The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-01-07
rATRiOrIO LETTER OF GEN. SCOTT
ON THE MASON AND sLIDELi. AFFAIR.

Ny DEAR SIR: You were right in doubt
ing the declaration imputed TO me, TO witt
That the Cabinet at Washington had given
or lers to seize Mason and Sli ell. even un-
der neutral flag, for was not even aware
that the Government had had that point even
under consideration. At the time of my
leaving New York, il was not known hat the
San Jacinto had returned to the American
seas; and il was generally supposed ose per
sons had escaped TO Cuba for the purpose Of
re embsIking in the Nashville, in persuit Of
which vessel The James Alger aud other
cruisers had been dispatched.
/ think can satisfy you in few words
q at you have NJ serious occasion to feel con-
cerued about our relation. with Eogland, if
as her rulers profess, she has no disposition to
encourage dssensions in America
10 the first place, it is almost superfuons
to say TO you that every instinct OF prudence.
as well as good neighborhood. prompts ur
Government TO regard no honorable sacrifice
too great for the preservation of the friendship
Of Great Britain. This must be obvious 10
all the world. At no period of our history
has her friendship been Of more Importance
to our people; ut no period has our Govern.
,nent been in condition to make greater con-
cessions to preserve it.. The two nations are
united by interests aud sympat thies-commer
clal, social, political and religious, almost as
the Two arms 20 one body, an no one is so
ignorant Ms not 10 know that what harms one
must harm the other in corresponding de
gree.
am persuaded hat the British Govern
meut can entertain 90 doubt upon this point,
but if does, feel III It may take it upon
myself to say that the President of the Un-
ted States, when made aware of its existence,
will Lore no opportunity Of dispeling it.
Nor is there anything venture TO affirm,
in the seizure of these rebel emissares which
ought to receive an uufrendly construction
from England. Here s'atesmen will not
questi' the legal right Of an American yes.
sci justly suspected Of transporting contraband
Of war; that right has never been surrendered
by England it was even gu 'ranteed to her by
the Treaty of Paris, and British guns frown-
ing down upon nearly ev' ~ strait anil inland
sea upon the globe, are conclusive evidence
that size regard, this right rs one, the efficacy
Of which may be not yet entirely exhausted.
or course, there is much that is irritating and
vexatiuus in The exercise o. this right under
the most favorable circumstances, and IL is 30
lie hoped he day Is not far distant when the
maritime States OF the world will agree in
placing neutral commerce beyond the reach Of
such vexatons. The United States Govern
meat has been striving to this end, early in
the present century aud its infancy as nation,
it embarked in a war with the greatest naval
power in the world and it is even now per-
sislant suitor at every maritime Court In Eu-
rope for a more liberal recognition Of the
rights Of nentra.s than of the other great mar
thine nations have vet been disposed to make.
But until these rights are secure by proper
international guarantees up comprehen
siye aud enduring basic, Of course England
cannot complain of an act for which 10 all It's
material bearing her own eaval history affords
such numerous preccdents.
Whether the caplives from the Trent were
contraband of war or not. is question which
the two Governments can have no serio's Jlf
iculty in agreeing upon. Ii Mr.. Seward can
not satisfy Earl Russell that they were, hve
no doubt Earl Russell will be able to satisfy
MIR. Seward that they were not. Ii t'ey were,
as all authorities concu, IN admitting. agents
Of the rebellion, il will be difficult TO satisfy
traband than file Of rebel soldiers or bat
toy of hostile cannon.
But even shauld there be diff renee Of
opinion upon this point, it is very cl"ar that
our Government had sufficient grounds for
presuniug itself in the right, to escape the
suspicion Of having wautonly violated the re
a,ion, of arpnity which the two countries pro
fess desire to preserve and cultivate.
The pro,ense that we ought to have taken
the Trent into port, aud had her condemned
10y Prize Court, in order TO justify our se;z-
ure Of -four Of h"r passengers, furnishes a ve'y
narrow basis on which u fix serious ccntro
veisy between two great nations. Stated in
OF her w,rls, an offence would have been less
il 1t haG ben greater. The wrong done t,
the Br ish flag wouli have BEEN mitigateL il,
instead OF seizIng tie four rebels, we bal sclz.
ed the shlp, detained all her passengers for
ek-, and confscated her cargo. am not
surprised that Captain Wilkes took different
view Of his duty, and Of what vas due to the
friendly relations which subsIsted between the
Two Governments. The renowned common
sense oi the English people, | believe, will
approve Of his effort to make the discharge OF
a very unpleasant duty as little yexatous as
possible to all innocent parties.
Ii, under these circums anccs, England
should deem il her duty, in the interests of
civil za,ion, to intist upon the restoration Of
the men taken from under the pro ectioo Of
he' flag, it will be from a conviction, without
doubt, that the Law Of nations in regard to the
rights Of neutrals, which she has taken the
lead ng part in establishing. requires revision,
aud with suitable disposition on her part to
establish those rights upon n just. honorable
and philosophical basis. Indeed, am happy
10 see an iulimstion in one OF the lea ling met
ropotsn journals, which goes far to justify
this inference. Referring 10 the decisions Of
the English Admiralty Courts, now quoted
in defense Of the seizure Of American rebels
on board the Trent. the London Times Of No
vember 2sth SAYS: .r ...
$50 far as the authorities 60, the teslimo
nv ot international lag-writers is all one way,
that brlIigerent war cruiser has right to
stop and visit aud search any merchant ship
upon the high seas. But it must be
remembered that the decisions were given un-
der circumstances very different from those
which now occur. Steamers 10 those days
did moi exist, and mail vessels carrying letters