Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-07-28
Correspondence of the National Intel
ligencer.

-
The free nationalitieS in Europe are too few to
allow a lover of freedom 10 see them threatened
with diminution without earnest protest and Ser-
GUS regret. In the West of Continental Europe
there are Belgium and Piedmont; and i'll the East,
MOIdavia and Wallachia are full of promise. BEL
GUM and Piedmont, after long and severe strug-
giles, and after having been the battle-felds of
Europe, for the present settled and in the en-
joyment of constitutional liberty. For the present
they are unthreatened, and the war which may
soon deSolate Eastern Europe will keep Belgium
safe from the designs of France, and Piedmont
from the hostility of Austria, for the present: But
the Danubian municipalities, wi ich, having passed
through "thrce fiery furnace of tribulation,''
might now hope TO settle down in a position which
might enable them to contribute an u:eful influ-
ence TO the deStinieS of Europe are threatened
with serious attack upon their liberties and an
awful retrogreSSon in their late and present path
Of progress. Unfortunately, there is no sympathy
between them and either their Northern or South
ern neighborS. Invaded by Russia from the North,
they will be the battle grOund between the Czar
and the Sultan, war will deSOate their fruitful
fields, and military CONSUMPTION and contribution
consume their population and their produce. 1t
is time these countries should rest They enter
European history in the second century, when they
were conquered by the Emperor TRAJAN. The
conqu-ror having brought civilization with him,
and the inhabitants were ConSolcG for the less of
their rude independence by the benefits which
their victors conferred. S5on, however, the
GothS swept away all traces of refinement; for
AuEELIAN, although at first their protector, LETT
them at last prey to their rude invaders. Then
the possession OF Dacia WIS alternately between
Constantine and the GothS and Huns, every Tier
nation deluging the country with blood; and, dur
ing tw o hundred years of warfare which succeeded,
the barUaranS, whether conquerorS conquered,
spread misery around them. The Huns, the LINN
baIds, the AvarS, the MaygarS, the Byzantine
Empire, and the TartarS all fought their battles
upon this devoted SOIL At last the PrncipalitieS
were founded in the 14th century.
The Turks have, from the 5th century to the pres
ent time, exercised various degrees of power
their lands. and sometimes their rule has been of
the S4vereSt kind. For few years the Principal
tiles have enjoyed peace, and the inhabitants have
turned their attention TO objects of peaceful pro-
greSS Such Is the fertility of the soil and the ca
pabity Of the country that tie advaI ce which has
| been made has astOmiShed all travellers who have
visited them, and given rise to an apparently well
grounded hone that continuation in peace would
IN a comparatively short time, enable the PriEcI-
palitieS 20 take rank among European natOnal!tlgS
Their commerce is rapidly increasing, education IS
extending, and consequently prejuIices diminish
| ing. Their material and moral wealth has aug
mented 10 an extent which could scarcely be i'm
| agined by those who understand correctly their
condition century ago. They are, indeed q
promising cry for the future development OF
civilization in Eastern Europe. But fear the
die is caSt-that the Emperor of Russia has given
orders TO his troops TO invade NlOldavia, in viola
ton of diplomatic declarations that the ''mtegrltY
|
enclose copy OF the Emperor'S proclamation, is
| sued at st. PeterSburgh on the Goth uitImo; and
the news of the mOTninp is that the Russians were
in the act of crossing the Pruth on the 26th inst,
and would probably enter JusSy, the capital OF
Nodavia, on that day. They would so far cm-
counter no armed opposition. The modern Daci-
ans are not the warlike race witch successfully
combatted the armies of Darius and Alexander
the Great. But She army o! MOidIva numbers
only $500 men; that Of WalIachia 1900. by the
Ali key
should not maintain military forces in the Pr'nc
paltieS; and thus has the diplomacy of RuSsia
placed the Sultan in the anomalous position Of
owing protection TO provinces where he has ngitl-
er soldiers nor fortreSSeS. Thus, all probability,
the passage of the Pruth has become fact What
are tie consequences to be! The Car Las made
i move, the Sultan must make the next. he must
either regard the invasion of the l'nnciPaliteS as
a c1SuS bctLi, or view it with indifference. He
cannot do the latter. His Ministers have hitherto
evinced exalted patriotism, blended with wisdom
and noble moderation. They will probably judge,
in this new position of their country, that their
strength is i'll their right, understood and support
ed it is, neither active nor tactly, by the Opln
| ion of Europe. The Gar has declared that he
does not cross the Pcuth TO make war. Ii is not
likely that the Sultan will cross the Danube 10
make war upon him. Neither on the other hand,
will he for nome Mt recognize the Legality of the
EmneroIs proceedings. Beyond all doubt, we
think, the Porte will officially proclaim her Situ-
alton 10 the Powers which signed the treaties of
1871; those Powers will then have formal Cogni-
zance of the question, and probably negotiations
will commence, under their auspices, if not it'll
| their direct aid, and may yet be aveTed.
We do not think that the unity of counselS and
| purposes between England and France can be
iu!ly credited at St. Pele-SbuTgh. Differences are
said to have existed to the couISe 10 be purSu
ed in certain eventuaIitieS, not only between the
Two Governments, but also in the respective Cab
IneS OF London and Paris. 1t has been said, with
out disguise, that Russia has her paruSanS in both.
| VI. FOULD has been stated TO lie opposed C France,
considering the military occupation OF the Princi-
patIeS as declaration of war. And 1t is conf
IDENTIFY asserted that the head Of the English Cab
met, and others of It's members, have aSSened 10
some Of the counsel which the British AmbaSSa-
dor at ConStanlinOple has been instructed 10 give
| to the rarkiSh Cabinet. No doubt NICHOLAS is
we'll posted III these matters, and he will now per
hapS hesitate to believe that, upon the Porte de-
| caring the invasion OF the PrlnclpahtieS 10 he a
e1sus bclH, the united fleet of France and England
will pass the Dardanelles, to protect Constantine
Dle and to give battle 10 the opponents OF Turkey
| on the BosphoruS and the Black Sea. Public o.
pinion would, under any circumstances, rend=I it
| impossible for any Government in France or Eng
| land 10 remain passive Ill the presence OF such a
course as that which Russia had adopted against
| Turkey; but, as the really stands, the public
sense of national honor deeply pledged for the
preservation of Turkey, puts hesitation out of The
qu estion. The Porte refused Prime MENScmIkoFF' S
| demands by the advice of Lord STRATFoRK and NJ.
! De La CoUR, aud i'll reliance on the assurances CT
both that England and France would never con-
sent TO any further encroachment of Russia on
either side of the Danube. That encroaclment
has now been made. Will it be repelied? Tn
doubleday it will, unless prevented by immediate,
vigorous, and successful mediation or diplomatic
| arro ngement. The last from Constantine
ple is that the Turkish fleet, consisting of thirty
four sail is moored in the Bay Of Beyukdere; that
1.-The English and French fleets, together twenty
seven in number, are in BeSIka Bay, each expect
ing a reinforcement OF four OF fl e slips; that
French and Prussian officers have proceeded 10
Varna and Shuma, to supern.end operations, and
that great enthusiasm exists in every portion OF the
Turkish capital aud empire. One Ship-of the line,
two lrigates,- and $4,000 men are daily expected
from Egypt. The papers of this morning stale. ac-
cording to letter from Constantinople, dated June
%, that advices from the Dabubian provinces to
the Goth instant announce that MENsCnrKoFF, since
his dennInre. has never auitted Sebasonol. Gener-