Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-11-29

and security. This question of paramount
importance; and recommend the general as
sembly to declare, firmly and decidedly, that
we shall require the compromises of the Con-
stitution to be observed in good faith, on the
part of the North, and that North Carolina
knows her rights, and will maintain them.n
THE wAR--A NEW OPENING OF THE
QUESTION.
The last news brought from the seat of war
though not possessing, at first sight, any extra,
ordinary character, bears, in our opinion, very
serious aspect. Thus, whilst it changes the ex-
pectations Of Europe, whilst it raises the rather
declining prospects Of the Russian empire to
an unexpected height, it has, on the other
hand, as a consequence, an immediate and
twofold effect upon the present state Of affairs
on the continent. Those effects consist in an
appeal to the resources of France and Eng
land, in men and money, a thing which a peo-
pie never gives without asking for more priv
leges. Those privileges are always obtained
to the prejudice of the constituted authorities
Of the State and have natural tendency to
modify the balance of powers. The second
effect is to engraA more deeply the state
of war among the nations already engaged,
and, as q natural consequence, to take from
the country the laboring man and the
wealth he produces; to impair commercial
intercourse; and to cause change in the mu.
tual relations Of trading communities. Finally,
to give to diplomatic relations an abrupt and
unexpected conclusion. The empires Of Prus-
STA and Austria, the first bound to Russia by
family ties, the other wavering between two
shoals, the ambition Of Russia and the re-
volt of the Hungarians, evidently inclining to-
wards submission to the former, will pro-
nounce themselves, and take decided stand at
the, first success Of the Car. Besides this, the
nations that have not yet taken position in
the contest, would undoubtedly have to do So
if the Eastern war should take national char
acter; that is to say, if the allies were to be
checked in their progress. Our reason for this
belief is this: the most striking features Of the
present contest are not as many people think,
in the success of the allies, but in their defeat
We incline to the opinion, that two ma
tons as vain as the French and as proud
as the English would not consent TO peace in
which any of their pretensions would be relin-
pushed. Their susceptibilities, once excited,
might well lead them to make an appeal to
trodden-down nationalities, such as Poland,
Italy, and Hungary, and then the whole weight
of the revolutionary forces would be turned
against the Russian and Austrian Empires.
For we must not forget that the success Of alb
solute power which has taken place in the last
thirty years has only suspended, but not eradi-
Gated, the revolutionary spirit. The elements
are still alive, waiting for their turn, that is TO
say, the weakening of the present powers Of the
continent
This side Of the question, however new il
may appear to some, is, perhaps, not unworthy
Of consideration. The person acquainted with
the working Of the revolutionary embers in
some partsof Europe, with the numerous conces-
sions obtained by the British people from the
privileged classes, in late years, with the gen.
eral dissatisfaction and disgust produced by
the present government Of France, are well
aware that these governments keep up together
in virtue of the prosperity, Fictitious, real, Of
the country in which they respectively exist.
But let that prosperity be checked in its course;
let heavy taxes be raised, and commerce dwin-
die down; let national pride be wounded;
then who will answer that the people them
selves will not take in their own hands the
affairs Of the country, the raising Of the taxes,
the revival Of commerce, the yindioation Of
their pride, and operate, if not radical, at
last deep and important changes in the pres.
ent state Of Europe? We think that a pro-
tracted war will inlallibly develop, il not all, at
least some Of the events we have just pointed