Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-13


The following Declaration" is contained in tn,
ST. Petersburgh Journal of the 3lst of March, 12tl
of April:)
DECLARATION BY THE GAR.
France and Great Britain have Fat last undisgus
edy departed from the system of concealed hostility
which they had previously adopted against Russia par
uculary by ordering their fleets to enter the Black Sea
The tenor of the explanations given by those Power:
in reference to that proceeding such that the
ton OF the mutual relations existing between them and
the Imperial Cabinet became matter Of course.
The latter result was shortly followed by commune
cation IN which the Cabinets through the medium OF
their respective consus, invited the Imperial Govern
ment to evacuste the Danubian Princpalties within
given term which England fixed at the both of April
and France still more peremptory at the 10Th Of that
month #I.
BY what right did the two Powers thus pretend to
act every thing from Of the two begeren parties
without demanding any thing from the other This is
what they have not thought fit to explain to the Imperial
Cabinet To evacuate the principaes without even the
shadow OF fulhlment by the Ottoman Government Of
the conditions to which the Emperor made the cessation
Of that temporary occupation subordinate to evacuate
them from the fear Of which the latter was the first
to declare while it is actively carrying offensive ope
rations when its own troops occupy fortified point of
Russian territory, was in itself condition inadnissble
in substance. The two Powers placed the condition in
such shape that it became still more unacceptable.
They fixed term Of six days for the adhesion of the I'm
peria Cabinet OF the expiration Of which refusal the
garded as equivalent to declaration of war.
To summons partial in its tenor, practically in
excusabe it insulting in its terms silence was the
only reply compatible with the dignity of the Emperor
The consequence, however, Is that the two Govern
ments have just publicly made ii known that Russia by
her refusal aocede their demand has constituted
herself towasd them in state Of war; the entire repon-
sibity Of which viii rest upon her.
In the presence Of such declarations only remains for
the Emperor to accept the position which has been
signed to him, reserving to himself to employ all the
means which Providence has placed in his hands to de-
fend with energy and consancy the honor the ndepen
dence, and the security of his Empire
Independently of the message by which the cabinet Of
London it's resolution to the two Houses Of
Parliament it has, in supplementary declaration,
planned the motives which induce II to take up arms and
recapulated the origin and the incidents of the ques
ton The Imperial Government thinks it superfuous to
return to discussion this subject All its preceding
documents to 1t to have exhausted the question
The recent memorandum of the 18th Of February pub
lshed the occasion Of the rupture Of diplomatic rea
TONS and which contains up to that point the whole his
torcal exposition of the question: will have suaced to de-
to whom-whether to Russia to the two
rtme Powersbelongs the initiative Of the provocation
and by what fatal chain Of circumstances the false posi-
ton in which their first steps placed the two cabinets led
them on step by STEP to take others still more provoking
Unpreudiced minds will have been able to discover there
all the successive concessions made by Russia for tie
maintenance of peace, before well after the Vienna
note while the increasing exacons of the two courts
gagged them daily and still further in the path
Of war with us. II
The occupation Of the princpalties which is taken
now after the fact pretext for this war; did not pre-
vent the renewal of negotiations. Nor would 1t any
have prevented their continuation rather these nego
iatons would have led to result long SINCE If the
Powers had suddenly without any good reason
petey changed the bases which they themselves had laid
down in the first note concerted at Vienna The obec
ons made by the Porte to certain passages of that note
not sufficient to null the rest The essential sub
stance remained intact and the Imperial Government had
tba I'd
had not contested agreed to- previously any Interior
proposition.
Such was not the case. An attempt made to i'm
pose entirely new conditions upon what had hitherto
been admitted was declared inadmssbe the complaints
of Russia ignored also any claim on its part to
equitable separation and all its counter propositions
rejected without discussion. At the same tire measures
contrary to its rights beigerent Power, colncident
in the Black Sea with the conditions transmitted from
Vienna, were adopted, if to impress character Of
compulson to any adhesion on its part Finally, all
honorable retreat was peremptory cut IN from by an
mperous summons such Russia never before received
within the whole period Of its history even at the time
when at tho head of armed Europe invaded
its territory.
Not being abfe to blind themselves to the insufciency
of the motives for disastrous war, and upon the want
of proportion which exists between its effect and its
cause the two Powers obliged to exaggerate its OBJ
ject by bringing the most vague accusations against
Russia.
They allege that their honor and material
have been attacked projects SIDE Of aggrandze
ment and conquest in Turkey the independence Of the
Porte and even that of other States finally the balance
Of power in Europe which, according them is threat
ended by excessive preponderance.
All these general mputations rest upon foundation
whatever.
We have never attacked the honor of the two courts
f that honor has endangered it has been done by
themselves From the very onset they adopted system
Of intimidation which failed matter Of course. They
made it point honor to obige Russia to bend TO them
md because Russia would not consent to her own hui
initiation they say that they hurt in their moral
dignity.
Materially their interests have not been attacked by
US either They can only be so by the which they
wish gratuitousy wage against On the contrary,
they who endanger interests much seriously
by attacking us in the North and in the South in
ports, and on different points of our coasts.
The policy of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT and conquest which they
attribute to Russia has been reued by all her acts since
1875 or her neghbors in Germany and in the North is
there one who during the last forty years. has had to
complain Of attack of attempt at attack
upon the integrity of his possessions:
With respect to Turkey, although have been OF
with her. the peace of Adranope exists to attest the
moderate use have made of success; and since
then at two intervals the Ottoman empire has been
saved by US from imminent ruin.
The desire of possessing Consantinople that empire
should fall and the intention of forming permanent
there have been publicly, too soemny
for any doubts to be entertained that SUBJ
ect that do not originate in disrust which nothing
can cure.
The results will shortly show whether the Powers or
Russia have struck the most fatal blow not only against
the independence but against the existence Of Tur
key As price for the interested services given to her.
she has already renowned by treaty the distinguished
privilege Of every independent Power that Of making
peace or declaring war; atits free will Mt the moment
and on the Conditions it may itself deem most advisable