The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-01-30
THE EUROPEAN WORLD.


The Nen-Appearance of the Atlantio-The Designs Of
Russia, Prussia, and Austria, on switzerland
France will hardly Back then-Iouis Napoleon
Acquiring Common Sense-Ths Important Political
Position Of Frnuce-Thc Swift Coming Fu,ure-An
United Prussia-The Schiaves and Magyau-Ihe
Effect OF the Present. Contest Between the Bank
rupt Austrian Government and the Bankers Of vi.
cnna-Imporiani New Elements TO be ranged ON
the Popular side I'm the Approaching Outbreak all
the Continent, nc.
Nrw York CRY, January II, 1851.
To The Editor of the National Era:
The American steamer Franklin reached this
point yesterday, having left Coves on the ID inst
She brings twelve days later Intelligence from
the Old World, her London dates being up to
the day of her departure from the English shore
The fact of most immediate interest to our popu-
lation, communicated through her mails, is, that
the Atlantic tof Collins's line, duly sailed from
Liverpool on her appointed day, for New York
that is on the 2sth ult Allowing her fourteen
days for the trip, which affords wide margin for
incidental and inconsiderable drawbacks and de-
lays, and she should have duly appeared at her
wharf in these waters, on the 18th inst Thus
she has been unaccounted for for six days.
space of time NOW that the steamers in the trade
usually accomplish their long voyages 50 pune
tually as almost to make their time to an hour
as to create very general alarm in the minds of
oil directly interested in her safety. While our
merchants have valuabies worth milton aeon
her. some of our worthost and most respected
citizens are known to be among her passengers.
Her psxs-A {; LIZ X ,s;erse embraces nanles Eu
rope and America honor and value for neither
line have sent steamship across the ocean within
the last year, which failed to have on board per-
sons Of world wide distinction. Those immedi-
ately interested in the vessel are comforting
themselves under the impression that she has
gone to the Azores under a stress Of weather.
But the failure of either of the hourly arriving
vessels from that quarter to report having fallen
in with her, causes our experienced voyagers to
shake their heads ominously when this surmise
for it is nothing more) is mentioned in their
presence. l am sorry, indeed, to have to write
you that scattering men in New York are under
the impression that she has gone, not to the
Azores, but to the bottom.
The news by the Franklin is barren Of events,
yet it is by no means without interest. In the
game of chess for political power going on on the
Continent, no castles have been "taken,D it is
true. But nevertheless, moves, pregnant with
results upon the future positions and prospects
of the antagonistic Observation-Disclosures and de-
mocracy-now at work on the opposite shore Of
the Atlantic are being made hourly, as it were.
The grand council Of titled rutlians have met
at Dresden, to contrive means for depressing and
rendering harmless to sbsolutism, the growing
democratic tendencies of the masses SO far, they
have been content to amuss tho public with cere-
monies, aud the expression Of piofase wishes for
the general welfare, the public good. They con-
descend to declare that all attempts to sbrogate
the plan of the old Bund-the original Confede-
ration of lsl5-have proved injurious to Ger
many-meaning to the absolute power Of its SOW
ereigns. Yet they acknowledge frankly that con-
siderable changes in the present condition polit-
ical of the Federation are absolutely necessary
for its well-being. The English Of this declara-
ton amounts to little more than an assertion that
new chains must be forged, new wrongs-indi-
vidual, class, and national-must be perpetrated,
and new villanies concocted, in the hope of
lengthening if not insuring, the present most
insecure tenure which those who rule in Europe
by the grace of God, hold on power. The public
is permitted to see only so much of the doings of
this precious concave as those willy agents of
absolutism choose. Their most important DELHI
erations and resolves are kept profoundly secret,
according to the invariable custom of those man
aging such consultations on the Continent
IL not already resolved on, they will shortly
come TO the conclusion, to make from half to the
whole of Switzerland on appendage to the king
dom of Prussia, first offering to France the other
half, before voting Prussia the whole, in order TO
induce her (France) to remain quiet, while Prus-
STA takes possession Of what this Council at Dres-
den presents to her, as a sop to console her for
the loss of her honor ia the infamous treaty, or,
should write, royal conspiracy at Olmutz.
There is no sign as yet that France will nibbe
at this bait On the contrary, am led to the
impression from what | read that the French
Government are radically opposed to seeing
Switzerland become another Poland, TO crafty
the covetousness Of Austria, Prussia, and the
Car They manifest no disposition to consent
to have the Cantons sacrificed, by way of hiding
the fact that in the doings at Olmutz, terms were
imposed on Prussia which, being accepted, in
yolyed not only an acknowledgment Of her serf-
dom to Russia but of her inferiority to Austria,
| in the scale of continental Importance. There
remains little doubt that the recent sudden call
ing into the service Of 10000 young conscripts,
which we heard of less than month ago, as hav-
ing been determined on by France, was caused
by the anticipation Of this purpose Of the expect
ed Council at Dresden, to seek IN the partition
OF Switzerland, not only the sggrandizement Of
favored families in the royal circle, but the e1-
tingushment Of the last remaining semblance OF
q continental government out OF France wherein
freeman might venture to promuge sentiments
worthy Of q freeman's heart and head. The
French Ministry, your readers will recoiiecs,
promptly avowed the purpose Of employing these
new levies on their eastern frontier, to watch the
course Of events from position in which they
can protect the rights, interests, and honor Oh
France, In any emergency that may possibly ar
rive in the impending struggle between the 'er-
man millions and their masters The recon-
mendstion Of the President in favor OF the en-
ploymeut Of these new troops in garrison on the
northern aud eastern frontier, satished me thst
the scales had fallen from bis eyes, at least sum
GENTLY to allow him to perceive that honor-his-
toric fame worthy Of the head OF 30 great ma
ton and Government-was to be sought NJ TINS
epoch only in firm adherence to the kepab'icsn
cause, and to the character Of the present french
Government, which impression has been suose-
auently borne out BY Louis Nspoleon's conser-
vatiye specch delivered on the occasion Of the last
celebration Of the anniversary Of his Inaugural
ton. He therein assumes the position that his
path must lie in the way which will prove most
conducive TO the strict administration OF the