Monongalia mirror. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1855, 1854-03-18

torHeu oI tnls good news, WHeh yo"i
Minister, by explanatory commentaries,
destroyed all the conciliatory effects OF
it, and thus prevented US from insisting
at Constantinople upon its pure aud
simple adoption. The Porte, for its
own part, suggested some notifications
in tho note to which the representatives
of the -Four Powers at Vienna were
not disposed to agree. They were not,
however, agreed to by your Majesty
| |. was then that the Porte, wounded in
its dignity, its independence threatened,
and being compelled to raise an army
to oppose that Of your Majesty, PREFER
ed to declare war rather than remain in
a state Of uncertainty and humility
The Porte had claimed our support;
the cause of the Porte appeared to US
to be a just one, and the English and
French squadrOns were therefore order
ed to the Bosphorus.
Our attitude in reference 10 Turkey
was that of u protector, but ii was pas
sive. We did not incite her to war
We increasingly addressed to the ears
of the Sultan the advice of peace and
moderation, persuaded that this was the
best mode Of coming to an agreement
and the Four Powers consulted together
again, and submitted to your Majesty
some other propositions. Your Males.
ty, on your part, exhibiting the calm
ness which arises from the consciousness
of strength, conten,ed yourself with re-
pulsing from the left bank of the Dam
ube, as in Asia, the attacks of the Turks;
and, with the moderation worthy Of the
chief of great empire, your Majesty
declared that you would act on the de-
fensiye. Up to that period, then, we
were, may say, interested spectators,
but simply spectators of the dispute.
when the affair of Sinope compelled US
to take more decisive part. France
and England had not thought it neces.
sary to send troops to the assistance OF
Turkey. Their flag, therefore, was not
engaged in the conflicts which took
place upon land. But at sea it was ve-
ry different. There were at the en-.
trance to the Bosphorus three thousand
guns, the existence of which proclaim
ed loudly enough to Turkey that the
two maritime Powers would not allow
her to be attacked by sea. The affair
at Sinope was for US as painful as it was
unexpected; for it matters little to US
whether or not the Turks wished to con.
yey munitions of war to the Russian
territory. In fact Russian ships attack
ed Turkish vessels in the waters of Tur-
key, while those vessels were riding
quietly at anchor in a Turkish port
| The Turkish vessels we're destroyed, in
spite of the assurance that there was
no wish to commence an aggressive war,
and in spite Of the vicinity of our squa-
drons. 1t was no longer our policy
which received a check; it was our
military honor. The sound of the can
non shot at sinope reverberated painful,
lily in tho hearts Of all those who, III
England and France, respect national
dignity. There was general partici'
patton in the sentiment that, wherever
our cannon can reach, our allies ought
P t., be respected. Out of this feeling arose
the order given to our squadrons to en-,
ter the Black Sea, and to prevent by
force, if necessary, the recurrence of q
similar event. Thence arose the col
lec,ive notifications sent to the cabinet
Of St. Petersburg, announcing that. i
we prevented the Turks from making
an aggressive war upon the coasts o.
Russia, we would also protectthe Turks
upon their own territory. AS to the
Russian feet, in prohibiting its nayiga'
ton on the Black Sea, we placed it up
on a different, condition, because it wa:
important during the war to preserve {
guaranty equivalent in force to the &C
cupation Of the Turkish territory, ant
thus facilitate the conclusion Of peace
by having the power of making a desi
rable exchange.
Such, sire. is the real result and state
ment of the facts. 1t is clear that, hav
ing arrived at this point, they must eithe
bring about definite understanding Of
decided rupture. .e ;
Your majesty has given SO man!
proofs of your solicitude for the tran
guilty Of Europe, and by your benefi
Gent influence has SO powerfully ares
ted the spirit of disorder, that | canno
doubt as to the course you will take il
the alternative which presents itself t
your choice. Should your Majesty b
as DESTROYS as myself of pacific con
clusion, what would be more simpl
than to declare that an armistice shal
now be signed; that things shall resum
their diplomatic course; that all hos
tilities shall cease; and that the bsllig
erent forces shall return from the pla
ces TO which motives of war have LEI
them? nN
Thus the Russian troops would aban
don the Principalities andour squadron
the Black Sea. Your Majesty, PREFER
ing to treat directly with Turkey, Nigh
i M