Xxiii.
The news of their seizure was received with unbounded sympathy and approbation.
The press, and the public men of the country generally, not only gave their approval, but even their praise.
On the 30th of November, 1861, the
Secretary of the Navy wrote a
[
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.