The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-12-27

Letter from General Scott.
WRITTEN IN PARIS AND COMMUNICATED TO
TIT FRENCH PAPERS BY The AMERICAN
CO%SUL,,

WRITTEN IN PARIS AND COMMUNICATED TO
TIT FRENCH PAPERS BY THE AMERICAN
Co>SUL.
My DEAR SIR You were right 10
doub.iug the declaration imputed to NE,
TO wit : That the Cabinet al " ashngton
had given orders 10 seize Messrs. Mason and
Siidel, even under neutral flag, for | was
not aware that the Government had had
that point even under consideration at
the time of my leaving New York ii was
| not known that the San Jacint0 had re-
turned TO the American seas /; ana i: was
generally supposed that those persons bad
escaped 10 Cuba ior the purpose OF re~em
Darki' IN the Nashville, in pursuit OF which
vesSe TIE James Adger and Other cruisers
had oeen dispatched. ..
think | can satisfy you in few words
than you have no serious occasion to feel
concerned about oar relations with England,
ii, as her rulers profess, she has no dlspcsi-
tio1 20 encourage the dissensioEs in America.
IN the first place, it is almost supehuous
to say TO you that every instinct OF pru
dence as well as of good neighb0rh0Od
prompts our Government TO regard no hon
CRADLE sacrifice as too great. for the preser-
walton 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 time has our Government been prepared
to make greater concessions to preserve IT,
The two nations are united by interests and
mpathes--cOnmercial, social, political,
and religious, almost as the two arms to
one body, and no one is so ignorant as not
to know that what harms one, must harm
the other III corresponding degree
l am persuaded that the British Govern
ment can entertain no doubt upon this point,
but if it does, feel that may take it upon
myself to say that the President Of the
United States, when made aware of its eX-
istence, will lose no opportunity of dispeiI
ing it.
Nor is there anything, | venture to Of
firm, in the seizure of these rebel emmissa>
ries which ought to receive an untriendly
construction from England. Her statesmen
will not question the Legal right of an
American vessel of war to search any cons
mercial vessel justly suspected of transport
ing contraband of war that right has
never been surrendered by England it was
even guaranteed to her by the Treaty OF
Paris, and British guns frowned down upon
nearly every strait and inland sea upon the
globe, are conclusive evidence that she re.
CARDS this right as one, the efficiency of
which may be not yet entirely exhausted.
OF course, there is much that is irritating
and veXatiOus in the exercise of this right
under the most favorable circumstances, and
it is to be hoped the day is not far distant
when the maritime states OF the world will
| agree in placing neutral commerce beyond
the reach CT such vexatious. The United
States Government has been striving to
this end for more than fifty years TO this
end early III the present century and III its
iniahcy as a nation, it embarked iD d war
with the greatest naval power il the world,
and ii Is even now, q persistent sutton at
every maritime Court in Europe TOR more
liberal recognition OF the rights OF neutrals
than OF the other great maritime nations
have yej been disposed to make. But ill
those rights are secured by proper lnterna
iona! guarantees upon Il comprehensive and
enduring b SIS, of course England cannot
compa!n Q! an acj tor which, in ali i5a Ma
tcrial bearings. her own navai history affords
spcn nnr,tr5n< nreetdrrfs.
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