William L. Dayton to William H. Seward, September 17, 1862

Mr. Dayton to Mr. Seward.

Sir: I have been especially requested to call your attention to the mode in which telegrams are made up in New York for England and the continent. They have for months past been, as is thought, uniformly and unfairly colored against us. The general answer here to our complaint is, they are made up in New York in the office and under the direction of the associated press, and published with the assent of the United States government. The fact is, these telegrams are manufactured from news received in the office of the associated press, but by an employé of Mr. Reuter, of London. He has, if I am correctly informed, no business connexion with any person in the United States, nor is he responsible to, nor supervised by, any person there. He is simply and solely the salaried agent of Mr. Reuter. That many of these telegrams for months past have been wrongfully prejudicial to the United States and its interests in Europe cannot be denied. It is truly said that the current history of the war and of passing events in our country is written for Europe in these telegrams. They are received here always from two to four days in advance of other news. They are at once scattered over Europe, and, if false, the impressions made are rarely corrected. I know that your attention has been heretofore called to this subject from London, and perhaps elsewhere, and am averse, therefore, to troubling you about it.

I enclose, for your consideration, a letter from the Rev. Dr. McClintock, suggesting a remedy.

I am, sir, your obedient servant,