Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1854-03-24
Mislellaneo II 8.
The Letter of the Emperor Napoleon
TO The CZar.

We publish translation Of the Emperor
Napoleons letter to :he Emperor of Russia.
1t had been previously reported that such a
letter had been written, but its existence was
afterwards denied. But here is the letter:
PALACE OF THE TuILERIDs,
January 20, 1854.
SIRE: The difference which has arisen be.
tween your Majesty and the Ottoman Porte
has assumed such a grave aspect, that think
1t right myself to explain directly to your
Majesty the part which France has aaken in
this question, and the means which suggest
themselves 10 me in order to avoid the dan
gers which menace the tranquility OF Europe
The note which your Majesty has ust sent
to my Government, and to that of Queen Vic
toria, endeavors to prove that i: was the sys-
tenn of pressure adopted from the commence
ment by the two maritime powers which alone
involved the question if the occupation of the
two Principalities had not suddenly transferred
it from the region of discussion to that Of fac t.
Nevertheless, although your Majesty's
troops had entered Walacha, we advised the
Porte not TO consider thatoccupaton as war
like act, thus proving our extreme desire for
conciliation.-After | had consulted with
England, Austria, and Prussia, proposed to
your M jesty note, designed to give salts
faction to all. Your Majesty accepted it.
We had hardly, however, been informed OF
this good news, when your Minister, by ex-
planitory commentaries, destroyed all the con-
catory effects of it, and thus prevented us
from insisting at Conslantinope upon its pure
and simple adoption. The Porte, for its own
| nari ofa1s "a IN In
TO which the representatives. of the four pow
ers at Vienna were not indsposed to agree.
I They were not. however, agreed to by your
| Majesty. 1t was then that the Porte, woun-
ded in its dignity, its Independence threaten
ed, and being compelled to raise an army to
oppose that of your Majesty, preferred to de-
clare war rather than to remain in a state OF
uncertainty and humility. The Porte had
claimed our support;-the cause of the Porte
appeared to US to be just one, and the Eng
lish and French squadrons were therefore or
dered TO the Bosphorus.
Our attitude in reference to Turkey was
that of protector, but it was passive. We
did not incite her TO war. We increasingly
addressed to the 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 to-
gether again, and submitted 70 your Majesty
some other propositions Your Majesty, on
your part. exhibiting the calmness which ari-
ses from consciousness of strength. content
ed yourslf with repulsing from the left bank
of the Danube, as in Asia. the attacks of the
Turks and, with the moderation worthy ofthe
chief of great empire your M aiesty declared
that you would act on the defensive. Up to
that period, then, we were, may say, inter
ested spectators, bu' simply spectators Of the
dispute, when the affair Of Snope compelled
us to take more decisive part France and
England had not thoughtit necessary to send
troops TO the assistance of Turkey. Their
flags. therefore, were not engaged in the con-
ficts which took place upon land But at sea
It was very different There were at the en-
trance of the Bosphorus 5000 guns, the ex-
istence Of which proclaimed loudly enough c
Turkey that the two leading maritime pow