Weekly national intelligencer., 1863-03-05

What audacity is here! ~ told President Lin
coin that could not and aoouM NOT enter the field
except the policy was adopted Of liberating the
slaves of rebels" Who can tell what influence
this imperious language addressed to the President
may have had in precipitating the proclamation Of
last September 22d Ii was necessary to secure Mr.
Clays services Sin the field, and those services,
the President was fatty told, could be had only on
the condition of " lberating the slaves Of rebels"
Hence, perhaps, the first emancipation edict which
so surprised the country. If any body has better
explanation let him candidly impart it or use this
which is now for the first time brought to light
After the " Proclamation Of Freedom" had been
promulged we suppose that the President fattered
himself the way was open to the entrance of Major
General Clay on his military career But in this
Mr. Lincoln was disappointed Gen. Halleck was
now the lion in Gen. Clay's path to glory. So far
from manifesting due alacriy at the bare idea of
having Gen. Clay in the field, it seems that the
Generalin-chief, too pro-savery to do justice to
any man of Mr.. Clays views of the great political
issues pending" actually received the eloquent
orator from Kentucky in such way as to convince
not only himself, but Mr. Secretary Chase, that he
could not serve the country has o,on reputation
by entering the service This certainly was very
bad for the country" and worse for Gen Clay's
military reputation" but the President seems to
have been singularly insensble to both, as Gen.
Haleck, in spite Of the mischief done by his "pro-
slavery" blindness to military merit still blocks
the way to men of Mr.. Clay's " views on the great
political issues now pending"
Unable to enter the army because Of the unac-
ceptable political opinions of the Generalin Chief,
Mr. Clay reluctantly returns to the peaceful walks
Of diplomacy. In these walks it seems that, in
order to serve ones country or ones "reputa-
tion, it is not absolutely to be the best
possible terms with the Secretary Of State. Decin-
ing to enter the military service because of the cold
ness with which Gen. Halleck received him when
he went to offer his sword to the cause of emaDci-
patton, Mr.. Clay is willing to return to Russia,
notwithstanding the conceived injustice done him
by w. II. Seward" in publishing SO few dispatches
dating from the Court of ST. Petersburgh.
We remember that the despatche, of Mr. Clay,
as published by Mr.. Seward, very profusely in
terpolated with "s stars" This is a source of much
regret to US, considering the interesting quality
Of what the Secretary thought it proper to commu-
nicate to the public. But we do not perceive the
entire justice of the precise charge which Mr..
Clay makes against w. H. Seward when he
intimates that the latter has suppressed any cor
respondence because wishing to conceal chow
far Russia shall be made happy" by Mr.. Clay's
H. Ga
has been placed beyond doubt or controversy by
despatch of Mr.. Clay contained in the first
volume of the Diplomatic Correspondence commu-
nicated to Congress more than year ago by the
Secretary of State. As this seems to be matter
of considerable Importance in the eyes of Mr. Clay
We beg to recall to his recollection and that of our
readers the following portion of one of his de-
spatches very conspicuously published by "W. 81.
Seward, and which sufficiently indicates how hap
py Russia will be to see him back again at his d.
plomatic post:
"Tbe Emperor received me Standing, advancing and
saying he roas pleased to then went through
very brit fly the usual forms of such speeches adding that
yentured by the ordes OF my Government sy further
to him that the President of the I'm ted States and the
American people looked with profound sympathy and adm
ration upon the great reforms which he attempting in
his empire, which, without considering the phianthro
view OF the movement, by building up middle class, he
would add to the physical power OF his country
did Peter the Great by consolidation and exensn and
that the success of his enterprise would in the estimation of
the western nations place him above that great ruler
The Emperor SEEMED much grafed and really mored bp
this last remark, which he from a real appre-
citation OF his great undertaking, and uDmeaning
compliment"
He wanted to know if thought England would inter.
fere told him did not what she did that her
interference would tend to unite the that we
fought the South with reluctance much inter-
marred and OF common history but that the Of
England had aroused sensibties towards her in no
very pleasant manner The Emperor seemed 10 like my
SEEMING defiance Of old John But rcry much He wanted
to know if relative of Henry Clay and phat ,oas
my military rank. told him only distant relation
OF Clay and that wore the uniform Of an American
colonel, phieh rank Ihad filled in my country The
Emperor then wished that PERSONAL relations would
advance the national friendship, former ministers
had so succeeded; inquired after Mr. Appeton's health
regretted that he had not him before his departure
shook hands pih me when accompanied him into the
ante chamber and introduced to him my three sttsche
10 phom he made pleasant remarks when shaking hands
more, he dismissed u.s.
If such was the warm reception awarded by the
Czar to Colonel Clay, who shall fancy Alexapder's
happiness at receiving him in the uniform of
Major General, which he will have the right to
wear on the occasion of his next presentation?
We trust we have thus made it plain that Mr..
Seward has not injured Major General Clay in the
matter specified Much VIC may deploro the other
omissions in the desnatcbes from, St pefarsburob