MASON, JAMES AlultHAY ( 1798-1871 ) An American lawyer and legislator, best known ns one of the representatives of the Confederate Government in Europe during the Civil War. lie was born on :Mason's Island, Fairfax County, Va.; graduated at the University of Pennsyl vania in 1818. and practiced law for some time at Winchester, Va. He soon became prominent in polities, and was a member of the Virginia I louse of Delegates from 1,826 to 1832, of the Vir ginia Constitutional Convention of 1829, of the national House of Representatives from 1837 to 1S39, and of the United States Senate from 1847 to 1861, when lie resigned to take part in the secession movement. In Congress he was con spieuous as an upholder of slavery and as an ardent advocate of the prima plc of states' rights,' and in 1850 he drafted and introduced the famous Fugitive Slave Law, which formed part of the compromise measures of that year. For ten years he was chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. Late in 18111 he was ap pointed commissioner of the Confederate Gov ernment to England. and on October 12 started from Charleston, S. C., with John Slidell, the Confederate commissioner to France; but after touching at 11 mans he and Slidell were seized on board the British steamer Treat. by Captain
Wilkes of the United States ship San Jacinto, and were eon fined at Fort Warren, Boston. until January 2. 18(12, when the United Stales Gov ernment, yielding to the demand of England, ordered their release. Their seizure caused great excitement on both sides of the At lantic and threatened to bring on a war between the United States and Great Britain. (Sec TRENT Arr.ux, Toe.) After his release Mason proceeded to London. where he endeavored to will over the British Government, and the British people as well, to the side of the Confederacy, hut he was never received officially by the min isters, and in September. 1863. his commission was withdrawn. lie, however, remained in Eu rope, spending his time principally in Paris and London and vainly attempting to induce Franee and England to intervene actively on the side of the Confederacy. Immediately after the war he returned to America. Fenring arrest al tins hands of the Federal Government. lie lived in Canada until 1868. when he removed to Virginia and thereafter until his death lived near Win chester.