once was nearly the cause of war between
Austria and the United States Mr.. Mann,
then an attache IN the state department at
Washington, was sent to Hungary on
secret mission, which may, perhaps, have
had something to do with the Kossuth
movement Arrived in that country he
was arrested as spy, and it would have
gone hard with him had not Daniel
Webster, then Secretary of State, de-
manded his release, adding that ''the protec-
ton TO which Mr.. Mann is entitled will be
enforced to the full strength of the feet
and army Of the United States" There
was just enough fight in WeDster's letter to
to induce the Vienna government to let the
matter drop. and Mr.. Mann was thereafter
unmolested.
composed of Mr.. Yancey Of Alabama, Judge
Rost of Louisiana, and Mr.. A. Dudley
Mann. Two of them came abroad 10y way
of New Orleans and Saint Thomas but
| Mann decided to go from Montgomery by
| way of Washington. Mr.. Seward was
| Secretary of State then, and his plan was
to let Mann get on board the steamer and
arrest him just as it was leaving the dock :;
| but President Lincoln cancelled the order of
| arrest, and he sailed from New York on the
| Europe, March so, 1861. In London the
commissioners obtained interviews with
| Lords Russell and Palmersson; but while
| they found a strong feeling in England
| decidedly in favor of the south-Bright and
| Golden were xceptions-there was no dis
| position to recognize the confedera cy.
| 1.-The secret of Ecglauds conduct" said
| Mr. Mann to the writer, twas
| Ireland; had she recognized the
| confederacy, the Irish would have
become more clamorous than ever for tn cir
| liberties. Slavery did not weigh feathers
weight in the scale, although there was not
a man in England who justified slavery,
| anu Une LudSS6S Oh Lu6 p6Oplo lelb very
| strongly in the matter. With but few ex-
| captions all those with whom l conversed
| took the ground that the existence of
slavery ought to prevent England from
| recognizing the independence of the
| south as soon as she was able to maintain
| herself against the north.
| 'In France the feeling against slavery
was stronger, but here too the upper
classes looked at the question in the same
| way as did those in England. | did not
come to France in my official capacity, fol
| had no confidence in Louis Napoleon. The
French emperor played double game all
| through the war. 1t did not suit his plans
| for either of the American belligerants tc
| obtain decided advantage over the other.
! He wanted to found q Latin empire in
| Mexico for his cousin, 'Plon- Plon,' and thus
get him out Of the way, and he wanted ouI
war protracted until both parties would be
| so exhausted as not to be able to interfere
| with him in his designs.
after Mason and Sidell came over, the
| joint committee was dissolved. Mason was
assigned to duty in London, Slidell to Paris
Rost to Spain and to Belgium and central
Europe. Mr.. Yancey went home, was
elected to the senate and died soon after.
ward. l also had commission to Russia
but l never thought it worth while to 60 tc
st. Petersburg. The general policy of all
the continental powers toward the south
was to await the action of France and Fog.
land"
The deceased statesman also said he was
once sent by jefferson Davis on a special
commission to Eomc. with yiaw to induce