The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-14
Our Dispute with England Return OF
General Scstt. ,

General Scott.
II was announced yesterday that by the ar
rival OF the Atlantic, from Aspinwall, General
Scott returned from his mission of peace to
the Straits of Fuca and the disputed territory
of San Juan island.
In less than three months he has made a voy-
age of more than twelve thousand miles, and
Gained an irritation which at one time threat
ened seriously to mar the good relations be-
tween this country and England. On the 2lst
of September he left this port under the in
structions Of the President, and, proceeding by
way ofPanama and San Francisco, reached the
disputed territory, conferred with General Har-
ney, visited Governor Douglass at Victoria, ar
ranged the question so that there is now no
danger of collision, and Last night sent his
dispatches by his aids to Washington, where
they will have arrived this morning In time for
use in the Presidents message. When we re-
member that this has been done by man who
was some years since said to be too old to be
President, we cannot help wishing that some
others who are not held to be old fogies were
able to 60 and do likewise.
has been left by General Scott is one that can
not but be satisfactory to both governments
He has carried out in an eminent degree the
pacific instruction Of Mr.. Buchanan, and all the
American forces have been withdrawn from
the island Of San Juan, except Captain Pick
ett's company, which has been left to act as a
police force for the protection of the American
residents of the island. The matter is thus
brought back within the legitimate scope of
diplomacy and will be treated by Mr.. Buchan-
an in way that, while it will secure all our
rights, will not imperil our relations with Eng
land. Our readers are already aware that on
receipt of General Cass' despatch, which pro-
badly conveyed also the substance of the in
structions to General Scott, the British govern
ment withdrew from the offensive position
taken by Lord John Russell in his note to
Lord Lyons and communicated to our govern
ment.
1t has been remarked by the London Times
that England and the United States cannot
afford to 60 to war with each other,' which,
being interpreted from the language of diplo-
macy into that of common sense means that
England cannot afford to 60 to war with
the great cotton growing States on this side of
the Atlantic. No one doubts this; and, as all
have confidence in the moderation as well as
the firmness of Mr.. Buchanan, there is little
reason to fear that the San Juan question will
again assume belligerent shape. Under his
able management we have no doubt it will be
brought to an early conclusion, and thus bring
to an end that long series Of territorial claims
on the part of England along our northern
boundary, which, beginning with the refusal to
give up the Western forts after the Revolution,
has run along the entire frontier, from Aroos-
took to the Straits of Fuca. 1t is worthy of
remark that the pacific character of Gen. Scott
has led him to be called to calm the rising pas
sions in moments of excitement, to each ex-
tremity of one of the longest lines Of national
boundary presented on the map of the world.