The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1854-03-17
THE LAST PHASE OF THE ORIENTAL
QUESTION.


The following article we find in the New
York Times:
Up to the 18th ultimo, when the Andes
sailed from Liverpool, matters stood thus in re-
lation to the Eastern Question: England and
France were making mighty preparation, by
sea and by land, for war. The British Gov.
eminent had chartered thirteen steamships to
convey troops to Malta. The British contin.
gent for the defence of Turkey will it is said,
amount to 10000 men, with 40 guns, and be-
under the command Of Lord Raglan. Nor
was the French Emperor less indef.tipab,e
in preparing for the coming contest. Orders
had been despatched from Paris for the Brest
fleet to put to sea at once and it was under.
stood that the Admiral in command was nm.
der orders from the Minister of Marine TO
proceed TO Toulon, Civta Vccchia, Algiers,
for the purpose Of transporting the French
auxiliary troops to Turkey. These, instead
of being sent TO Cadiz, us was ut first intend.
cd, are to be conveyed to Enos, n town Of
some importance in the province of Roumclia;
whittier, we presume, the British contingent
will, in due time, be also transpor ed from
Mata-it being the present intention ii tho
allies to form corps de reserve of the An.
g!o Gallo auXiliares ut Adrianoplc, which is
the key to European Turkey.
This important place is between Constant
tinople and the enemy; and rs long rs it re-
mains in the hands of the Sultan and his al.
lies, the efforts Of Nicholas to gain possession
of the metropolis will prove hopeless. Hence
it appears that the present object of Franco
and England is the defence of Constantinoplc,
not the liberation of the Principaities. They
are making formidable preparations for war,
but it is evident that they are determined to
have as little TO do with it rs possible nay,
that they will avoid it altogether if they can.
The strength of two mighty nations is, it
seems, to be put forth, not to bring the war
to triumphant and glorious conclusion on
their part, but merely to save their ally from
utter annhilation. His capital is to be defend.
ed, but his Danubian Provinces, Bulgaria,
Moldavia, Wallachia, are to be surrendered
into the hands of his adversary. They can-
not obtain equitable terms for the Sultan
while the Autocrat is on the Danube, but
they hope to do so when he shall have forced
the passage OF that great boundary, and cut
to pieces the main body Of the Turkish army,
on the Bulgarian plains. They fancy that the
demands of Nicholas will be more moderate,
when he crosses the Balkan, and arrives ut
Adrlanoplc, than they were ere he crossed
the Prnth and selzed on the Principnlities.-
They profess to have taken up arms to main.
tam the independence of Turkey, and to re-
press the aggressions of Russia; but they
eschew the use of the only means that could
enable them to accomplish these objects. II
Is not dllfIcn!t to fOrcsec what will be the re-
suit of the French and English Governments
persevering in this wretchcd and dastardy
policy. Its natural and inevitable result will
I'M n e y -, L
grading and disgracelul than the first-a
treaty which will strip the Sultan of his
Danuban Principalilies, and reduce him TO
the condition of n Modavian or Wallach:an
llospodar!-a treaty which will virtually
transfer to Nicholas the sovereignty of the
Christians of the East, and prepare tho
way for the final overthrow of the Ottoman
Empire!
Very different from the timid and dcspica.
bic policy Of France and England, is that of
the Autocrat, if we Judge Of ii from the lat.
est accounts received from Bucharest. Ac-
cordng to these accounts, the Emperor
Nicholas has made, and is making, enormous
preparations for war. His object is to force
the passage Of the Danube Immediately, and
attempt the conquest of Constantinople. On
the LIST of February, 10000 Russians were
before kalafat, and the Autocrat had given
orders that the Turks should be driven out
OF Lesser Walachia without further loss of
time. Nothing save the badness of the
weather deferred the mercenaries of Nicholas
from attacking the Turkish position, md at
tompting to execute the injunction of their
Master. 1t was expected that about the lst
OF March the slug of war" would commence
on the banks Of the Danube, and Russia be-
gin to put forth her strength in the contest.