Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-01-06
I,eno1o.I. emperor of Russia.

Il, Editor of the Union
1ohe The ambition and perfdy of the the Empe-
'l Of Russia having kindied the hamc OF a war
rOr Oh Lroatens to spread itself over the whole Of
when and great portion Of Asia, it might, per-
BaroPIp interesting to many of your readers to
baPS "sonewhat correct information of the appear
ceVe "noIities and character of prince who has
ance q" 'non himself the terrible responsibility of
take" rLrnvoked so direful an event.
baS"2 las Paulovitch the son OF Paul |. and Maria
Nic,uDa mounted the Russian throne on the
teVIpo 81 his brother, Alexander the First
doaLH p,reror Nicholas is distinguished by a gi-
me Lnp by handsome face, by sonorous
ganu0 I'D bv a commanding look. He has display
voice o. energy and frmness of character, and an
ed m'0" iScrejitable activity. He possesses much
an, o:sI: and many household virtues Hence, ma
aHaOI, been induced to forget at least to cxcul
ny AZ; ridicuIous vanity his ungenercus cnnltv.
paIe 1or+nr revcu getunpsS. his inSenS. b:litv to
BIS .fangs Of his victims. and his imllacuble ia
the 80 facdom The rich grts Nature has be-
TeI ~ nnon him. his accomplishments and ais rr
Stow r,dos, have become the veii Of his d spo'ic
7a'e d the means of diminishing the Indignation
aC l:,L bis barbarouS severity and his outrages
Nn,Tt humanity naturally arouse in every gener-
ms heart ..,,..
, Tho fraty Of human nature and the strong
limitation of uncontrolled power, we commit a
nto,s error if we accept a stately figure, at
l;o countenance, vigorous mind, an engaging
5ortneot and purity of manners, as apologies for
u7P rnoI treatment of millions of human beings
MI the man whose heart seems open 20 all the
Garments Of domestic life and still infcts in
5jnr;Ioble miseries upon thousands of fellow
U0It- If no crime but that of loving freedom, is
guIS oro 70 he dreaded, as his cruelty is not pas
.n n bnt principle Persuaded that he is discharg-
. b;s dnty he feels no repentance, but triumphs
H.; ~ The aconies of suffering humanity.
IF the Emperor Nicholas were tyrant destitute OF
pry virtue and possessing an ungovernable temper,
t ,1oud like the mailman Constantine, his brother,
soon have exhausted the patience OF human endur-
ca Hatred and contempt would already have
Ionoht home to him due punishment for the uni ustl
SaTr crneIties which he has caused to be Inflicted
on 50 many of his fellow beings; and there would
IL m necessity TO drag him before the bar Of public
inion in order to rouse against him the Indignation
u The civilized world But being endowed with so
many qualities worthy of great monarch, and sub
;nrtnU his enmty and his revenge to reason, he in
pirqs rather awe than aversion IN those who are not
tboroughIy acquainted with his real character.
Rut the inhuman treatment of the unhappy Poles
and tbp ineXorabiIity with which the few Russians
who have dared TO make the attempt at shaking off
the yoke of thraIdom, only reused his suspicion OF
cAershing liberal ideas, have been punished, cannot
Init render the Emperor Nicholas detestable in the
ewes of all sincere friends of humanity. Those who
have taken the pains of making themselves acquaint-
ed with the sufferngs of his victims must necessarily
feel that he fully deserves the execrations which have
re.echoed not only from the wilderness of Siberia
and the mines of Ural but from every country where
the eyilpd Poles have found a refuge.
But these testimonies of the vindctve and despotic
disposition of tle Gar heart-rendng they are, dc
not provoke our resentment much does his oper
hatred to liberal institutions, and to the emancipation
Of the other European nations from oppression Not
satisfied with keeping more than siXtyfve millions
his own subjects in abje"t slavery, and rendering
them puppets of his imperial will he has done every
thing in his power to strengthen the cause of des
potism everywhere in Europe. He has been tn
chief instrument in preventing the amelioration O
the social and political condition of the people o
Germany, Hungary, and Italy. To him every crown
ell criminal looks for assistance and in reliance upo
his aid, such despots as the King of Naples and tn
Emperor of Austria set at defiance human rig hts an
Divine laws. But for him, Germany, Italy and Hun
gary would now enjoy the blessings of freedom.
More in my next letter
Very respectfully, u. l.. ii.