Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-02-09
General Review of the War Question.


The period of suspense which must eapse before the
Of the Russian government to tho p,iua,;on Tho,
the maritime Powers have entered the Black Sea can be
KNOWN has now reached the highest pitch of intensity
and suggests the largest Of speculation uni,
the arrival OF thel next adyces from ST. Petersbu,p
winch may be expected from hour hour we cannot re-
leve the pubic from this uncertainty and we are not
uPoseu u accredt any OF the vague reports to which
such state of things unavoidably give rse Upon the
9Th inst the Courier had arrived at ST. PETERSBURG who
conveyed to Sir Hamilton Seymour the despatch of tho
British Government NJ. de Reject who was gent nm n
special mission TO convey this important declaration
behalf OF the French Government in similar II not id,
teal terms arrived on the 10th Ill., and on the 9Th
which 49, according 10 the old STYLE the last dag of the
year. the Ministers OF the Powers made their commu
nicaton to the Russian Minister of Foreign afts hint
there our information to this moment stops The
occupation of tho Black Sea by tho maritime
iorce OF England and France so far as resem.
bes the passage of the Pruth by the Russian armv last
Juy that may or may not be regarded as casas be
by the Emperor Nicholas. IL it, in fact far less do
cided net OF war than the invasion of a neipbi,or.
,ns territory, which Russia was bound by express
treaty TO respect, except under Certain conditions
that had not occurred The entry Of the fleets into tho
Black Sea i5 in itself breach of treaty or of right
nor even an act OF hostile import. The allied Pow :
e's nave, however, gone further and afforded their
protection to Turkish convoy bound for Batoum or
Irebz0nd with reiniorccmens which is a clear partic
patton III an act OF hostility, and their instructions en-
power tctn 10 go utther st inasmuch they NAV not
only afford protection the Turkish forces but mr., nm
thorzed to compel any Russian vessels of war or trana
ports to return to Sebastopo. The Court Of Russia
may, " IL thinks fit resist such interference with ia
belgerent rights the first ntmation given Tn Il m
ts intended proceeding, ana " IL adopt this course /,
viii at once recall its Ministers from London and Psri,
preparatory 70 declaration OF war But n iii, E,nne,n,
sui chooses to tempoze, he may content himself Tor Tho
present with protesting against tho threatening attitude
OF lne maritime Powers, and he may wait the occur.
tGhfs some positive net OF coercion or violence in the
black Sea boioFe he resorts 20 counter hosties both
parties appear thus far have sought 10 throw tho s
sponlohy OF declaration OF war their Antagonist
me emperor Of Russia succeeded by the occupation OF
'he Municipalities and the rejection OF the Turkish amend
menls Ia the Vienna Noto In driving the Porto u, tbs,
na measure and now, by somowhnt analogous nrocccd
ng' taken by way OF retaliation the sea- Russia finds
hefseH IN the same alternative Of submission or armed
resistance II s probable however that either coursc
viii be found TO lead 10 the same result and II the moo
cautious mode OF proceeding be adopted The events we
nave reason 70 expect tho theatre of war ato soon
likely TO dispc all further hesitation and nncertaintv
We do not however, credit the rumor that the Empe-
ror OF Russia has already caused ii he distinctly init
mated at Vienna or elsewhere that ho Is pro.eteTined
TO reject the terms whatever they may be- agreed unon
by the Turkish government aud tho other Powers of En
rope Had any such declaration been made IL must have
been despatched from st. Petersburg considerably before
the last occurrences we're known there and can hardly
be supposed that tho Austrian and tho roprc
senayos OF the other three powers A. Vienna would have
itultihed themselves by signing protocol on the I3,h
Of January and dcspatch6g 70 81, Petersburg commit
nicaton which the Emperor Nicholas had already refused
70 receive Upon tho receipt Of tho ast Dispatches from
Consantnope with the Of the Porte 10 the term,
popossd tho conferences at Vienna adj pted this scheme
OF pacicaton without any alteration or DELAY and vo
have reason 70 know that the German Powers were not
lees decided than England and France In the tenor Of
tnelr Instructions 70 their respective Envoys, directing
them 70 urge In the strongest manner on the Cabinet Of
~ fetefs6urs the adoption Of tbs proposal AZ this
hme II viii be remarked that they were acquainted with
e intended occupation Of the Black Sea by tho combin
Ell eets, for the French crcur had appeared in the
Bo"r, and was already communicated 70 all the Courts
But this circumstances served 10 convince all the
members OF the Conference that the moment for
n9al effort was come, and that if II failed
no o'her chance OF peace remained. r. In tho mean.
Tune, events should have taken place still moro un
favorable to the maintenance VI peace, aud " our mo-