The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-12-20
Gen. SCOTS Letter,

Gen. Scott has written a letter on the Trent
as1air, which has apl cared in the Paris papers.
lit is admirable in its tone and makes d clear and
commcn-sonse statement Of the rights of this
Government in the premises. He says
Nor is there anything, | venture to affirm, IN
E!te seizure of these rebel emmissaries, which
ought to receive an uniriendly construction from
England. Her statesmen vii! not question 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 by England. 1t was
even guaranteed to her by the treaty Of Paris );
and British guns, f~rownlng down upon neatly
every strait and inland sea upon the globe, are
conclusive evidence that she regards this right
:s one, the efficacy Of which may b. rot yet en-
sircly exhausted.
Sen. Scott avs further
Whether the captiyes from the Trcn, were
"9ntrab!nd OF war or not Is q question which
the TWO governments can have no serious diff
gully III agreeing upon. II Mr.. Seward cannot
eatisfy Earl Russell that they were, | have no
dOahs that Earl Russell will be able to satisfy
Mfr. Seward that they were not. If they were,
~ al authorities concur in admitting, agents of
aAN rebellion, it will be difficult to satisfy impair.
tial minds that they woro any less contraband
t!l&n a lc Of rebel soldiers or Il battery of hos
IIle cannon.
bnt even should there be a difference Of onin-
iJ1 upon this point. it is very clear that our
government had sufficient grounds for vresum.
'ng I;aclf in tie right, to escape the suspicion
# baving wantonly violated the relations Of am.
l'y wilic1 the two countries profess a desire to
yrcsasve and cultivate.
The w%retense that we ought to have taken the
Trent into port ana had her condemned by q
prize court, IN order to Justify our seizure of
t1ur q! her passengers, furnishes a very narrow
BASIS ~ which to hx a serious controversy be
tween two great nations. Stated in other words
oar ollns: would have b2cn less If it had been
greater. The wrong done to the British flag
-souid have been miiisated II, instead OF Selling
Ehc four rebels, VIC had scized the sin, detained
all her passengers lo. weeks, and co:.iscatcd her
c1r5''' ! AIN not surprised that Capt. Wilkes
to9h 4 different view OF His du!y and Of what
was de to the friendly relations which subsist.
ca between tile governments. The renowned
common sens: ot the English people, ! believe,
-tHSi approve OF his effort to make the discharge
ar aNs-y Unpleasant dnty as little v~cxatious as
.!0ss!1le to all innocent parties.
After .elcrripg to the well kn3gn persistence
OF England hitherto in claiming the largest right
ct search. the actter proceeds
II England, as we ARE here encouraged To
'hofe, Is disposed to do Der part in stripping
wax o. haii Its horrors by accepting the policy
Dong and consistently urged upon ier by our
s~aeSsaaient ind commended by every principle
ef justice and humanity, she will find no ground
in the visit Of the Trent, for controversy will,
government. am sure the President and
people Of the United states would be but too
happy 10 let these men 90 free, unnatural and
objectionable as their ~Offenses have boon, If by
rt they could emancipate the ommerc Of the
world. Greatly as it would be to our disadvan-
rtagc at this present crisis to surrender any Of
thos5 maratime privileges of belligercnts which
ave sanctioned by the laws of nations, / feel
tat ! take no responsibility in saying that the
/ nisel States will be faithful to her traditional
policy upon this subject, and TO the spirit of
ne; political institutions.
On the other hand should England be unprc-
AIRED to mako a corresponding sacrifce-should
she feel that she could not yet afford 10 surren.
der tue advantages which the present maritime
code gives to o dominant naval power, OF course
.slc will not put herself in a false position by
asking US to do it. In either case. ihercro:r, |
do not see how the friendly relations OF the two
governments arc in any immediate danger Of
@eing disturbed.
That the over promp. recognition. rs bcllig-
erents, of a body Of men. however large. 20
long as they constituted a manifest minority Of
the nation, wounded The feelings Of my country
men deeply, | will not effect to deny : nor that
that act, with ,mc # its logical consequeLcts
which have already occurred, has planted in tho