Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-07-29

crossed the Pruth, and proceeded 70 occupy Two ~
che Danubian Municipalities Under these circum- I
stances the following account of the Danuban PTin-
cipalities and the relation Turkey and Russia hold
toward them cannot fail to possess considerable ln-
terest to the reader:
To the eastward of Hungary intervening between
the land of Kossuth and the land of the Car lies
Moldavia 1t constitutes on the map. sort OF pro-
monotorv or arm reaching up into the dangerous
neghborhood of Russia, along the banks OF the
Pruth from the pr int where that estuary dlschar-
ges into greater food of the Danube. Many years
ago before the Russians had discovered the superb
or value of diplomacy means of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
over the old fashioned way OF big armies and posi-
tive hard knocks, Bessaraba formed most flourish
ing part of Modavia, afording it coast on the
Euxine and a river line the Danube. In the
year 1872 it was annexed. forcibly, to the domin-
ions of the Emperor Alexander. So the Moldavla
OF to-day is entirely inland touching Poland upon
the NORTH Russia upon the east, Pennsylvania at the
west, and Wallachia at the south; and covering q
surface of about 1000 square mies--an area about
equal to that of Massachusetts, and Vermont put to-
gether. Crowded together closely on this soil live
consider ably more than 1.4l9 los people, of Slavic
origin the census of 1885, which affords these
figures being the latest of which we have informa-
ton. Jassy is the capital city.
Wallachia lies at the south of MOdavia and Tran
sylvania, reaching from Serva at the west, in Bull
garia upon the south and east Its area is pretty
nearly $4,000 square miles, not varying materially
from that of South Carolina. Its NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
boring more than two millions and half of souls
are extremely composite body; a large body ira
cling their origin distinctly to the Roman Military
Colonies established along the Danube by Traan and
his successors; others, remountng to the early
Greeks; vast body owning Sclavic af6nities; and
the rest made up of throngn,g, busy Turks, Jews
and Gipsies. Bucharest is the capital
Servia, the third of the Principalities, is about
equal in superficial extent to Modavia, and con-
tans million Of inhabitants. The principal town
is Belgrade.
The religion of these three provinces is the same
as that of Russia; and so are their chronological al
fnies Political events have, however, served to
weaken the tie. From the earliest historical period
since the fall of the Western Empire, Moldavia,
Wallacha and Servia have maintained a condition
of quasi independence. The inhabitants elected
their own princes, and managed their own internal
afairs. Fealty was always acknowledged to some
neghboring power, security in the event of war
| but there was always STERN and generally sue
cessfu contest whenever the lord stretch
ed his authority far as to interfere with popular
privileges. Down to the period of the reformation.
the crown of Hungary the one TO which the
Principalites did homage. The victories of Soly-
man, the Magnificent however, transferred the SUI
premacy to the Porte, and right willingly the
transfer accepted by the people, who found the
Turkish protectorate ample security against the
Muscovites. Cossacks, and other troublesome neigh
bors with scrupulous regard to religion and estab
lshed privileges and usages.
For the two succeeding centuries, the Extra Dan
OPlan provinces enjoyed Cner rights WlbnOuG mOle5
tatOn. Then, however, the Porte asserted his all
thority to appoint the hospodars,' the chiefs
called and thenccforward these positions were
sold upon speculation to rich Greeks of Constantine
pie, who used their power in accumulating rapic
princely fortunes. This state of things was borne
very impatiently until the commencement of the
present century. The internal commissions of Tur
key, and the general instruction of the Greeks al
the South, encouraged similar movements along the
Danube. The Car, in his paernal tenderness fol-
the Sclave race, ready with substantial backing
He assumed the protectorate of the three provinces
He dictated the terms of accommodation finally
agreed upon-namely, that the princes should be
Indigenous, elected by the people, accepted by Rus
sia and not excepted to by the Porte, without sufi
cient cause humbly shown to the court of st Pc
tersburg that Turkey should pay the ex
penses of the Russian occupation of the
two principalities, and that Russia should re-
main in possession until payment made
The suppositon was that Turkey could no
procure the necessary sum, 100000 of ducats, anc
that the Russian lien must presently be converted
into entire possession But the money forth
coming leaving no excuse for prolonging the oc
cupation. All these provisions contained il
the treaty of Adrianople, in 1929. The Russian
protectorate was formally renounced in 1884. Thu
remuneration only formal. The actual authori
ty has remained in the court of st. Petersburg
Weary of its arrogant pretentons and of the rigiC
despotsm exercised under the guise of friendship
? the Moldo Walachians took part in the revolution
: the principalities army of 900 men. Eng
! land, France Austria and Prussia, who were joint
pledged to resist any of Russia inconsistent wit
e the independence of Turkey stood silent while tn
outrage was perpetrated. The liberal movemen
d was promptly quelled Turkey was obliged, by tn
treaty of Calta- Liman, to pay the expense of thi
violation of her own soil
Possession retained until the payment was &C
tually made and it ony in 1851 that the Rus
/ slams actually withdrew from Moldavia These event
have almost completely annihilaed the old popula
liking of the Principaltes for the Gar. They hav
penetrated his selfish aims They have had tast
of the quality of rule they 10 expect when trans
fered from one government to the other. They fore
the termination of their present elective privileges
They look back with regret to the comparatively haE
py condition of things before Russia had ever inter
posed, and recognize in the generous and progressiv
h policy OF the Sultan guarantees of a future whic
- Russia cannot offer them for centuries at least.
: course, where people is disposed, the occupao
of their territory is equivalent to an act of conquest
That the Gar hungers for the opportunity 10 max
: the Danube the line of his territory Turkey ware
d there be doubt His relations with these pei
pie for the earlier portion of the century hos
: of fellow whstling off neighbours dog. Every e
fort made to conciiate the and fasten III
d boyards. 1t was only when the popular temper di
closed itself five years ago, decidedly al
tocracy, that the real purposes of Russia stood col
k fessed The present invasion is very far from we
:, come. II was of the Russian schemes 10 releas
e the MOldo-W alachians from all obligation to mtar
service contribution behalf of the Sultan thu
in effect dlsarmng the people in such emergencies {
the present. But the Porte is at least assured of Ell
tire neutrality and what with his regular forces ar
the teUee en- dSSe, set half million of well drill
ed fighting men in the field. These, if the occup
e ton of MoIdavia be viewed belii, will
= amp able to drive the Russians beyond the Fruit
If Having no contest with the population, there will
that bo