The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-02-02
FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE OF THE ERA

To the Editor of tie National Era.
Foreign news for the week past has been
little else than ropetitions, even verbatim of
the same correspondence dated severally Wen
ma, Bucharest, Constantinople, Paris. To ex-
tricate the latest and latent meaning from it,
and separate the rumors and partisan political
inventions from the truths, is somewhat of a
task; but We seem to arrive at two or three
facts of Importance, which still leave the whole
issue dependent on the sic volo of the Russian
Car. On the 26th ult. the Turkish Govern
nent gave its assent in effect, to the proposition
of the Four Powers, for the opening Of confer
ence, on neutral ground, at which plenipotentia-
ries of Russia and Turkey should assist in tho
connection of a solid peace. AS the first Vienna
note began with Petersburgh, so the second has
las if by way of clear balance) begun with
ConstantinOple, and before or about this date it
will have been officially presented to the En-
peror Nicholas, though he has no doubt been
previously made acquainted with its main fea-
lures and purposes Had nothing interviewed,
it would have been question whether he
might accept the mediation, or reject it, as the
Turks rejected the former offer; bot mean
while the murder0us catastrophe of Sinope has
been enacted, and greatly changed the position
OF Franco and England in regard to their Turk
ish alliance and protection. OF this, both Gov
ernments lost no time in declaring their deter
mined opinion, and despatching to the aggressor
what may be termed an ultimatum of war
like character, and announcing measures of a
very unpalatable nature to the ambitious and
naughty Autocrat. Thus there are two stimu
lants at work, the ono tending pacifcally tho
other warlikely; an emollient and blister al
most oontemporaneously. How we'll they ope-
rate singly, Or conjunctively, raises q new field
for conjecture, and will probably initiate new
course of proceedings of which some strange
indications are already on the surface The
fret marked symptom is that Austria though
party to the unitod declaration of what Eu-
ropo required as basis for peace declines any
idea of enforcing the right beyond what can be
done by friendly coed Offices
She will plead with Russia separately, and
persuade, if she can but she will not JOIN the
Western Powers in restraining the war, nor
cmbroil herself with the repression of Russian
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. A present contest has more
terrors for her than the prospect of virtual
prostration Of her Empire by Russian conquests
towards the South--or she may, in her secret
mind rely on the strength of England and
France to prevent this evil, without compro-
missing herself by assisting them Prussia.
being the least interested in the struggle of all
the great Powers, with more reason pronounces
for perfect neutrality; and Denmark and Swe-
den have concluded a treaty adopting the Same
line of conduct, and cndeavoring to free them
selves from the danger of being drawn into the
vortex apparently impending over the world.
1t almost maddens common sense and humari-
ty, to think that all the threatened bloodshed,
confusion, and horror, is in the headstrong will
and passions of one mortal man. Heavens
bolts do not fall on such heads, but heavens
justice will claim retribution! The ghosts of
Sinope will not scare the despot, but he is
bringing on the conflict which will wreck all
rule such as his. Tho mighty problem of
popular Government might be happily solved
and great sovereigns and prosperous nations
result from tho solution; but if treacherous
and lawless vilany bring the matter to proof,
as the conduct of Russia is now forcing it on
the terrible fight must and will be fought amid
oceans Of blood, and many Nicholas If there
ore such) will be hurled to tho destruction they
have earnod by provoking and fastening the
fatal antagonism. We may depend upon it.
that Europe will never submit to be Cossacked
and the only other end of the struggle must
be liberal government, on republican, constitu-
tional, or well-arranged mOnarchical princi-
Piles.
On the foreign affairs, need only add, that
the foundation of the Protocol shall we call
it0 now on the tspis, was laid by Lord Can
ming dc Redclyffe, and was adopted by the four
Powers. 1t did not emanate from them; and,
it is likely, will be presented to the Gar under
the friendly auspices of Austria and Prussia
rather than embarrassed by the threatening
attitude which Sinopc has caused the WesteI
States TO assume.
A report of an action at Kalafat is unworthy
of credit; and, indeed all the intelligence re-
in, EpnlarA &c lioh 10, 4
Winter is the arbiter at present and armies
cannot march In masses, in any direction; SO
that everything resembles the lady's hands,
who, having been a cook before marriage did
not think it beneath her dignity to look to the
kitchen little when there was company and
on some one exc!aiming, jocularly, between the
courses "horrid pause" took the aifront per-
sonally, and retorted, Horrid paws, indeed if
you had attended to the cooking as did, your
paws would be horrid, tool"
The severe storm We arc now undergoing
will not be without considerable influence ON
the affairs of the world. In France it renders
more critical the efforts of tho Government TO
supply the capital with bread at q moderate
price. Paris crowded with laborers and labor
by the weather, greatly aggravates
the difficulty of its position, and puts the erro-
neous policy adopted TO very severe trial In
the provinces, also, the high price of the neces-
saries of life engenders popular discomfort, and
affords room for those eonspiracies which are
awlays smouldering in this volcanic ccun-
try. But never mind; there was maguif- |
cent reception at the Tuilerics on New Years |
lay, when all the male sex wore their most |
brilliant uniforms, and the fair creation such |
nantles as never covered their lovely shoulders
before. The Empress's train was ten feet in |
ength; and the ceremony was gorgeous in the |
extreme. Courts are Curious places. Out of
what queer grubs they raise the splendid I'm
age-Buttel flies
In London the inclement season is producing
inconvenience and threatens even
serious evils. Scarcity and high charges mark
every transaction and demand; and the bare
Interruption of sufficient supplies for SO vast
population is producing an extraordinary state