The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-12-19
the NEWS BY THE JURA.
THE QUEENS PROCLAMATION.
-~~S---~~~--~~o>~@-N-s~-~~~~~
GENERAL sC0TT's LETTER.
MIR. BRIGHT's SPEECH.
LETTER FROM Mr.. GOLDEN.
The --latest OpiV ion of the Lon
dom Times,
&C., &c, &e,

PORTLAND, Me-, Dec. Is, 1861.
The seamsap Jura, Captain Alton, from liverpool on
The afternoon <of the 9th Londonderry on the 9th
instant, arrive here this morning,
The steam hip Ednturg, from New York, arrived nj
Qreenstowa the 9Th inst.
The SIZE mship Nova ScotiSn from Portland arrived at
Londoi5 cry on tho 9th inst
Pur' Jenkins reports chat the y9ra passed she City Of
Manchester outward bound of Cape Race on The l4lh
nssnt.
Tight Of the of the American ship rleadee were
nSsef Cardiff having murdered the rnato and
ono OF the crew.
The continersal news is Of slight importance
The idtre says that the arrest of the Maronite agent
Of France in lebanon (syria) insult which the go.
vernment must resent.
The dates per the Jura day later than those
already 10 cIsnd.
General Scott's Letter on the American
Difficulty
Ny DEAR SR-You were right in doubling the decara-
zion imputed to mo- TO wit that the Cabineti at Wash
ingon had given orders TO seize Mcssrs Mason and Sill
dell oven under neutral flag; for not aware
that the bad had that point under considera
lion. Al the time Of my leaving New York it was not
known that the San Jacinto had the Amer.
seas and it generally supposed those persons
had escaped to Cuba for the purpose Of embarkg in
hdger and other cruisers had been despatched.
think lean satisfy you in few words that yon have
serious occasion to feel concerned about relations
with England IT, her rulers profess she has no dspo-
. Hion 10 encourage the dssensions in America.
In the first place it is almost supcruous say TO YOU
THAT every instinct OF prudence well OF good neigh
borhood prompts to regard honorable
sacrifice great for the preservation the friendship
OF Great Britain This must be obvious to all the world
At period Of history her friendship been of
moro importance to our people-at period has our
government been in condition to make greater conces.
sions to preserve it. The nations united by inte
rests and sympathies-commerciai social, political and
relgoas-almost tho two body and no
one is Ignorant to know that what harms one
must harm the other in corresponding degree.
am persuaded that the Br sh government can enter
tain no doubt upon this point; but il il does feel that
may take upon myself to say that the President of the
United States, when made aware Of its existence, will
lose opportunity of djspelling 10.
Nor there anything, venture to affirm the seizure
friendly construction from England Her statement viii
not question the legal right Of American
TO search any commercial vessel Justly suspected Of
been surrendered by England: II was even guaran
fec4 to her by tho Treaty of Paris, and British
guns frownng down upon nearly every strait
aud inland upon the globe are conclusive |
evidence that she regards this right the efficacy
OF which may be not yet entirely extnguished. Or T
there much that is irritating and rexaiious in
the exercise Of this right under tho favorable cir
cumstanees il is TO be hoped the day Is not Far dis
tan when the maritime States OF the world will agree in
placing neutral commerce beyond the reach II such
tons. The United States government has been striving
10 tins end for than fifty years to this early
III the present century and in its infancy nation it
embarked in war with the greatest naval Power in the
maritime court in Europe Tor more liberal recog-
milton Of the rights Of neutras than any OF
tho other great maritime nations have yet been
disposed make But tin those rights are secured by
proper International guarantees upon compre extensive
and enduring basis Of course England cannot complain
Of an act for which in all its material bearings her own
naval history affords such numerous presidents
Whether the captves from the Trent contraband
Of not, is question which the two governments
have serious difficulty in agreeing upon. II Mr.,
Seward cannot satisfy Earl Russell that they were
that they If they were as all authorities con.
in admitting agents Of the rebellion it will be din
cult 10 satisfy impartial minds that they any less
contraband than file OF rebel soldiers battery Of
hostile cannon.
But should there be difference of opinion upon
this point IL is very clear that government had suf
hcent grounds for presuming Itself in the right escape
She suspicion Of having waatonly violated the relations Of
amy which the two countries profess desire pre-
serve and cultivate
The pretence that ought TO have taken tho Trent
into port and had her condemned by prize court in
order to justify seizure Of four OF her passengers fur
nishes very narrow basis which TO fix serious con
noversy between two great nations. Stated in other
words an offence would have been less If it had
been greater. Tho wrong done to the British flag
would have been mtjgated if, instead Of selling
the four rebels we had seized the ship detained
all her passengers for weeks aud conscaSd her cargo
AIN not surprised that Captain Wilkes took different
view Of his duty and of what due to the friendly
latlons which snbsisted between tho two governments
The renowned common Of the English people be-
Geye VIII approve Of his effort make the discharge OF
innocent psrties.s
If, under these circumstances, England should deem 1t
her duty in the interest Of civilization insist upon the
restoration OF tho men taken from under the protection Of
her flag, will be from conviction without doubt that
the law of nations in regard to the rights Of neutrals
which she Inns taken the leading part in establishing
requires revision and with suitable disposition
on her part establish those rights upon just humane
and phosophic basis. Indeed am happy see an in
tmation in Of the leading metropolitan Journals
which goes Far to Justify this inference. Referring
in defence Of the seizure OF the American rebels board
the Trent, the London Times Of tho 2sth Of November
says
,6s right t Tex e stop and visit and search any merchant ship
bered that these decisions given
those days did not exist and mail vessels carrying letters
wherein all The nations Of the world have immeiaie inter
did in those days what should neither allow
TO do nor expect ourselves be allowed TO do in these days
II England, as we are here encouraged to hope is dis
posed TO do her part in stripping of half It's horrors
by accepting the policy long and persistenty urged upon
her by our government and commended by every prin
cip!e of justice and humanity she will md ground
1e visit Of tho Trent, for controversy with govern
mont. am sure the President and people OF the United
States would be but too happy to let these 20 Free
unnatural and objectionable their offences have been
81 by it they could emancpate the commerce Of the
world Greatly as II would DO to disadvantage
this present crisis to surrender any of those maritime
privileges Of beligerens which, sanctioned by the laws
OF nations, feel that take responsibility in saying
that the United States will be faithful her traditional
policy this subject and TO the spirit Of her political
institutions.
On the other hand should England be unprerared to
make corresponding sacrifice should she feel that she
could not yet afford TO surrender the advantages which
the present maritime code gives TO n dominant naval
power Of course she will not put herself false posi-
ton by asking TO do It, In either therefore do
mot see how The friendly relations OF tic govern
mcnts are in any immediate danger Of being disturbed.
That the over prompt recognition, belligerenis, of
body OF men, however large long they consttusd
manifest minority Of the nation wounded the feelings Of
my conntrymea deeply will not affect deny nor that
that act with OF its logical consequences which have
already occurred has planted in the breasts Of many
suspicion that their kindred in England wish them evil
AFTER than good but the statesmen TO whom the political
in vsst Of these tive great people conded upon
biy l,T responsible tiles and with better lights and you
est assured that mutually disastrous as
war etwecn England and America cannot occur with
out som other and proyocaton than has yet boen
given by either nation. WINFIELD SCOTT.
uory1N 'xsrxiSerER Paris, Dec. 2, 1861
To- 49,, Esq.
The london Star thinks that General SCOTS letter will
receive hen .ty response in England as e message Of
peace,
The london Tim says that General Scott, like bis
countrymsn is ra,b inclined TO disavow the conception