Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1861-12-27
AN INTERESTING PAPER.
Gen. Scott's Letter OH the front Case.

Gen. ScOtt's Letter OH the Trent Case.
General Scott, in reply to the anxious in
quirers of friend, has written the following
letter:
My DEAR S1R: You were right in doubt
ing tho declaration imputed to me, TO wit ::
that the Cabinet at Washington had given
orders to seize Mason and Slidell, even un-
der neutral flag, for was not even aware
that the Government had had that point
under consideration. At the time of nv
leaving New York it was not known that
the San Jacinto had returned to the Amer
ican seas; and it was generally supposed
those persons had escaped to Cuba for the
purpose of re-embarking in tho Nashville,
in pursuit Of which the James Adger and
other cruisers had been dispatched.
think l 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 disposi-
tion to encourage the dissensions in Amer
! lea.
In the first place it is almost superAuous
to say to you, that every instinct of pru-
dence, as well as of good neighboorhood,
prompts our Government of regard no hon
orable sacrifice too great, for the preserva-
tion 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 our people, at
no period has our Government been in a
condition to make greater concessions to
preserve it. The two nations are united by
interests and mpathios-commercia So
cial, political, and religious, almost as the
two arms to ono body, and no one is so ig-
norant as not TO know that what harms one
must harm the other in corresponding de-
gree.
am persuaded that the British Govern
ment can entertain no doubt upon this point,
but ifit does feel that may take it upon
myself 10 say that the President of the
United States when made aware of its exist
ence will lose no opportunity of dispelling it.
Nor is there anything, Venture to affirm
10 the seizure Of these rebel emissaries
which ought to receive an unfriendly construc
ton from England. Her statesmen will
not question the legal right of an Amer
can vessel Of war to search any commerGia
vessel justly suspected of transporting con
} traband Of war; that right has never beer
surrendered by England; it was even guar
anteed to her by the Treaty Of Paris, anC
} British guns frowniug down upon nearly
every strait and inland sea upon the globe
are conclusive evidence that she regards
} this right as one, the efficacy of which may
be not yet entirely exhausted. Of cours,
there is much that is irritatating and vexa
ton in the exercise of the right under tn,
most favorable circumstances, and it is to b,
! hoped the day is not far distant when th,
, maritime States of the world will agree il
placing neutral commerce beyond the reacl
Of such vexations.
|, The United States Government has beer
, striving to this end for more than fiftv
,, years; to this end early in the present cen
tury, and in its infancy as a, nation, item
barked in war with the greatest nava
power in tho world, and it is even now /
, persistent suiter At every maritime court il
) Europe for more liberal yecoguition Of
) the rights Of nentrals than any Of the olbeI
> great maritime nations have yet been dis
posed to make But till those rights ar,
secured by proper international guarantees
' upon comprehensive and enduring basis
of course England cannot complain Of AT
act for which in all its material bearing
her own naval history affords such nuIner
Gus precedents.
! Whether the captives from the Tren
were eontraband Of war or uot, is question
which The two Governments can have nc
serious difficulty in agreeing upon. II Mr.