Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1855-02-09
THE ArRfCA,S MAILS.

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/ PEooREss oF the NEGo7IAroys.- distinct
negotiations Of an opposite character and purpose
/ may be said TO be on foot at The pie-ent time III
/ Vienna The one is the discussion OF the cufli
tons Of peace, which stops Tor the present ct the
acceptance Of the preliminary terms until the tele
/ graphic message from St Petersburg is confirmed
by the arrival of more explicit dispatches, and until
powers to treat for peace have been forwarded by
Turkey, England, and France to their respective
ENJOYS at Vienna. The other is the discussion IN
arrangement by the parties to The treaty Of the III
December Of 'the sfectual means to be employed
to attain the object of that alliance" in pursuance
Of the terms Of the 9Th article
The unexpected occurrence OF the former of these
negotiations, by the ostensibls acceptance Of the
four points by Russia, has not for one moment in
! terrupted the progress of the latter; for although
the three mowers would hail with extreme satisac-
ton the re establishment Of peace upon the basis
they have laid down, they are not prepared to ac-
cept the mere overture recently made to them by
the Russian dipiomatist as any satisfaction Of the
essential objects of their alliance The words of the
9th article of the treaty are Fin case the re-estab-
lishment of the general peace the basis required
be not insured before the end Of the present year.
&c. and, although the term was extended. at the
express request of Prince Gortschakof to the 18th
OF January, even that day is now passed, and moth
ing has been done to insure the complete fulfment
| of this condition.
1t has been stated on good authority that the
effect Of the alleged acceptance Of the -Four Points
by the Emperor of Russia was precisely similar at
| London, Paris, and Vienna. simultaneously on the
receipt of this intelligence the three allied Courts
addressed to each other Communications expressing
hope that the prospect of peace might be real
| lied, but urging their confederates and pledging
themselves 10 relax In none of the exertions neces-
sary to command success. It'll a remarkable proof
of the identity of views existing between the three
Cabinets that these dispatches written, of course,
| without any previous concert crossed each other
! on the road, and conveyed to each member of the
| alliance the assurance that his own views were an
ticipsted by his allies. The conferences between
the Austrian Ministers the French and English
! Ministers, and the Military Commissioners have,
therefore, contipued without ntermission, and the
| last movements which are said to have taken place
on the Lower Danube and on the frontier of Podo-
liza, calculated to increase the soicitude Of the
Austrian Government. Whatever may be the real
intentions of the Emperor Nicholas on the subject
of peace, he is aware that no armstice will be
granted him, and be, too accompanies his offers of
negotiation with more extended preparations for
war.
1t is already we'll known that the movement Of
the Turkish army from Moldavia and Wallachia to
the South of the Danube is intended to enable the
most efficient portion of these troops to embark at
Varna for the purpose Of joining the invading forces
the I'd December sets free the Turkish army by ex-
pressly engaging the Emperor of Austria to defend
the whole frontier Of the Princpalities against any
return OF the Russian aegressions and the main boz
| of the Turks were at the last sdvices, recrossng
the Danube on their way to join Omar Pasha at
Eupatoria. The Russians had, however, one mode
of thwarting this operation, without coming into
immediate collision with the Austrians.
The Austrian occupatiol is confined by the trea-
ty, to the princpalities, End does not extend be-
| yond the Danube, or .nto the Dobrodia. The old
line of Russian operation was therefore, still open
to Prince Gortchakof's army, and detachment re-
crossed the river and even advanced as far as Baba
| dagh after smart encounter with the Polish Cos
sacks under Zadik Bey. The object of this foray
was, of course, to harass and alarm the Turkish
forces on their line of march to the coast; but the
Russian detachment on this service was of incoDsid-
cradle strength, and it Immediately returned, as it
was impossible to maintain such position, while
its flank and rear were mensced by the Austrians
on the whole line Of the Pruth Practically, as
long as Austria defends and occupies Moldayia, no
considerable operation of this kind can be attempt
ed because the base of thearny inBesserais would
be at the mercy of the Sutan's allies 1t remains
to be seen whether Austria will regard fresh in
cursion of the Russians into the Dobrodia as de-
csve proof that the time has at last come for her to
1se stronger means of defense although this inrosd
does not strictly fall within the provisions OF her
treaties with the Porte and with the Western pow
ers.
To the Austrian government more especially, it
is a matter of paramount interest to discover with
tie least possible delay whether any reliance can be
placed on the Russian assurances OF desire to
establish peace, or whether those assurances have
been given only to gain time for more formidable
military demonstration on the Austrian fronter.-
To ourselves and the French this interval is of no
moment, for it does not suspend the operations in
which we engaged in the Crimea But Aus
tria has to determine, chiefly on military grounds,
whether this last breathing time between peace and
war is not prolonged by Russia to enable her to
move still more imposing masses Of men to the
scene of action The Minister and Generals of Aus
tria appear to have felt in the negotiation Of the
treaty of the I'd of December that they had more
to fear than to hope from postponement Of the
time fixed for active operations, and that their
curity lay in their ability to take the field at the
earliest moment when the season permits an army
to move. IF the object Of Russia, in her last COM
munications, is simply delay, the snare is chiefly
laid for Austria, since it cannot affect the attitude
of the more beligerent Powers but at the point at
! which the Court Of Vienna has now arrived, sin
cere and immediate peace, or speedy and decisive
contesti the only alternative which the young En-
peror can desire or accept
If the Emperor Of Russia is resolved to make
peace at the expense Of the sacrifices now required
of him, he must find means to satisfy Europe that
such is his genuine intention, in spite Of the pro-
found distrust which his former proceedings have
occssioned. The increduty he meets with, even
among bis former friends is the severest test that
can be applied to his policy. But a great resciu-
ton for peace or for war in the present momentous
conjuncture of affairs, cannot depend on the split
ting of hairs or the dictiOn Of a protocol. Once
for ALL and for the last time, we ssk-which IS it?
for most assuredy, peace be not concluded frank
ly and promptly, acted upon the basis now proposed,
this contest will acquire intensity and an extent
it has not yet assumed and the caiamities Of war
will spread like fire over Europe before this last Of
/ fer of reconciliation can be renewed.
EAST TENNESSEE AND VIRGINIA RAnRoAD.-It is
source of qualification to learn that this enterprise
IL advancing on to a rapid completion. The work
! on the section Of the East Tennessee and Georgia
/ Ro sd between Loudon and Knoxville il going on,
and the prospects are, that this section will soon be
! in running order 10 Knoxville Then there are
prospects OF the section between Strawberry Plains
! and Knoxville being completed as the early London
! and Knoxville section is finished. The Tynchburg
! and Tennessee Road anticipates the completion Of
the section between WythevilIe and the Tennessee
line by the close OF the year. When these several
! links shall have been connected East Tennessee