The Empire County argus., 1854-05-27
Correspondence of the Argus.
Nrxu VopR April Doth


startling news sends up monetary and commercial
interests here, on its actual receipt while its antlc-
ipation has always sent them down bit of expe-
rience sometimes learned By individuals, that the
anticipation of evil is greater than the evil ITSELF
1t is to he supposed that the buoyancy in money
matters arises from the certainty that English and
French capitalists, must per force, invest in Amer-
can securities to considerable extent. during the
continuance of the War; and the ice once broken it
is probable that many of these investments will re-
main permanently. In commercial affairs the late
admission by the English and French governments
that the neutral flag shall protect the cargo and
remuneration of the right of search both OF which
points have been so long and so ably insisted upon
by our Government, have imbued our merchahts
with the conviction that we must become carriers
for the world if the struggle be prolonged as 1T now
promises. In this recognition we see little fness-
ing on the part of England and France, who are too
wise to add to the existing dangers to their COM
mercial interests, by affording the United States
pretext for rupture and who also desired to secure
an agreement from Government to dlscounte-
nance privatcerng from our ports OF which they
stood in considerable awe They have accomplished
their object for the French government publishes
with laudatory comments, the reply of our govern
ment upon the subject, which distinctly pledges
not to allow priyateers to tit out at our ports
The only additional stipulation, which the United
States should take the present happy opportunity
of insisting upon, is the distinct recognition OF these
principles for all time to come.
The declaration of war followed the report of the
special courier who received reply that no answer
would be made to the demand. This answer was
not given hy Nicholas who was absent from st. Pc
tersburg but by. Connt Nesselrode with whom the
reply was left Meanwhile all parties are prepar-
ing for war with that energy which betokens their
serious anticipations concerning it. The allies are
deeply in ernest for they are aware that, to be
brought to a successful conclusion, the war must be
waged with their best efforts, and that the liberal
expe iture of means and men nc1c will prove true
economy in the end Nicholas also well knows the
terrible power arraycd against him, and that he
has time TO lose in preparations for defence he
has heretofore calculated that England and France
would never become closely allied to each other,
but in this he has been greatly deceived.
Preparations for defence are unceasing upon the
shores of the Baltic and the Gulf of Finland The
buoys are removed, lights extingushod distractions
for the channels dragged along on the ice, gun
boats constructing to harass the enemy and prevent
landing parties the houses of Cornstadt, rot capa-
BILE of defence being pulled down, while The in
habtants of all the ports on the coast arc removing
to the interior The allied fleet have passed Copen-
hagen some time since On the Danube, u large
portion of the Russian army has crossed the river
Mixinc the ridiculous with the sublime, the Turk
sh soldiers buying, like hot cakes, cotton shirts
with the Koran printed upon them, which some
shrewd caculators have Skipped to the country
Other yankee characters have shipped to CONSTANT
nople a cargo of wooden legs Notwithstanding
the desperate nature Of the expected conflict the
English Life Insurance companies insure the lives
of their soldiers at premium but little over three
per cent while the New York companies charge
three and half per cent to the residents of San
Francisco, adding one fee extra for each transit of
the Isthmus.
At home, the Gadsden treaty has been rejected,
wonderfully using up Santa Annals expectations
There is some talk of renewal of its consideration
mail steamer Company has protested against the re-
peal of the mail contract, by Congress. A rich de-
bate occurred in that body appropriation OF
$4,000 asked for to build hall at West Point in
which the Cavalry boys might exercise then horses
The application properly met with much ridlcule
and the house adjourned to the Hippodrome, for
the study of horses, which terminated the matter
Fair Lucy Stone, Ga mis-nomer by the way, for she
is so ugly in appearance that no man looks at her
twice for fear of damaging his optics) and Fred
Douglass, have declared war upon the constitution
and are rhetorically pommclling each other in
great style. Fred. upholds the constitution Lucy
thinks it no great shakes, and vows she get up
one much better The latest accounts report the
constitution as standing the shock with some firm
ness. A great gale and snow storm occurred here
and in the vicinity, few days since, the like Of
which even the oldest inhabitant' rememberetl
not Here, in the midst Of balmy spring and sunny
April showers we have four inches of snow on
the ground, and chills enough to freeze ice-cream
New Yorker viii have to move to California, on
the first of May, now close at hand unless the eli
mate treats them better. That Grape shot, un-
quiet spirit that she is, loaded with those muskets
of George Law. has brought up at the Balize, neal
New Orleans, having been dispatched by various
newsmongers to egory port in Chrstendom within
he last thirty days Unfortunately, they don't