Year: 1863

When questions of prerogative arise in Mon
archies, there are often found persons who pride
themselves on being more royal than the king, and
even in some Republics the temporary Chief Ma
more jealous of his rights and dignties than he
seemed to be himself For instance, it has been CON-
mon among certain class of modern "loyalists" to
exact on the part Of all connected in any way with
the Government or the army in the present crisis
an entire and implicit concurrence with the Presi
dent in whatever proclamations he may make or
"war measures" he may adopt This conformity
to the Presidential mind, if the prime duty of
every loyal citizen, is deemed absolutely indis-
pensable in the case Of all who hold Office
whether in civil or military stations.


1t is very suggestive to mark that the President
himself does not SO understand the duty either of
citizens or officials. He has just nominated for re-
appointment as our Minister to Russia the Bor.
CAssIUs M. CLAY, who had the hardihood at one
time to decline Major Generalship because he did
not agree with Mr.. LINCOLN in the policy then pur
sued by the Administration; and Mr.. CLAY, while
his nomination is yet pending before the Senate,
has little respect for this late theory of official
submission that he has just published letter in
which he not only signifies the liberty he had taken
to dissent from the Presidents original war poll
cy, but actually prcsumes to stgmatize the Gene
Chief, Mr. Lincolns chosen military adviser,
as "ntensely pro-slavery;" and as if to show that
the force of independence could no farther go, he
winds up with " fling" at the Secretary Of State,
his own official chief after he shall have been duly
confirmed by the Senate


But to the letter which contains this instructive
exposition of "loyaty" to tho Administration, as
Mr.. Clay understands it. We should add, perhaps,
that this letter, after being originally published in
the paper to whose editor it addressed, has been
subsequently printed By somebody in the shape of
placard, (surmounted by huge spread esglc,)
and pasted on the street corners the blind alleys,
the theatre boards, and the tree boxes of Washing
ton, much to the wcndcrment of gaping urchins
and "intelligent contrabands," who are seen to
pause long before it with a puzzled expression, as
though they did not fully comprehend the species
Of entertainment to which its perusa invites the
Washington public:


/. WASHINGTON, FRIDAY, FEB. "a, 1863
To the Edior Of The Nao York Times


In the Times Of yesterday you have an article styed
"Russa Made Happy" TO which desire to say but
word In reply have nothing say about the spirit of
that editorial toward me- IL is the same with all the rest
you have written in reference to me- while at home and
abroad do not hold myself above just even unfriend
ly criticism public servant In that sh III eudeayor


10 defend myself by my iieacts not by words But when
you venture the nsinuation that ( "he serve the
Government consistently with his private sentiments only
in foreign mission, you misrepresent my sentments
and nure the OF the country Told President Lin
coin that Ieoud not and moud NOT enter The field ezcpt the
policy adopted Of hbcrang The siares Of rebels. So
the President issued his proclamation of the 22d
September offered my services at to Gen Halleck


was received in snch that Secretary Chase, who
was present, and who had urged to take command
by the most pressing arguments satisfied, well
myelf that could not the country my repu


aion bp entering tho service Justice TO the country and


my own character Tor fra kness demand Of 10 say that
Iregard Gen Hatckas too intensely stapery 10 do
fme 10 any Of mypiews Of The great political issues
pending. havc d., what could, and shall do what


can 10 induce the President to put Gen Be- f. Butler
in his place believe that such change would the
X public mill ons of and money. Nothing short of
that can give the vgor aud effect to which the
crisis and the pubic sentiment demand


How far Russia shall be made happy" will appear