Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-31
L0UnoE:
tuesday ::::::::;:::::::3 Jan. 81. 1854
From the London Times of December %.

INST Ii is already known that these comrnuli-
cations had been received at Constsutinople on
the 10Th that Radschid Pasha had been indu-
eed by the representatives of the -Four Powers
TO give them has support, and that they were to
ne taken into consideration by the Divan 4 few
Gays after communication. received through
rams, bat asyet unconfrmed, it is stated that the
Great Council had, on the 18th inst, authorized,
the Turkish ministers to open negotiations
The questions put to the Porte by the Colec-
tive Note, are, in fact, two--Whether the Sui
tan will consent to treat for peace at confer
ence to be held with the -Four Powers and Rus
STA; and what are the terms of peace required
Thy Turkey, in the event ofthe opening of such a
negotiation? 1t is probable that the. Turkish
ministers will insist on the evacuation of the
Prlncipallies as preliminary to negotiation,
but as IT is condition precedent which evident
.iy could not be enforced, it is hoped that the
Porte will content itself with a formal assurance
that the restoration of those provinces form in
the eyes of all the powers an indispensable con-
dition of peace. In other respects, Turkey
will name her terms of peace, subject of course,
% future discussion, but we hope the Porte will
not overlook the Importance Of pledging all
Central and Western Europe to her territorial
security, by adopting the spirit of the confer
ence to which she is invited. for though the
Porte may have but littleconfdence in tie sue
cess of such negotiations, she loses nothing in
dignity, and rather strengthens her cause in the
eyes of Europe by allowing them to proceed.
But we DO not conceal from ourselves that
the real obstacles TO any Beneficial result from
the propositions lie scih Russia end are not
likely TO be reptOced. The protocol of the Four
Powers records and assumes as an indisputable
fact that Russia has repeatedly expressed her
readiness to treat, and that the assurances Of
the court of st. PeerSburgh, are in this respect,
to be believed; but we have no reason to sup
pose that these assurances are worth more than
the declarations Russia has repeatedly broken:
and, if the language of the Russian State papers,
be carefully examined, viii lie found that
she has constantly evaded the recognition of
any European rights in this question, or the au-
thority of any conference at all. Her policy
has uniformly been to tie the Porte down by
separate conventions to concessions giving her
an exclusive right Of interference; and, though
she has failed in preventing the Four Powers
from uniting in support Of the principles on
which peace might be restored, we have ceased
to believe that more representations will suffice
to carry those principles into effect. Moreover,
the progress ofthe war, the vast extent Of hos
tilities or hostile preparations now in active pro-
gress, AMI the passions, religious and national,
excited by the contest, efectBa}ly exclude the
idea 0 { az Grmistjcc and hare rendered Rego-
tuition far Tess practicable than It has 6sen ct
aHy precious MON eat. If the emperor of Rus
STA had desired peace he has had ample faci-
ties to insure it; but every day brings Us fresh ev
dence that he has ayailed himself of these pre-
texts chiefly to keep in check his most formida-
bic opinions, to carry on his own plans of ope
ration, and to bring the whole question in the
spring to more positive issue.
The Austrian government, already beginning
to find that the hopes Of pacifcation have come
too late, and that the time for energetic meas
.ures is at hand, has published in the official
correspondence which is prepared at Vienna
under the eyes of the Minister, a mean and
drivelling article dictated, to all appearance, By
the Russian embassy. After stating that the
-Four Powers are endeyoring to effect by pacific
measures and moral influence the restoration of
peace, the Austrian Cabinet expressly denies
that lit has assumed less friendly or menacing
attitude towards Russia, and declares that
she has not IN The least renowned her f,lepdly
sentiments t0UardS her allied Reiqhbor, and loiU
not hare to reRounce them IN future" The ar
tiele adds, that the intimate friendship between
these two great mOnarchs is the surest guarantee
for the peace of the world and for the conserva-
tive interest Of Europe. The appearance Of
this declaration at Vienna at such moment is
we fear, an evident proof that the independent
portion of the Austrian Cabinet is unable to
hold its ground and that degree of pressure has
been applied which the eneebled empire can
not resist. The ink is scarcely dry on the pro-
tocol of the 5th of December when the Cabinet
of Vienna are ready to repudate It's spirit, and
to defeat the influence it might have exercised
on Russia. We have not to learn anything Of
the fahlessness of that Court all history is full
Of it; but, if the conduct of Austria opposes
herself to the general interests of Europe in
this conjuncture, and thereby greatly extends
the disastrous effects of this repture, she may
rely upoH IL that on her o1ca dcmiaioRs tie first
and heaciest retribUtion mag fall.
On the North of Europe the influence of
Austria is based on dynastic intrigues, opposed
to the true interests and desires of the people.
Thus in Sweden we learn from good authority
that attempt has been made by a mandate
irem st. Petersburg to engage the Court in
ms eQntest with view to closing the Swed-
lsh Pora. and eventually the Baltic itself. a.
gainst English and French vessels. The
SweedS are Saant people, stoutly opposed to
the influence OF Pussia, which has already rob
bed them of Finland, and is even now pressing
into its service, by lane and sea. men whose
forelathers served in the ranks of Grstavus
Adolphus and Charles XII. Yo them and to
the Danes maintenance of neutrality and indie
pendence is of vital interest; but if that becomes
impossible, their existence as freemen depends
on the preservation of their ancient alliance
with the maritime Power The king of Sweden
recognized in his speech from the throne the
Importance of defending the independence of
the country, and we trust that he will not be-
tray 1t to Russian cOunSels.
Hthese thing are already beginning to man
ifest themselves in Europe. the policy Is
pursued with equal activity in Asia, and there
it is obviously directed against the interest of
he British empire. Persia has fallen under
he yoke. and the troops which once followed
the standard Of the SophiS are now to be led by
n Russian general against the Turks, and to
display in provinces already wrested from their
own empire their zeal in defence of the "Or-
thodox Greek faith" In Affghanistan we hear
ola renewal of the intrigues ofl83S, with which I
we had to contend when first we encountered
the hostility of Russia in Central Asia, and
even the distant expedition to Khiva is report
edto be renewed.
If we place these facts in the scale and weigh /
them against the Russian assurances that the (
Emperor Nicholas is ready to treat for peace,
all such declarations will stand for very little, /
and we must look to other NODES of arriving
at the termination Of his dispute The course |
to be pursued by the Maritime Powers it now
clear and straightforward, and instructions are
on the way to Constantinople which will cause |