Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-04-28
THE DECLARATION OF
WAR.

II is with deep regret that Her
Majesty announces the failure of her
ANXIOUS and protracted endeavors TO
preserve TO her people and for Eur
ope the blessings of peace.
The unproyoked aggression of the
Emperor of Russia against the Sub
lime Porte has been persisted in
with such disregard of consequent
ces, that after the rejection by the
Emperor Of Russia of terms which
the Emperor of Austria. the Emperor
of the French, aud the King of
Prussia, as well as Her Majesty.
considered just and equitable, Her
Majesty is compelled by a sense of
what is due the honor of her Crown,
to the interests of her people, and to
the Independence of the States of
Europe. 10 come forward in defence
of an ally whose territory is invaded.
and whose dignity and independence
are assalled.
Her Majesty, in justification Of the
course she Is about TO pursue, refers
to the transactions in which Her
Majesty has been engaged.
The Emperor of Russia had some
cause of complaint against the Sui
tan with reference to the settlement
which his Highness had sanctioned,
of the convicting claim of the Greek
and Latin Churches to a portion of
the Holy Places of Jerusalem and
Ms neighborhood. To the complaint
of the Emperor Of Russia on this
head, justice was done, and her Ma
lesiy's Ambassador at CoDstantinople
had the satisfaction of promoting an
arrangement TO which no exception
was taken by the Russian Govern
ment.
But, while the Russian Govern
ment r,peatedly assured the Govern
ment of her Majesty that the mission
of Prince Menschikoff TO Constaniin-
ople was exclusively directed to the
settlement of the question of the
Holy Places at Jerusalem, Prince
Menschikof himself pressed upon
the Porte other demands of far
more serious and important charac-
ter, the nature of which he in the
first instance endeavored, as far as
possible, to conceal from her Majes-
Tvs Ambassador. And these de-
mauds, thus sludiously concealed,
affected not the privileges of the
Greek Church at Jerusalem, but the
position OF many millions Of Turkish
subjects in their relations 10 their
sovereign the Sultan.
These demands were rejected by
the spontaneous decision OF the Sub
lime Porte.
Two assurances had been given TO
Hei Majesly-one, that the mission
of Prince Meuschikoii only regarded
the Holy Places the other, that ms
mission would be of conclliatory
character.
In both respects Her Majesty's
jus, expectations were disappointed.
demands were made which, in the
opinion of the Sultan, extended to
the substitution of the Emperor of
Russia's authority for his own over a
large portion OF his Subjects, and
those demands were enforced by
threat and when Her Majesty learnt
that, on announcing the termination
of his mission, Prince Menschikoti
declared that the refusal of his de-
mands would impose upon the I'm
perial Government the necessity of
seeking a guarantee by lis own pow 1
or, Hor Majesty thought proper that I
her fleet should leave Malta, and, in
CO cooperation with that of His Males-
ty the Emperor OF the French, take
up It's station in the neighborhood of
the Dardanelles.
So long as the negotiation bore an
amlcable character, Her Majesty re-
Trained from any demonstration of
force. But when, in addition 10 the I
assemblage of large military forces
on the frontier of Turkey, the Am
bassador of Russia intlmated that Sc
rious consequences would ensue
from the refusal Of the Sultan to
comply with unwarraniable demands,
Her Majesty deemed il right, in con-
junction with the Emperor of the
French, 10 give an unquesiionable
proof OF her determination 10 support
the sovereign rights Of the sultan.
The Russian Government has
maintained that the determination of
the Emperor TO occupy the Principal
tiles was taken in consequence Of the
advance Of the fleets of England and
France. But the menace Of The in
yasion of the Turkish territory was
conveyed in Count Nesselrode's
Note TO Redschid Pasha Of the 10Th
(3isO of May, and re-stated in his
despatch TO Baron Brunow of the
goth of May LIST of June, which an
nounced the determination Of the
Emperor Of Russia TO order his
troops to occupy the PrinciPalities, il
the Porte did not within a week
comply with the demands Of Russia.
The despatch 10 Her Msiest,'s