Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-04-18
forrian Sntelliafnte.
"DETAILS m Tile mERMANN.

From the supplement tie London Gazette, March 49,
| The DECLARATION OF WAR.-It is with
deep regret that her majesty announces the
failure OF her anxious and protracted odeayors
1 to preserve for her people and for Europe the
blessings Of peace.
The unprovoked aggression Of the Emperor
OF Russia against the Sublime Porte has been
persisted in with such disregard of consequent
ces, thar, after the rejection by the Emperor Of
Russia Of terms which the Emperor of Aus
tra, the Emperor OF the Freach, and the King
OF Prussia, as well as her majesty, considered
just and equitable, her majesty is compelled, BY
IL sense OF what is due to the honor of her
crown, to the interests of her people, and to the
| Independence of the States OF Europe TO come
| forward in defence of an ally whose territory is
invaded, and whose dignity and independence
are assaulted.
Her majesty, in justification of the course
l she is about 10 pursue, refers to the transac-
tons in which her majesty has been engaged.
/ The Emperor of Russia had some cause OF
complaint against the sultan with reference to
the settlement, which his highness had sane
toned, Of tile conflicting claims Of the Greek
and Latin Churches To IA portion OF the holy
| places Of Jerusalem and its neighborhood. To
the complaint Of the Emperor Of Russia on this
head justice was done; and her majesty's am
bassador at Constantinople had the satisfaction
OF promoting an arrangement to which no ex-
ception was taken by the Russian government.
But while the Russian government repeated
ly assured the government Of her majesty that
the mission of Prince Menschkoff to Constan-
tinople was exclusively directed to the settle
menr Of the question Of the holy places at Je-
rusalem, Prince Menschikof himself pressed
upon the Porte other demands OF far more
serious and important character, the nature Of
which he, in the first instance, endeavored, as
far as possible, to conceal from her majestys
ambassador. And these demands, thus sta
dicusly concealed, affected not the privileges of
the Greek church at Jerusalem, but the posi-
ton OF many millions of Turkish subjects in
their relations to their sovereign the sultan.
These demands were rejected by the spon-
taneons decision Of the Sublime Porte.
Two assurances have been given to her ma.
jesty one, that the mission OF Prince Men
schkof only regarded the holy places; the
other, that his mission would be OF o conciiatory
character.
In both respects her majestys just expecta-
tons we're disappointed.
Demands we're made which, in the opinion
of the sultan, extended to the substitution Of
the Emperor of Russia's authority for his own
over large portion Of his subjects, and those
demands were enforced by a threat; aud when
her majesty learned that, on announcing the
termination OF his mission, Prince Menschikof
declared that the refusal of his demands would
impose upon the imperial government the ne
cessity OF seeking n guaranty by its own
power, her majesty thought proper that her
heet should leave Malta, and, in cooperation
with that Of his majesty the Emperor Of the
French, take up its station in the neghbor-
hood of the Dardanelles.
SO long as the negotiation bore an amicable
character her majesty reirained from any de-
monstration OF force; but when, in addition
| to the assemblage OF large military forces on
| the frontier OF Turkey, the ambassador of Rus
STA intimated that serious consequences would
ensue from the refusal OF the sultan to comply
with understandable demands, her majesty
deemed it right, i'll conjunction with the En-
peror Of the French, to give an unquestionable
proof OF her determination to support the SOW
ereign rights OF the sultan.
The Russian government has maintained
that the determination Of the emperor to occu-
| py the principalities was taken in consequence
Ut the advance of the fleets Of England and
| France. But the menace Of invasion of the
| Turkish territory was conveyed in Count Mes
selrode's note to Reschid Pasha, of the 10Th
| (3lst) May, and restated in his despatch to
Baron Brunow, of the 10th May, list June
which announced the determination OF the EN-.
| peror OF Russia to order his troops TO occupy
the principalities if the Porte did not within a
week comply with the demands of Russia.
| The despatch to her mnjesty's ambassador
at Constantiuople, authorizing him in certain
specified contingencies to send for the British
| fleet, was dated the 3lst May, and the order
sent direct from England to her majestys ad.
miral to proceed to the neighborhood of the
\, ri 9yos dotad tho ~ luna
The determination to occupy the principali.
ties was, therefore, taken before the orders for
the advance of the combined squadrons were
given.
The sultan's minister was Informed that IN
less he signed within week, and without the
change OF word, the note proposed to the
| Porte by Prince Merschikoff, ON the eve of his
departure from Constantinople, the principal.
ties Of Moldava and Wallachia would be occu.
pied by Russian troops. The sultan could not
accede to 50 insulting demand; but when
the actual occupation Of the municipalities took
place, the sultan did not us he might have
done in the exercise of his undoub,ed right,
declare war;. but addressed protest to his
allies.
Her majesty, in conjunction with the sover-
cigns OF Austria, France, and Prussia, has
made various attempts to meet any just de.
mands Of the Emperor of Russia without affect
ing the dignity aud independence Of the sultan;
and had it been the sole object of Russia to
obtain security for the enjoyment by the Chris
tian subjects OF the Porte of their privileges
aud immunities, she would have found it in the
offers that have been made by the sultan. But,
us that security was not offered in the shape Of
a special and separate stipulation with Russia,
| it was rejected. Twice has this offer been
made by the sultan, aud recommended by the
four powers, once by note originally prepared
at Vienna, and subsequently modified by the
Porte, once by the proposal Of basis Of nego.ia-
ton agreed upon at Constantinople on the 3lst
Of December, and approved at Vienna on the
18th Of January, as offering to the two parties
the means OF arriving at an understanding in a
becoming aud honorable manner.
1t is thus manifest that right for Russia to
interfere in the ordinary relations of Turkish
| subjects TO their sovereign, and not the happi-
ness of Christian communities in Turkey, was
the object sought FOR by the Russian govern.