The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-09-28

SHAEYL AND THE WAR III TIE CAUCASUS.
BY me EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT OF THE ma
TIoNAL ERA.
RENDsBURG, Sept 1, 1854.
Madame dc Stael was right in saying that
Liberty is moro ancient than De7potlsm,"
because the former was one of the gifts which
the Creator bestowed upon the human race
at its origin, while tho latter is the invention
of man himself Dramatically opposed as
are liberty and despotism to each other, there
has always been, and viii always be, strug-
gle between them. The offspring of Heaven
can have no communion with the child OF hu-
man passion. Tho one must fee from where
the other reigns supreme. Henee the one Is
not to be found IN the United States OF Amer
lea, nor the other within the immense terri
tory of the Russian Empire. The rest OF the
earth remains as yet the debatabie land be-
tween the two. The Caucasian mountains are
at present, as they have been tor 30 long Q
time, the chief theatre of their deadly contest.
When the Russian Car undertook the sub
jugation of the hedy race that some thousands
of years had inhabited the lofty peaks and
beautiful valleys of the mountainous country
which extends between the Caspian and Black
Seas and which is known under the collective
name Of Caucasus, he did certainly not sntici-
pate the many humiliations and defeats 70
which he exposed his numerous, and, no doubt
brave warriors. Ii was first, By cad export
ence, that he Learned how almost impossible 1t
is even for the nightiest host to subjugate
small bat free aud heroic people, inhabitlng
a country so difficult Of access, and fortified
by 30 many natural strongholds, as is Cauca-
sus. In vain has the Gar sent many OF his
bravest and most experienced generals, ono
after another, as commander-in-chiefo over the
numerous army which he maintains, By fire.
quent reinforcements, for the especial purpoee
of extending his power over the Caucasian
mountainous. No one of these formidable
warriors because, as such, have they all proved
themselyes) has been able to accomplish the
Herculean work required by the Gar. The
victories which they have gained have mostly
been dearly bought-and still generally proved
of ittle advantage-while Mother their skill
nor their bravery has been able to save them
from the humiliation OF many defeats which
they have in the moetinstances, suffered by sur
prise Thus one after another has been COM
PEELED to acknowledge their inability to accom-
plish the object in view, and felt glad when
allowed to withdraw from the sceRe of so many
disasters. Yermalow, Grabbe, Uloronsow, and
many other celebrated Russian generals, have
seen their military glory grow dim before the
uncomfortable barriers which the prowcss and
dsxserity Of the mountaineers and the nature
of the country have opposed to ell their efforts.
After so long and so terrible struggle, the
majority of the Caucasian tribes still remain
in the enjoyment of the freedom bequeathed
to them by their ancestors.
The glory of 80 long and 30 successful re-
sstsnce against the Russian giant belongs
chiefly to the famous Circsssian chieftain,
Shamyl, of whose life will subjoin a brief
account.
Fman Shamyl was born, in tho year 1897,
in the village Of Himry, in the north of Da-
ghestan, which for many years has belonged
TO the Russians. His parents were of the Tar
tartan race, and occupied q rather humble po
sition in life. Fman Shamyl, when youth, il
described as taciturn, obstinate, am bitious, and
thirsting after knowledge. His constitution
was naturally somewhas feeble but became
strong and capable of much fatigue in eonse
quence of constant exercise. Thus it happen
ed that the young Shamyl frequently ecipsec
his competitors in the foot-races and prize
ehootiugs Of the village But, when conquered
he evinced much modification, retiring To-
some time to desolate place between th'
| rocks high on the mountains that overshad
owed his native home. There he was sure t
meet with no human being, because every ont
| avoided this remote spot, as the Supposed haun
| of some evil spirit. Shamyl seems however, b
have liked ID well, because, even when no