Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1861-1862, 1862-01-01
GEN. soorra LETTER osrar AMERICAN DIFF

GEN. SCOTS LETTER on TIE AMERICAN DlFFI-
GUILTY.
Ny Dear Sir--You were right in doubling tia deoa.
ration imputed to wit that the osbiDet at Wssh-
ngton bad civ IN orders 70 sez9 hssrs hasoo and S-
dell unde: neutral Gag; for not even aware
tina. the COVER ne had bad that pont under consider
atioa AT the time Of my leayog New York Il was not
known thar the San JAcilto bad returned 70 the AIer
can seas; ana 1 generally supposed those persona
had escaped 10 Cuba for DC purpose Of renbarknS 10
the Nashville u pursuit OF which vessel the jams Ad
ger and other crnlsers had been dispatched.
think cat satisfy you ia few words that you have
no serious occ zion W feel concerned about relA
tons with EGG Apd IT, as her rulers profess, che has no
difpositionto encourage the disensons In America
Ia the frat place h ID almost superhleus 70 say 70 you
that every instinct Of prudence as well ~ Of good
neighborhood prompts our government 70 regard 10
honorable sacrifice great the preservation Of the
friendship of 6teat Britain. This must be obvious 10
all the world ~ period OF history has her friend
ship BEEN of portsnce to our peope-st 40 pc
rod has our 60 yefnment beel in coadton 10 make
greater coacess ions TO preserve IT, The two nations
united BIZ inIei ,ss 81 mpataies commerciA soci
political and felgious-4lnost the two "
one body aud 40 30 Ignorant sR 20; 20 kuo" that
what harms must harm the other I'M corresponding
d, gree.
am pcrsuad, d that tie British Government can en-
terrain 70 douti upon this subject but IL it does feel
that night take i. upon myself 10 say that the Pres
dent OF the United States when made Of It's
etce, will lose no opportunity Of dispeling IT,
Nor s there srytn,Dg, venture to a:m, in The sez.
ure of these eo. emIsaries which ought receive
~ friendly construction from England. Her statesmen
not question the legal right VI an American v,ssai
OF var 10 search suy cOmmefcii. vesf -'7'~"TrG 81
transporting cOntraband Of war; that - new.
h. IN surrender9t BY E1gllnd; It was Guaranteed
~ her by the treaty Of Parls and Brb guns irowbng
down nearly every strait and inland sea upon The globe
are conclusive evidence that she regards this right az
one the efficacy Of which may be not yet entirely exn
gushed Of course there much that ia Irritating
" rAous III the exercise OF this right under the most
favorable circunsance aad it is 10 be hoped that the
day ia not far distant wheu the maritime States Of the
world will agree in placing neutral commerce beyond
the reach OF such veXations.
The Unted ntates government has been striving to
this end for than fifty years TO this end early in
the present ceLrlry and in its infancy nation IL
parked in 4 war With the greatest naval power In the
world and il Is persistent sutton at every
maritime court ia Europe Tor more liberal recognition
If the rights Of aeuras than any of the other great
rhine nations have yet been disposed 70 make. But till
those rights secured Oy proper international guaraI
tses upon prehensye aud enduring basis OF course
England cannon complain Of al acc Tor which, in all its
material bearings her own naval history Affords suc1
numerous precetents.
Whether the clpYes from the Trent were contrabGnd
OF war or not Is question which the two governments
can have serious difficulty in agreeing upon. If Mr..
Sc ward satisfy Earl Russell that they we're have
no doubt Earl lsse will be able satisfy Mr.. Seward
that they were not IL they we're all authorities con-
eur in admitting agents OF the rebellion it will be Diff
cult 70 satisfy impartial minds that they were any es
contraband than tie of rebel soldiers OF battery Of
hostile cannon.
But even should there be difference Of opinion upon
this point ii is very clear that government bid SUI
fcient grounds for presumng itse in the right to
cape the suspicion Of having wautony violated the
laons Of amty which the Two countries profess de.
sire TO preserve aud cultivate.
The pretence that ought to have taken the Trent
into port and had her condemned by przs court 10
order 10 Justify seizure OF four Of her passengers
furnishes very narrow basis on which to fix a serious
controversy between two great nations. Stated iu 9TH
er words an oslcs would have been less il t had been
greater The wrong done the British flag would have
been mitigated IT. instead OF seiZng four rebels, had
lied the ship detained all her passengers for
weeks, and colf,cated her cargo, am not surprised
that Capt Wilkes took dfeent vieS Of his duty and
OF what due TO the friendly relation which subssted
between the two gov ernme1s. The renowned common
sense OF tie Engsh people, teiieve, will approve Of
his Effort make the dkcharge Of vely unple,
duty as little vsdaous as possible to all innocent pa
tics.
L. under thes. circumstances, England should deem il
her duty in the interest OF cvz alton, 10 insist upon the
restoration OF the taken from under the protection
OF her flag il viii be from conviction without doubt,
that the law of Latous Ia regard 70 the rights Of
tra which she las taken leading part IN establishing,
requires revision and with suitable disposition her
part to establish these rights npoa just humane, and
losoptc basis Indeed, am happy to ntina.
ton in one OF the leading metropolitan journals which
goes far JUSTLY Lbs inference. Referring 20 the de-
csion Of the E1g sh Admiralty courts quoted In de-
tense Of the sezTe Of the American rebes board the
Trent the Loaion Times, OF the 2S!h OF November,
says:
80 far as the authorities Co. the testimony of inter.
ncliona Law writes is all one way that beligerent
var cruiser has ne right TO sop and visit aud
merchant ship uIol tue high seas.
But il must be re neuibered that these decisions we're Civ
en- under circum: very different from those which
now occur SJet ne 8 in those days did not exist and
mail vessels ring letters wherein all the nations OF
the world have immediate interest we're unknown. We
were fighting for sIs.ence, and did in those days
what we sh ould Deer do allow others DO nor
pect ou selves % be allowed to DO il these days"
II England a-e here encouraged to hope Is dis
posed TO do her TL srppieg of half its honors
by accepting the policy long and pen silently urged upon
her by our COVER men and commended by every pTinc
pie o. Justice and lumLnity she will tad no ground in the
visit OF the Trent for controversy with our government
AIN sure the Pr3ent and people Of the United States
would be but too Happy TO let these 60 free unuatu
RI and unpardcn he Their oAsnses have been, by
they could emaucioate the commee OF the world
Greatly would he to Our sAdvantage at this present
or sis 10 sufrender sby Of those ma lime pivi OF
beigerents which are coned by the laws OF nations
fl that take 90 responsibility 10 saying that the Uni
tel STATES will be faithful 70 her trsdoasl policy upon
this subject aud the spirit OF her political nst ITO
Ga tue other land, should England be unprepared
make a CORES opdng sacrifice; should she feel that
sle could not afford surrender the advantages VII CD
the present maritime code gives to dominant naval
power Of course she will not put herself in false posi-
tou by akrg to DO Il. In either case therefore,
do not see the friendly relations OF tie Two govern.
mens are in any immediate dapg.r Of being disturbed.
TIA. the over prompt recognition, Oeligerenis, oil
bocy oil men, lao Fever large go long as they cons itu.
It'd manifest minority Of the nation, wounds The Il.
ngs of my coun iymen deeply, will not s,ct 70 deny,
nor that that act with some Oh ia logical consequences
which have aeai occurred had planted in the breasts
OF many the susp ton that their kindred IN Euglsnd
wish them evil reher than good but the Stsesmen to
yhom ;he pOlk, iusFeahs OF these two great people
are conf led act non higher responsibilities and with
better lights and ou may rest assured that ovcnt
mutually disastroii as war between England aud
America, ca mot without some other aud grayer
ptOvecston than bIs yet been given by either nation.
WINFIELD SCOTT.