Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-01
rHg EUROPEAN QUESTION.


On scanning our letters and newspapers received
by the last steamer, and comparing the information
they bring with what had been already given to our
readers, We find nothing contradictory of the view
of the Turco-Russian quarrel which the Intelli-
gencer had presented editoriay and in its Partisan
correspondence They were in hourly expectation
in the French capital, at the moment Of our last
letter, OF learning what reception had been given
by the Car to the modification which the Porte
ventured to make to the note of settlement that L.
sued from the Conference Of Vienna; but the re-
spouse OF the Emperor had not reached Paris when
the steamer left Liverpool
AS the Moniteur had officially declared that the
amendments of the Sultan to that note were
without Importance" none Of the French Jour
mails were bold enough to maintain the contrary.
Some OF them were silent but most of them. and
especially the Government ones, with the facility
OF Poonius, swear that the notifications of the Sui
tan are : Ike camel, or are "backed like wea-
sci, or :" very like whale" according as it may
please the NoaiteRr to assert As we have pub
llshcd the official Turkish note on the subject our
readers VIII have seen that in Constaptinople and
the Councll OF the Porte the notifications are deem
ed serious and of prime Importance and we should
| Think that any intAll;eA~. unbiased person who
felt interest enough in the matter to examine the
notifications, would perceive that they are 50. We
are not surprised, therefore, at the confidence 50
generally expressed abroad that the Gar, who said
that the note of Vienna would be satisfactory t
him if accepted without change" by the Sultan
viii now declare, the amendments important Sucl
declaration, and at the same time a withdrawal o.
his troops from the Danubian Principalities, as
though the object of the occupation were attained
would indicate an infrmity Of purpose on the part
of the Russian potsntate of which he has not
hitherto eyinced any disposition, and to which nc
display of force thathas yet been made would seem
sufficient to compelhim
| That the amendments arc not really as unimpor.
tant as is protested by the four mediating Powers
seems to bescounenanced by the extent of THEN
anger against the Sultan, whose dignity and soyer
eighty were summarily disposed of without his con-
currencc in the Vienna note, for undertaking to
exercise the independence Pf demanding modfcu
tions If Independent, he had right to make
them. Ii really unimportant and merely verbal,
why such displeasure at them?
1t strikes US that this exercise Of independence
| by the Sultan has placed tie protecting Powers
two Of them at least---in an embarrassing position
They are doubtless both sincerely disinclined to a
| fragrant war in the East at the present moment
but they would both 90 to war rather than permit
the breaking up Of the Ottoman Empire and the
occupation of Constantinople by Russia. They ap
pretended on the outset that the designs Of tho
Gar had even that extent, and they made in con
cert the adnonitory or minatory naval demonstra
ton and the offer Of protection to the Porte to pre-
vent the realization of those designs Satisfied a:
they now probably are that the Emperor Of Russi'
does not at present at least mediate the territorial
| absorption or " annexation " of European Turkey
they are willing, rather than incur the evils and thu
expense Of war; to allow the Car to carry his ultima
tum although he will thus acquire really importar
. and dangerous, though not decisive and final, az
vantsges. They therefore agreed upon the note
Vienna, which bears about the same relation to u
ultimatum of the Czar that twoscore does to forty
and they advised the Snltan to accept that not
But the Sultan, regarding the terms Of the note
its original form as grave infracton Of his sove
eighty, refuses to sign it and knowing, as he mu
know, his inability to contend singe-handed for h
religion and his empire against Russia he venture
to dare the power Of the Gar, and provoke eve
$ his advance upon Constantinople in open hostility
relying upon this, that in spite Of their dnclin;
ton to war; England and France viii, for their ow
interests sake, come up to his support, rather tia
see Russia crush the Porte and monopolize Turke1
/ The Sultan counts that thus, by the arms of h
, -
Empire will be both maintained. This is pcrhay
sagacious and safe calculation on the part of Il
r Sultan, and this view appears to US to furnish
clue to the motives and probabilities Of the Russ
!, Turkish question