In 1859 General Scott was again called upon to exercise his powers as a diplomat.  Commissioners were at that time engaged in running the boundary line between the British possessions and the United States.  Differences sprang up as to which of the two countries the San Juan Island in Puget Sound belonged to.  This question should have been referred to the two Governments for amicable settlement.  General Harvey, an impetuous officer then in command of the United States forces in that country, took forcible possession of the island, endangering the friendly relations between the two countries.  The situation was critical, but President Buchanan requested General Scott to go to the scene of operations and settle the matter without conflict, if possible.  The general had recently been crippled from a fall, but, suffering as he was, he sailed September 20, 1859, from New York in the Star of the West for Panama, and thence to his destination.  The British governor was at Victoria.  The few friendly notes that passed between General Scott and the governor restored the island to its former condition, the joint possession of both parties, and thus averting what might have led to great and serious complications.

Nothing of particular public importance attracted the attention of the general until the mutterings of civil war gave utterance to sound.  That he knew the feeling and determination of the Southern people better than those in high authority is shown by his suggestions to prevent, if possible, the secession of the Southern States.  He was a native of Virginia, and every effort was made by persuasion to induce him to link his fortunes with his State, but without avail.  Even his old friends—­the friends of his early youth and manhood, to say nothing of those of maturer years—­brought to bear upon him every argument to swerve him, but to no purpose.  He remained true to the Government he had served and that had honored him, and if his suggestion had been carried out, the war would not perhaps have attained the proportions it did.

On October 29, 1860, General Scott addressed the following note to the President [Buchanan]:  “The excitement that threatens secession is caused by the near approach of a Republican’s election to the presidency.  From a sense of propriety as a soldier, I have taken no part in the pending canvass, and, as always heretofore, mean to stay away from the polls.  My sympathies, however, are with the Bell and Everett ticket.  With Mr. Lincoln I have no communication whatever, direct or indirect, and have no recollection of ever having seen his person; but can not believe any unconstitutional violence or breach of law is to be apprehended from his administration of the Federal Government.