The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-27
The Trent AffaiI in England.
LITTER FROM GEN SCOTT.

consul at Paris, and was written in reply to
a note from him inquiring about the truth of
rumor that the seizure of Mason and Sill
dell was authorized by our government. 1t
is most fortunate that the veteran is now in
Europe, anJ this letter will do much to disa-
buse the people of England as to the inten-
tons and disposition of our government. -
The letter is dated Paris, December >:
My Dear Sir: You were right in doubt
ing the declaration imputed to me, to wit:
that the cabinet at Washington had given
orders to seize Mason and Slidell even under
a neutral flag; for was not even aware that
the government had had that point under
consideration. At the time of my leaving
New York it was not known that the San
JacInto had returned to the American seas;
and it was generally supposed those persons
had escaped to Cuba for the purpose of re-
embarking in the Nashville, in pursuit of
which vessel the James Adger and other cru
isers had been dispatched.
l think can satisfy YOU in few words
that you have no serious occasion to feel con-
cerned about our relations with England. if,
as her rulers profess. she has no disposition
to encourage the dissensions in America. In
the first place it is almost superhuous to say
to you that every instinct of prudence as well
as of good neighborhood prompts our gov
eminent 20 regard no honorable sacrifice too
great for the preServ ,ticn of the friendship
Of Great Britain. This must be obvious to
all the world. At no period OF our history
has her friendship been of more importance
to Cur people--at no period has our govern
ment been in condition to make greater
concessions to preserve it. The two nations
are united by interest and sympathics-com-
mercial, social, political and religious-al-
most as the two arms to one body, and no
one is SO Ignorant as not to know that wha,
harms one must harm the other in cores
bonding degree. ] am persuaded that the
British government can entertain no doubt
upon this point; but if it does feel that /
may take it upon myself to say that the pre-
Sident of the United States, when mace a.
ware Of it's existence, will lose no opportuni-
ty of dispelling it.
Nor is there anything, | venture to affirm.
in the seizure of these rebel emissa ries which
ought to receive an untriendly construction
from England. Her statesmen will not ques
ton the legal right of an American vessel Of
war to search any commercial vessel Justly
suspected OF transporting contraband of war
that right has never been surrendered bv
England; it was even guaranteed to her by
the treaty of Paris. and British guns irown-
ing down upon nearly every strait and in
land sea upon the globe are conclusive ev-
dence that she regards this right as one the
efficacy of which may be not Vet entirely tx
tingulshed. Of course there is much that is
irritating and vcxatious in the exercise Of this
right under the most favorable circumstances.
and it is to be hoped the day is not far dis
tant when the maritime states of the world
will agree IN placing neutral commerce be
vond the reach Of such vexa,ion>. The | nj
led States government has been striving to this
end for more than fifty Years; TO this end.
early IN the present century and in its inflE-
cy as nation. it embarked in a war with the
greatest naval power IN the world: and it is
even now persistent sutton a: every mari
time court in Europe for more liberal r,-
cognltlon of the rights Of neutrals than any
OF the other great maritime nations have We,
been disposed to make. But till those rights
are secured by proper international guaran-
tees upon comprehensive and enduring ba-
SIS. o! course Eng land cannot complain of an
act for which. in all its material bearing. her
own naval history affords such numerous pre-
ct dents.
Whether the captives from the Tren: were
contra5and or rot. Is a question which the
! Two governments can have no serious diff
. Guilty in agreeing upon. If Mr. Seward can
not satisfy Earl Russell tina, they were, |
nave 70 doubt Earl Russell will be able to
satisfy Mr. Seward that they were not. If
they were, as all authorities concur in ad
hitting. agents of the rebellion. it will be lit-
/ ficuit to satisfy impartial minds that they
were any less contraband than file of rcbe!
soldiers or a battery of hostile cannon. But
even should there be- difference of opinion
upon this point, it is very clear that our gov
eminent had sufficient grounds fer presum-
ing itself in the right. to escape the suspicion
Of having wantonl v violated the relations of
amlty winch the two countries profess de-
sire TO preserve and cultivate.
/ The pretense that We ought 10 have taken
The Trent into portland had her conl emned bv
| prize court, in order to Justify our seizure
OF tour OF her passengers, furnishes a very
narrow basis on which to fix a serious con-
| troversy between two great nations. Stated
n other words, an otiense would have been
less II 1t had been greater. The wrong done
! 10 the British flag would have been mitigatet.
! +. instead of Selling the four rebels, We had
seized the ship detained all her passengers
mr.
! not surprised that Capt Wilkes took a differ
rnt view of his duty, and of what was due to
the friendly relations which subsisted be-
.ween the two governments. The rnowned
common sense of the English people, l be-
ileve, will approve of his effort to make the
discharge of very unpleasant duty as little
vexatious as possible to all innocent parties.
After referring to the well known rersis.
tence of England hitherto in claiming the
largest right of search, the letter pro-
ceeds:
If England as we are here encouraged to
nope, is disposed to do her part in stripping
war of half its horrors by accepting the poll
ey long and perslstently urged upon her BY
our government, and commended bv every
principle of justice and humanity, she will
ind no ground. in the visit to the Trent, for
controversy with our government am
sure the president and people of the United
States would but be too happy to let these
men 90 free, unnatural ard unpardonable
as their offences have been, if by it they could
emanclpate the commerce Of the world
Greatly as it would be to our disadvantage
At this present crisis to surrender any O,
those maritime privileges of bellieerents
which are sanctioned by the laws of nations
feel that | take no responsibility in saving
that the United States will be faithful to he,