The North-Carolinian. [volume] (Fayetteville [N.C.]) 1839-1861, 1854-02-11

latter half will witness and events OF equal
importance. Never before the wars of Napo-
leon had the world beheld such q conflict of
mighty powers, such battling of the hosts of
empires, such consummate military skill, such |
resources and such energy brought to bear in
the dreadful work of war. Then the combined
powers of Europe were arrayed on one side,
whilst France stood almost solitary and alone
on the other. Now, however, France finds her
self side by side with England, preparing to re-
sst the aggression of that mighty leviathan OF |
the North which seeks to lave its sides in the
Arctic seas the one hand, and in the Medl- |
tcrranean on the other. Russia has long ar
dently desired to become a great naval power.
Her situation, and want Of good ports, has pre-
vented the accomplishment # this cherished OBJ
ject. Casting around her for the means of sup I
plying this deficiency, her greedy eye has fas- I
tened upon the splendid harbor of CONSTANT |
nople. Her policy has for a long time been
tending towards the acquisition of this impor-
tant point. It was the cherished object Of the
Emperor Alexander, thebrother and immediate
predecessor of the present Car. Had Napo-
leon Bonaparte fa1Ien with his views ID this
particular, Russia would not have gone over
to England, and the alliance ratified ut Tilsit
between France and Russia would not have been
broken. Napoleon we'll knew that if the Gar
was permitted to absorb Turkey, Russia would
become great naval power, and soon acquire
such an overwhelming prepondcrance in Euro
pean affairs, as utterly to abrogate everything
like balance of power. He therefore, wisely
resisted the overtures of the Gar. The present
war between Russia and Turkey is but the
legitimate consequence of the grasping policy
of the former. Every indication tends to show
that it will not be confined to the two powers
Immediately concerned. England and France
have been attempting the part of medators,
until their patience is we'll nigh exhausted.
They seriously aud energetically pre-
pairing for tremendous struggle. The advices
by the Arabia confirm the intelligence of great
battle at Ctale in which the Turks were victori-
Gus, the Russians losing four thousand men.
The effect of the news of this disaster upon the
Car Nicholas, can scarcely be expected to be
favorable to peace. His nature is proud, his
will is strong, his resources for carrying on the
| war considerable. 1t is natural therefore that
he should be unwilling to make peace under
| circumstances we'll calculated to destroy the
prestige of Russian arms and to weaken the in-
fuence of Russia among European powers.
Moreover, the fleets of England and France
entered the Black Sea on the 5th of January,
for the avowed purpose of protecting the Tur
ksh conveys. How can the Car regard this
but as an interference in behalf of Turkey
Will he make peace in the face of such interfer-
ence? The thing is improbable. We look upon
a general European War certaia. Austria
and Prussia have put the semblance of neu-
| l,,,% l>oo IN TO ?
They are known to be very much under Rus
sian influence, and the history of the first part
of the present century shows how difficult it is
for feeble nations to preserve their neutrality
amidst the shock of strong contcndng powers
on either hand. We may, therefore, confident
ly expect general European war. in which the
leading powers on the one hand will be France,
England and Turkey, and on the other, Russia,
Prussia and Austria. The invincible fleets of
England and France will sweep from the ocean
the commerce of their enemies, and will leave
the fortune of war to be decided on land.
Amidst the general melee, we may look too for
an uprising of the people in Hungary and in Po-
land, and in the Austrian provinces in Italy.
But to us the most interesting question of all
connected with this subject is, what will be the
effect upon this country of a general European
war? Fortunately the great naval powers of
Europe, England and Francc-are ranged on
the same side. We may, therefore, not fear any
serious interruption of commerce, in a way like
ly to affect our interests. The looms of Eng
land and France will continue to require our
cotton, though perhaps to diminished
tent, and the mouths of England, cut off from
the supplies of grain ordinarily received from
Prussia and Russia must be supplied mainly by
this country. We may expect the price of
breadstuffs, therefore, to keep up. Under the
stimulus of the present high prices the produc-
tion will be vastly increased, and wealth will
pour in upon the great grain growing sections
of our country. 1t is feared by many that the
effect of general European war will be injur-
Gus to the cotton interese. Should the price of
cotton fall too low to make its production pro-
ftable the South has abundant channels into
which its industry may be eadvantageously direct
ed. The production of eugar could be greatly in
creased in Florida, Texas and the other Gulf
States whilst the pine forests of North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida offer
inducements quite sufficient to absorb all the
surplus labor of those sections respectively.
Moreover grain growing country the South
is not surpassed by any region in the world. We
have, therefore, abundant reason to copgratu-