New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-05-29
{" An Extraordinary Letter.
Coue,ponsenes Of The N. Y. Tribune
W ..r,.,r,N H. ~

I
WAmSGToS, May -, 1863
Under the above caption, The Washington Re
publican Of ast evening copies my recent letter on
the Peterhof cave, with the following most remark
| ab e impntations and comments:
The uewtpapors bsvs for . week pest been hsd with
surmss about changes IN the Cabinet and Il De"n posi-
lively stated be, Tho concerted sitemt 20 drive Nh seward
C.insl has removed In tbs connection.
copy on THE y. L. IKBUsK Of Monday ltter which j.
e.d be part OF the psn Of operations and TO have
Ii "a au su.sAod senator, h. tis city. From
his podtion on the Committee 81 Foreign II, ston,
should be SLOW 10 believe that this can be true ~ 1t would
show .X'foordnAIy attitude for bin 10 toward the
Secretary OF STATE, woo conducts those feiAAoi~'
Washington gossip attributes the above sugges-
tons to tbs Assistant Secretary of State, bus this
conjecture may be entirely erroneous as The Re
puLlicaas imputatOns most certainly are. Let nae
assure that journal that Mr.. SUMNER any other
I" distinguished Senator" had any knowledge OF,
is responsible for my communication. Had distin-
9uished Senators" here been aware Of the grave
character Of the Secreisys va -ries, affecting
iionsly, as it is seen they have DONE national
rights and dignity, it would have been their simple
duty 10 have apprised the President and Iemonstra-
ted agaiuf the uninvited surrender Of such import
ens principles of internatioLu law and equity. For
it should he mentioned part Of this most extra
ordinary history that the President AYERS that he had
no knomledge that such freewl Offering was 10 DO
made, Notwithstanding tho distinguished Secretary
repeatedly stated in Cabinet Council and elsewhere
that the British Minister did peremptorily demand
the surrender Of the Peterhoffs mails. Lord Lyons
now as positively denies IT, This new question of We.
racy, however may BIO left TO the arbitrament Of the
same subtle diplomacy which bsrmouzed tho recent
contradictions between himself and The French
Minister upon the subject Of the Richmond expcdi-
ton. That my letter was part Of any plan Of
operations TO drive Mr.. Seward from the Cabinet,
10 equally erroneous If any such plan is on foot,
am not aware of tam certainly not party 10 it,
and think / can comprehend too clearly the inilu-
ence the Presidents earnest desire for harmony In
hs councils would DO likely TO exert 10 favor any
movement promising such poor SUCCESS Neverthe'
Iess. with hundreds and Thousands Of others, who
rejoiced l did, that the nation WA 10 be beseed
las foHdy had hoped), by the great powers Of
intellect and the familiarity with State affairs which
Mr. Seward could bring TO the service Of his country
In lie impending peril have been, and am, sick nj
near, that ia lien Of that great statesmanship we
hah hoped Tor, we bad 90 many instances repeated
Of tne-ssrvins tinidity and diplomatic wriggng.
IL IN tunes past, others had devoted their time and
means TO the turhsrsncs Of the great, progressive
ideas which gave being 70 this Administration, had
not the Secretary, with eloquent uttsranss and WELL
rounded periods, done as much a. any man 70 edo.
cate the popular heart up to the high standards Of