Daily national Republican., 1863-03-02
A NEW ATTACK ON THE PRESIDENT

The New York Tribune has recently, in a
persistent manner, asserted the ignorance of
the President as to the character Of important
dispatches sent by the Secretary of State to our
ministers abroad affecting our foreign relations
The New York Times met the assertion by
positive contradiction; whereupon the Tribune
publishes communication from correspon-
dunl, signed "Truth and Courage" ," in which
1t is alleged that an "eminent Senator" Is tho
authority relied upon for the assertion.
The communication says:
"A Senator, few weeks since, called upon
the President, and directed his attention to
r,jndrkaJls dispatch in the last published volume
Of the secrCtary's diplomatic ebullitions. The
President was surprised, and declared that he
hdd ncVer seen or heard Of The dispatch BEFORE"
In order more ofrectually to put down this
charge, which strikes by the President and Mr..
Seward, the Times, of Friday, publishes the
following from Mr.. Seward
WAsHMGToS, Feb. "A, 1868.
Hon. HENRY j. RAYMOND: / have your tele-
gram asking whether you may contradict the
statement in the New York Tribune to-day
about dispatches not being read by the Pres-
deut.
! don't know what, the TriblDie'S statement
is.-but you may safely say that every dispatch
that was not merely and technically formal that
have ever sent abroad has been fully submit
ted, in words and substance, to the President,
aud read by him or to him before ii was sent.
And this includes the whole correspondence,
and every word Of 1t, between my Department
and Mr.. Dayton, and even this dispatch to your
self. WIN. H. SEWARD.
Most reasonable people would suppose that
this positive contradiction, thus authorized by
the President; would have set the matter at rest.
But not so for, on Saturday, the Tribune re-
turns to the charge, with another communica-
ton from its correspondent, in which he says:
There are many public men, understand,
10 whom the President has said that certain OF
those dispatches TO which his attention was
called had not been seen by him. The Prosi-
dents word Is not 10 be doubted. That he has
said 30 has been stated 10 me circumstantially
by an eminent Senator. When that Senator'S
permission Is received shall supply whatever
may be thought necessary to give more point
10 this assertion.
The gravity Of this charge arises from the
fact that the President, from his official posi-
tion, is supposed to have personal supervision
and control over the conduct Of our intercourse
with foreign nations, which he cannot delegate
20 any ono else, while he is entitled to the ad
vice and aid of the Secretary Of State, and Other
members Of his Cabinet. If he neglects TO give
his personal attention to their duties, or care
lesaly permits subordinate to usurp the per
formanCe of them, there would be indeed BE-
rious ground for complaint.
There is another grave matter involved in tht
articles published in the Tribune. In the per
formanCe of their respective duties, the sena
tors of the United States and the President are
necessarily brought into close confidential in
tercoursei and more especially 30 with refer
once to questions affecting foreign relations
which are always considered and discussed il
each executive session of the Senate.
Now, if any "eminent Senator" has pre-
tended to repeat conversations alleged TO hay
been held with the President on these subjects
for the purpose ofhaying them filtered throug
the Tribune, either by correspondent o
through its editorial columns, we think 1t du
TO the public, as well as the Senate, that hi
name should bs known. A tale-bsarer has al
ways had bad smiaence!" Win the Tri
oWH give his name