LIFE OF MASON. Legislature of Virginia to the United States Senate. For fourteen years he had been a senator, when, on the secession of his State, he abandoned the national service. For a long time he was an acknowledged leader in the Senate, and for many years was chairman of the committee on foreign affairs. Mason was always among the most prominent defenders of slavery in the Senate. He was the chief author of the Fugitive Slave Bill, and on the KansasNebraska, and all other questions involving slavery, he tenaciously defended the special claims of that institution. He was no less an advocate of the "State Rights" doctrine of Calhoun, and always insisted upon the right of secession. In September, 1855, he wrote: "But one course remains for the South-immediate, absolute, and eternal separation. Better, far better, to stand toward the Northern States as we stand to the rest of the world-enemies in war, in peace friends-than to remain halting under a common government, enemies in the guise of peace, or friends at war." Yet, soothed by the conciliatory attentions of New England, he could not refrain from complimenting an audience at Bunker Hill with this tribute to their patriotism: "I shall tell," he said, "in old Virginia, when I return to her hallowed land, that I found the spirit of Massachusetts as buoyant, as patriotic, as completely filled with the emotions that should govern patriotism, when I visited Bunker Hill, as it was when that battle was fought." 625 Mason, with a prescience of his future disloyalty, ventured to declare in the Senate, that "he recognized no allegiance to this Government; he recognized and acknowledged no allegiance to this Government-none whatever." He remained, however, in the Senate until his native State allied herself to the enemies of the United States. He then took a defiant farewell, and after serving a while as a member of the Confederate Congress at Richmond, accepted the appointment of Commissioner to London. The first information which reached the North of the mission of Slidell and Mason was through vague allusions in the Southern papers. Subsequently, however, there came, through the same source, a direct statement of their appointment, and an exulting account of their departure, in spite of the vigilance of the Federal cruisers. The Mercury, of Charleston, whence the Commissioners sailed, gave this full revelation of their escape: "For some time past the papers of the interior have been indulging in sly oct. hints as to the whereabouts of 11. Messrs. Mason and Slidell. We have hitherto not made any allusion to their movements; but the causes which induced our reticence being removed, we may now, without indiscretion, narrate the facts of their embarkation. The Commissioners having resolved to make the venture of running the blockade of Charleston, after mature deliberation selected for the experiment the staunch and swift little steamer Theodora, which As early as in the spring of 1860, was, therefore, got ready for sea with all dispatch. The preparations having been completed, they embarked a little before midnight on Friday, October 11th. The party of passengers who were starting on this very unusual and somewhat hazardous trip consisted of the following persons: "Hon. J. M. Mason, of Virginia; Mr. McFarland, secretary to Mr. Mason; Hon. John Slidell, of Louisiana; Mrs. Slidell; Miss Mathilde Slidell; Miss Rosine Slidell; Mr. Eustis, secretary to Mr. Slidell; Mrs. Eustis, who is a daughter of Mr. Corcoran, the Washington banker; Colonel Le Mat, of Louisiana, the inventor of the grape-shot revolver, and two or three other gentlemen whom it will be best for the present not to name. "The night was pitch dark, and about midnight a light rain commenced falling, which rendered the chances of being detected by the blockaders exceedingly slim. At one o'clock on Saturday morning, the hasty good-byes,' and 'Godspeed-yous' having been said, the cables of the Theodora were loosened, and she glided down the harbor on her important mission. As the steamer passed Fort Sumter, every light on board was extinguished, and away she went, right through the fingers of the blockaders, far out at the Commissioners determined in this instance to forego the pleasure. So the Theodora left Nassau and steamed away toward Cuba. On the 16th instant she arrived at Cardenas, where the Commissioners landed. The news that a Southern steamer had arrived, with Messrs. Mason and Slidell on board, which was telegraphed from Cardenas to Havana, was scarcely credited at the latter place. But when, on the 17th instant, the Theodora came up the harbor of Havana, displaying the Confederate flag, the quays were immediately thronged with thousands of wondering spectators, and a most cordial and enthusiastic reception. was given to the adventurous little craft." The two Commissioners and their attachés remained in Havana, where they were received with a partial welcome, and were even entertained by the British consul, though, it is said, not officially-and presented by him to the Captain-General of Cuba-until the 7th of November, when they embarked on board the British mail steamer Trent, for St. Thomas, Nov. whence they expected to be trans- 7. ferred to another British mail steamer for Southampton, in England. In the mean time, while the Commissioners were pursuing their voyage, the United States steamer San Jacinto, a firstclass screw steam sloop, mounting fifteen guns, had arrived in the West Indies from the African coast, where she had been one of the vessels of the usual squadron on that station. Captain Charles Wilkes had assumed command of the San Jacinto at Fernando Po, where he had been awaiting her arrival. In the course of his cruise in the West Indies, where Mr. Schufeldt, at Havana, for information he was on the look-out for privateers, he learned at Cienfuegos, from the newspapers, that the Theodora had run the blockade at Charleston and arrived at Havana, after landing the Confederate Commissioners, with their families and secretaries, at Cardenas. Captain Wilkes determined at once to intercept the Theodora on her return to Charleston, and accordingly, having taken on board hurriedly a sufficient quantity of coal for a short cruise, left Cienfuegos on the 26th of October, and arrived at Havana on the 28th. Here he found that he was too late for the Theodora, as she had already returned to Charleston. The Commissioners, however, were still in Havana, and having heard of their intention to take passage in the British mail packet Trent for St. Thomas, en route for England, Capt. Wilkes "conceived the bold plan of intercepting the English steamer, and in the event of these persons being on board, to make them prisoners." The San Jacinto was accordingly filled up with coal "in great haste," and provisioned, and took her departure from Nov. Havana on the 2d of November. 2. After proceeding to Key West in search of the Powhatan, to aid him in his object, but failing to find her, Captain Wilkes, "nothing daunted, fully resolved to undertake the boldy conceived enterprise alone." On the morning of the 5th of November the San Jacinto left Key West, and running to the north side of the island of Cuba, touched at Sagua La Grande, where Captain Wilkes telegraphed to the American consul-general, as to the day of sailing of the Trent, but Grace, the boatswain. I went on board the Trent alone, leaving the two officers in the boat, with orders to wait until it became necessary to show some force. I was shown up by the first officer to the The second and third cutters of the ship were accordingly manned, armed, and kept in readiness for the service conNov, templated, of which Lieut. Fairfax 8. was to have the conduct. Thus prepared, the coming of the Trent was anx-quarter-deck, where I met the captain iously watched. She finally made her appearance at about noon on the 8th of November. Everything was made ready; the men were beat to quarters, and as soon as the British steamer was within reach, every gun on the starboard of the San Jacinto was trained upon her. A shot from the pivot gun was now discharged across her bow. The Trent hoisted English colors, but "showed no disposition to slacken her speed or heave to." The San Jacinto responded by unfurling the United States flag, and waiting until the Trent was close upon her, fired a shell across her bow, which brought her to. Captain Wilkes now hailed her, and saying he would send a boat, ordered Lieutenant Fairfax to board her. The Lieutenant accordingly went in the second cutter, while the third cutter remained alongside of the San Jacinto in readiness to follow in case it were wanted. The proceedings of Lieutenant Fairfax are best detailed in his own report to Captain Wilkes, of the strict truthfulness of which his honorable character is the surest proof. "U. S. STEAMER SAN JACINTO, At Sea, Nov. 12. "At 1.20 P.M. on the 8th inst., I repaired," wrote Lieut. Fairfax, "alongside of the British mail packet in an armed cutter, accompanied by Mr. Houston, second assistant engineer, and Mr. and informed him who I was, asking to see his passenger list. He declined letting me see it. I then told him that I had information of Mr. Mason, Mr. Slidell, Mr. Eustis, and Mr. McFarland having taken their passage at Havana in the packet to St. Thomas, and would satisfy myself whether they were on board before allowing his steamer to proceed. Mr. Slidell, evidently hearing his name mentioned, came up to me and asked if I wanted to see him. Mr. Mason soon joined us, and then Mr. Eustis and Mr. McFarland, when I made known the object of my visit. The captain of the Trent opposed anything like a search of his vessel, nor would he consent to show his papers or passenger list. The four gentlemen above mentioned protested also against my arresting and sending them to the United States steamer near by. There was considerable noise among the passengers just about that time, and that led Mr. Houston and Mr. Grace to repair on board with some six or eight men, all armed. After several unsuccessful efforts to persuade Mr. Mason and Mr. Slidell to go with me peaceably, I called to Mr. Houston and ordered him to return to the ship with the information that the four gentlemen named in your order of the 8th inst. were on board, and force must be applied to take them out of the packet. men. SEIZURE OF SLIDELL AND MASON. "About three minutes after, there was still greater excitement on the quarterdeck, which brought Mr. Grace with his armed party. I, however, deemed the presence of any armed men unnecessary, and only calculated to alarm the ladies present, and directed Mr. Grace to return to the lower deck, where he had been since coming on board. It must have been less than half an hour after I boarded the Trent when the second armed cutter, under Lieutenant Greer, came alongside (only two armed boats being used). He brought in the third cutter eight marines and four machinists, in addition to a crew of some twelve When the marines and some armed men had been formed just outside of the main-deck cabin, where these four gentlemen had gone to pack up their baggage, I renewed my efforts to induce them to accompany me on board. Still refusing to accompany me unless force was applied, I called in to my assistance four or five officers, and first taking hold of Mr. Mason's shoulder, with another officer on the opposite side, I went as far as the gangway of the steamer and delivered him over to Lieutenant Greer, to be placed in the boat. I then returned for Mr. Slidell, who insisted that I must apply considerable force to get him to go with me; calling in at least three officers, he also was taken in charge and handed over to Mr. Greer. "Mr. McFarland and Mr. Eustis, after 629 protesting, went quietly into the boat. They had been permitted to collect their baggage, but were sent in advance of it under charge of Lieutenant Greer. I gave my personal attention to the luggage, saw it put in a boat, and sent in charge of an officer to the San Jacinto. When Mr. Slidell was taken prisoner, a great deal of noise was made by some of the passengers, which caused Lieutenant Greer to send the marines into the cabin. They were immediately ordered to return to their former position outside. I carried out my purpose without using any force beyond what appears in this report. "The mail agent, who is a retired commander in the British navy, seemed to have a great deal to say as to the propriety of my course; but I purposely avoided all official intercourse with him. When I was finally leaving the steamer he made some apology for his rude conduct, and expressed, personally, his approval of the manner in which I carried out my orders. We parted company with the Trent at 3.20 P.M." The San Jacinto now returned with its prisoners to the United States, arriving at Sandy Hook on the 18th of November. Dispatches from the Secretary of the Navy met Captain Wilkes there, and in accordance with their instructions he immediately sailed for Boston, where the prisoners were placed in Fort Warren. |