The national Republican., 1862-01-24

tComnunioated.l
what DID the President says
WASHINGTON, January 23, 1862.
Ma. EplroR; In your paper Of yesterday,
vou amend NJ report Of the Prssldsot's con-
veratioa with General Lane, changing tbs
sxpreaioo, "I (the Prssideatl do NOT believe
hat The United Statn Government hes any
right 70 give them fugitive davesl up In any
case" to the version hat be only denied The
right Of The army ito deliver them over forci.
bly, to any class Of ownsn-ths whole subject
Of fugitive slaves being otherwise provided
for by an oct Of Congress, to which recourse
must be had" ...,-....,.
am sure that you unconsciously do ipjus-
tice to the President and the truth in your
amendment On the very best Information, l
beg leave again to represent that The idea
which the President sought 10 convey, and did
convey, was precisely this, that the rebellious
States, having by their own insane conduct
abolished slavery In its relations with our
Government, by repudiating our protection,
can make no claim on u for slaves, and there.
fore that the United States cannot return them,
either with the military or civil arm, without
enslaving free men. Not even the slaves Of
loyal masters nor those willing 10 be slaves, -
II there we're such monstrous anomaly, as
Qhsuks to the God Of our manhood y there is
not not even these may be surrendered; for,
willy nilly, they are pressed into the odious
service Of the enemy, and so would strengthen
The recusants aad weaken US. So National
Safety and the logic Of War forbid The return
of any fugitives to rebel States, even though
Humanity be forgotten. To this conclusion,
the President said be had come, after dclib.
crate thought.
This 10 the way Gen. Lane, Senator Pomerey
and others remember the conversation, and
this Is without doubt the true version, despite
the clamors Of men and presses that would moi
have Il 90. 10 fact, Il has been conceded among
the reporters upon the streets for weeks that
the Executive was tending 10 this conclusion.
And why need he be taunted with unsoundncs,
aud capriClousuess for II. Shall an intelligen,
man be proud to say that be has learned moth.
ing in such terrible school a. this Ia In such
tempcstuous whirl Of change, shall he who
was chosen for Great Rcprescn tativc Leader
boast that he is blind TO the rough exigsncies
OF war,
do not know how the President would treat
loyal masters In rebellious States, whose slaves
us,in ho 40 lcr,
but have no doubt that bis plain ideas OF jus
tice would incline him 10 recompense all such,
from the captured property Of the rebels.
The Herald, In contradicting the fact OF any
such conversation, says that " high oficlals''
called on The President, and failing In "the hope
oil committing him. 70 some extreme radical
declaration of their own, they coolly proceeded.
in violation Of the rule recognized among gen,
tlemen the world over, and caused Q statement
Of the conversation 10 be written out, as they
wished 70 have II appear, and caused II 10 be
offered 10 the press for publication"
Alter crediting this 10 the uc,utl, IL is per.
bsps unnecessary 10 brand IL as grossly unjust
and untrue. Neither Gen. Lane nor Senator
Pomcroy 10 responsible in any manner nor 10
the slightest degree, Tor the publications which
have been made. The former did not author.
ize the contemplated publication, and the lsl.
ter did not know Of IT, The writer alone Is
responsible; nobody else Is involved, even
The HcrdLd's cry Of breach Of confidence
Ia absurd. Though uuoifioial, the words re.
ported were not In any way confidential
However bis enemies may charge him with
dupliCity and secrecy. the friends Of our candid
President will not believe that be Is afraid 10
trust the people with bis honest opinions on
public affairs.
The Herad reporter further says that be sub.
mitted the report Of the conversation 10 tho
President, and he denied It's correctness, to
which reply that was not informed Of this
denial until twenty-fOur hours after had seni
the report TO the Tribune Even II had beer,
am not certain but should have crcditcG
the authority Of two United States Senators In
Is surprised that the Herald denies the spirit o
this conversation. II Is following Its instincts
Il denied the speech ol Secretary Cameron
until the iteratiOns OF the Tribune had beater
IL into lis dead ears. And Knowing how slave
~ has ever been the cherished pct OF lha
pap,r-its pIotegee-cnthr0ne high above lh,
Scriptures, and The sacredness OF The nstions
life, We cannot doubt that, now % then,
Its wish Is father to ih thought"
l may here state, incidentally, that tb,
Herald man, ON taking the manuscript ant
reading II, exclaimed, "The style of both mel
exactly could almost swear TO the language
But don't believe the President eaid It."
Ths Star (lIss Saul become Paul y assumes
10 be the Presidential organ, In lis denial Of
| the conversation. 10 q Characteristic temper
II treats the report with abusive ridicule ant
insult have only to reply 10 one cf lis "ar
guments," Chat the writer was "never heart
Of before,") by saying that humble ioyalt,
-, M
tatious character Of double apy, and that
welcome the taunt OF obscurity, II fame con
sists 10 distinction of personal fllthinsss, men
tai poverty, moral depravity, aud suspected
treason.
Any gentleman present on the occasion re-
ferred TO, will testify that the President said al
that is attributed 10 bim-not hcsitatingly
stcalthily, and, 10 whisper Of confidence, Il
doubt, but positively, heartily, with the ingen
uousness Of soul which gave him bis Honest u
title. II Is impossible that he has denied II; hs
will not deny Il 10. .day | am greatly mistaker