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[377] letter to Capt. Wilkes, congratulating the commander, the officers, and the crew on the act, applauding the intelligence, ability, decision and firmness of the commander, and alluding to his forbearance in omitting to capture the vessel itself. Two days later—the first day of its session—a joint Resolution was offered by Owen Lovejoy in the House of Representatives, tendering the thanks of Congress to Captain Wilkes ‘for his brave, adroit, and patriotic conduct in his arrest and detention of the traitors James M. Mason and John Slidell.’ On reaching the Senate, the Resolution was referred to the Committee on Naval Affairs, although Mr. Sumner suggested its reference to the Committee on Foreign Relations. Mr. Hale, carried away by his own generous and patriotic impulses, went with the popular tide against the surrender of the Confederate Commissioners, under any and all circumstances. But as nothing was yet known of the course which the British Government would pursue, Mr. Sumner addressed a few calm words to the Senate, deprecating the hasty presentation of any such Resolution, to which the Senate listened with great respect.
United States Publishing Company, 1874.
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