The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-26 00:00:00

SPIRIT OP THE PUBLIC JOURNALS. never been possessed by the Russians in Poland,and
s. they never will obtain it." "It should be distinctly
understood that the Polish nation will never sub-
DAILY NEws.,—The tone of Prince Gortscbakeff's
Memorandum, as arldretsed to Franc, becomes as mil, to laws imposed by foreign dominion. That
( ffensive and irritating as it it were th,iikriitely they may be obeyed, the laws must be the expres-
worded to wound the keenest susceptibilities of th sion of the national sovereignty." We are told,
p
Second Empire and the French e
accordingly, that though the National Committee
carefully studied document the Vice Chancellor of admits the general principles of Government laid
down by Lord Russell, the consequences drawn
Russia calls to the remembrance of the Three
Powers the political situation in Europe at the time from them are, in its opinion, " too restricted," and
of the Congress of Vienna. Once and again he
that " the Polish nation does not see in the propo-
pauses in his close and pressing argument to ask sitions submitted to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg
whether it was likely that Russia at the close of a sufficient guarantees for the future, because its in':
c
war for the deliverance of Europe, in which she had contestable rights do not appear to be recognised.
"
As we have all along pointed out, in sheet, the
taken fro great a part, had been the first to arrest
the career of an invader, should have consented Poles treat our proposals in precisely the Bone way
alone of all the Powers to renounce all advantage as the Russian Cabinet. They for the most part
or compensation at the Peace. In 1812, he urges,
admit our principles, but entirely dispute their ape
the Duchy of Warsaw, which had furnished a Plication. They entertain our arguments to a cer-
military contingent, and served as a basis of opera-
t lain point, but, when the time comes to accept
lion to the great enemy of Russia, was wrested from them or to act upon them, they inform us that they
Sixony and occupied by right of conquest. The merely listened to see what help they could get out
Emperor Alexander would have been fully justified of us, but that we must give them all they wan!,
in repressing by force so menacing a neighbour, as or they will have nothing. The Poles, indeed,
Catherine 11., moved by " inexorable necessity,"
h seem to treat us with somewhat more official re-
ad done in 1772; but the Emperor resolved, if
spect than the Russians, but that is only because
possible, as a conqueror, to reconcile the people of they can less afford to break with us, and it is irn-
Poland to his Government by a kind and merciful portent for them, as far as they can, to feed our
policy, In 1813, although the Duchy of Warsaw
sympathy with hopes of a peaceable compromise. It
had been reconquered by Russia alone from an is impossible, therefore, to attribute very touch
enemy in whose ranks Austrian and Prussian troops importance to the acceptance by the National 00'
still fought, Alexander I. consented to submit its vernment of the proposal of an armistice. In the
future lot to a Congress at Vienna. The Vice- first place, it would now be obviously more advsn'
Chancellor emphatically denies that Poland held tageous to them than to the Russians, even though
the first place in the deliberations of the Congress : no satisfactory result followed from it. Besides,
it had its place, but not the foremost. Europe had without attributing to them any want of sincerity,
just emerged from a 25 years' war, and it was the lot they may have had the acuteness, apparently wants
of all Europe that had to be settled by a Congress. ing in more practised diplomatists, to see that an
All that Alexander demanded was to be allowed to armistice so arranged would give them something
fulfil a great work of reconciliation and reparation of the character of a belligerent, which they seen'
by restoring to Poland her national existence under so anxious to obtain. They inform us, indeed, in
the Russian sceptre. This intention was baulked this despatch, but in terms so vague that we cannot
1 and resisted not because the Powers were solicitous pretend to be sure of their meaning, that they do
for Polish independence, but because they were not expect other Powers to substitute foreign efforts
jealous of the extension of the Russian empire. for their own. But they complain at the same time,
The Powers might perhaps have preferred in theory not without reason, that Russia is, to all intents and
the absolute independence of Poland, but to this Purposes, assisted by the neighbouring States, which
the three partitioning Powers must have consented, intercept supplies of arms and ammunition to an
was it likely that Russia would have acquiesced in extent which otherwise could hardly be enforced
her own dismemberment. Austria and Prussia except by a regular blockade; and they maintain
'both opposed the restitution even of the name of that it is at least "just and necessary" that foreign
Poland ; Prince Aletternich protesting that Galicia Powers should intervene so far as to relieve them of
would be lost to Austria. Prussia shared the fears this difficulty. But the National Committee knee/
of Austria. Russia alone desired to give the Polish perfectly well that no foreign Power could possible'
subjects of the three partitioning Powers institu- take any step of this sort without being prepared
tions in harmony with the feelings of the people; for immediate war with Russia. Indeed, it will be
but Austria presented a counter project, declaring difficult for them to perusade Europe that they do
the Duchy of Warsaw to be annexed to the domi- not really cherish the hope of some such material
nions of the Emperor of Russia in perpetuity, with- support. But if they entertain any ideas whatever
out a word about constitutional rights or Polish of foreign support or recognition they ought to be
nationality. So that, according to Russian doctrine, Prepared to pay some attention to foreign pro"
as dogmatically stated by Prince Gortschakoff, all Posals. It is perfectly idle for them to talk as
the sympathy for Poland at the Congress of Vienna if they expected to get everything they wish for
proceeded from Alexander I. • the other Powers from Russia. The sympathy of Europe is chilled
only acquiesced in his generous designs from jealousy and the hands of the three Powers are tied by the
of his initiative, and because at the close of a pro• knowledge that there is no limit to the inordinate
longed war they knew and respected the resources demands of the Poles. If there was any chance that
of the Power to which they owed their deliverance, they would be contented with reasonable and
Russia then had taken the sole initiative in pro- moderate concessions, the representations of the
posing liberal institutions for her Polish subjects as Western diplomatists would lose their vagueness,
one of the partitioning Powers; all the other and would have some ground to go upon. But, as
Powers save England were at that time opposed to matters stand at present, it is quite sufficient answer
liberal ideas; Russia actually interceded with her to all the proposals we make to Russia that the
co-partitioners in behalf of Polish nationality. Bat Poles will not be satisfied with them. Even if
Poland was obstinately ungrateful, and Alexander France, or any other Power were disposed to inter-
I. became disabused of his own magnanimity when vene forcibly, she is checked by the certainty that
he found that his Polish subjects used the constitu- the Poles would only use what she gained for them
tional weapons he had given them to conspire for as a means of obtaining more, and that she
the dismemberment of the Empire. And in 1830, would merely give them a better standing ground
for fresh agitation. It is this obstinacy, with which
under his successor, roused by the revolution in
France, they burst out in insurrection. Then, as the Poles persist, something like the Irish in
O'Connell's time, in regarding every concession as
now, the insurgents appealed to the sympathies of
liberal Europe; the Western Powers offered diplo- a mere instalment of greater ones, which has
matic intervention; Russia declined it. The Western brought matters to their present pass. The dead
lock of the situation is completed by the publication
Powers appealed to the engagements of 1815. Russia
insisted that the Poles had by the very act of insur-
of this despatch. Neither the Russians nor the
rection cancelled those engagements. The Western Poles will yield a single acre of land or a single
Powers rejected this theory. Russia maintained it. point of privilege. How the lock will be forced, a 5
They protested against the means taken to suppress it seems impossible to find any key to it, we cane
the rebellion, yet Russia suppressed it. Then, as now, not venture to surmise. We are only sure of one
t
it was Europe that disturbed Poland, not Poland thing—that both Russians and Poles will have t°
Europe. Once more, the Emperor Alexander 11. give way in the end. All questions of this sort are
gave his Polish subjects liberal institutions, and settled by mutual concessions. The Russians will
they used them as instruments of revolt. Yet Russia neither establish respect for despotic and barbarous
authority, nor will the Poles re-establish the Poland
still desires the pacification of Poland, and to carry
out her benevolent intentions. Bat, as an in- of their dreams. The Three Powers hoped to be
dispensable preliminary, the insurrection must be able to induce both parties to come to some mode'
put down, and order re-established. No Power on rate arrangement, without tearing each other to
earth cap afford to submit to a revolt, or to foreign pieces first. They have failed, as we predicted they
interference. Disorder would wear itself out in would fail, from the passion and obstinacy of both,
Poland, if the diplomatic intervention of the Powers and now the two must be left, at least for a time, to
would be content to impress upon the Polish people sicken themselves of the struggle. Meanwhile, in,
that they have nothing to hope but from submission such a prolongation of bloodshed the Poles have
to their Sovereign and from an indissoluble union most to lose, and obstinacy on their part is the more
with Russia according to treaty. In short, the duties inexcusable because it is suicidal.
and rights of all parties concerned in the question
are clearly defined by the terms of the treaty to
whioh they appeal. It is the duty of the Poles to
respect the stipulations which unite them indis-
solubly with Russia. It is the duty of Europe
to do nothing to weaken this union. It is the
duty of the three partitioning Powers to grant
representative and national institutions to their
Polish subjects, according to the discretion of each.
Such is the sum and substance of this Russian me-
morandum, which, however sophistical or arrogant,
or even mendacious, it may appear to English
readers, cannot, we think, in fairness be deemed
offensive to England. But we cannot expect our
gallant neighbours over the water to take the Rus-
sian Vice-Chancellor's elaborate exposition of the
Treaties of Vienna and the circumstances under
which they were framed with English equanimity.
Unless, indeed, the mission of the Second Empire be
to avenge the First—by meekness,
TJMES.—The Polish National Committee cer-
tainly exercises the functions of government as
much as the authorities of the Confederate States.
It appears to have perfect control over the Poles,
whether at home or abroad. It has its regular tri-
bunals, and it seems to carry their decisions into
effect. It orders its subjects at its pleasure to pay or
not to pay taxes ; it summons them at its will to
join the national army, or dismisses them on leave
of absepce ; it directs the course of the insurrection
almost in the same way as the Cabinet of an esta-
blished, State directs the movements of its armies ;
and now it seems almost admitted to have its autho-
rised diplomatic agents, and its despatches are
introduced to the ear of Europe in the same way
as those of regularly constituted Powers. The
pnblication, at least, in the Moniteur of the de-
spatch of the Polish National Government to Prince
Czarterysk; gives something of this aspect to the
matter, The letter takes its plum among the diplo-
matic documents on the Polish question. The
despatches which have passed between the other
Powers have already been published, but we have
suddenly another rower igygduce4 to our notice,
and we tiro fevited to consider the views of the
Polish Government as well as those of Russia and
the three other Powers. Whatever motive led to
the insertion of this document it 4 the French official
paper, it certainly was not that it throws any light
on the obscurities of the question, or that the Na-
tional Committee afford us any means of solving its
difficulties. "It was easy to determine," they eay,
e the point pr view from which the Polish nation
should regard the propositions enunciated by the
intervening Powers ;" and, accordingly, the state of
feeling and the arguments which this long and ill-
digested decnieent details are only those with which
the public has been made wearily familiar by the
regular diplomatic despatches and by our corres-
pondence from the seat of the insurrection. We
knew before that the Poles had no confidence in
the Russians, and were not likely under any circum-
stances to feel any. We were perfectly aware
the respect for authority which prince Gortschakoff
proposes to reeestablish in Poland would be nothing
better than mere submission to brute force. Our
diplomatists have exposed more forcibly than the
National Government the misinterpretation which
the Russian Cabinet put upon the Treaties of Vienna,
and we have not been misled as to the character of
the insurrection by the representations of Prince
Gortschakoff. We know, and our Ministers have
asserted, not only in Parliament but in their repre-
sentations to the Russian Government, that the
Polish nation is roused to insurrection by very dif-
ferent motives from the mere passion for revolt.
The Russian Cabinet has been told very plainly
that the Poles, instead of aiming at the subversion
of order, are protesting against the anarchy of
despotism; that they have been governed without
law; and that they have a right, if they can, to
compel the observance of law, We are satisfied
that on the whole the intelligent majority of the
Polish nation support the insurrection, and we are
sure that the savage ba
Governors ebarities of the Russian
e;ceed,
or rather are not in the same
category with, the somewhat startling severities to
which the cruel necessities of their position have
on these points,
driven the Poles. All the declamation, therefore,
which swells the Polish despatch
to
such an inordinate length, was entirely unneces-
-1 nary. There was a point, however, to which we
might have expected that the National Government
would have addressed itself. We were anxious to
know whether they were inclined, in degree, to
accept such good offices as the Western Powers
might offer them, short of forcible intervention in
their behalf. We knew perfectly well that they
would think the proposale we made unsatisfactory,
and that they wished to obtain far more than we
,
had any reasonable ground for asking from Russia.
But, as we were asking Russia to give way in one
direction, it was not unreasonable to hope that the
Poles might have been found willing to make some
advances in the other. We are sorry to say, how-
ever, that there is no sign of any such disposition in
this despatch. " Confidsuce," we gm told, 'has

Births.

---
COWELL.—On the 24th inst., at 112, Piccadilly, the wit°
of Thomas W, Cowell, Esq., of a son.
CLAYTON.—On the 23d inst., at the house of her fathao
Licut.-Col. Henry Somerset, the wife of Capt. Clayto9l
late 13th Hussars, of a daughter.
SANDWITH.—On the 24th inst., at Tidmarsh Rector/
Barks, the wife of Humphery Bandwith, Esq., C.D., °
a daughter.
YOUNG.—On the 24th inst., at The Limes, Croydon-tour
mon, the wife of D. Hill Young, Esq., of a daughter.
Marriages.
BOULTON—NicnoLL.—On the 24th inst., at Aldenbattlf
Herta, Charles George, son of the late Charles Boultonf
Esq., and the Hon. Mrs. Charles Boulton to Georgians'
second daughter of the late Henry Mid' Nicholl, EBq.9
D. C. L.
ILESSEY--CAZENOVE.—On the 24th inst., at ChristChurcll2
Battersea, Captain William Henry Hessey, of the Diadran
Staff Corps, to Louisa, the daughter of Philip Cazanovet
Esq., of Claphana-common.
Deaths.

ALLEYNE.—On the 24th inst., at Clifton, Henry
Alleyne, of Exeter College, Oxford. eldest surviving sou
of O. T. Allq ne, Esq., of the Island of Barbadoes, aged
20. Wy ndhaza
ALLEN.—On the 21st inst., at Hammersmith,
gory Anne,
wile of J. W. Allen, Esq., of 37, Strand, aged 49.
AUSTIN.—On the 21st ult., at Chambly, L. Canada, Char•
lotte, wife of Lieut.. Col, Thomas Austen.
HopE.—On the 23d inst., at Holly-hill, Hants, Admiral
Sir Henry Hope, K.C.8., aged 77.
MILLARD.—On the 21st inst., at Tunbridge-wells, Edvid.
Millard, of London House, aged 36.
SeiNx.—On the 23d inst., at Dundee, Captain John Spine
aged 77.
SENVELL.—On the 24th inst., Richard Sewell, Esq., of 63,
Arlington street, Camden-town, aged 11.
—...

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