The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-07-05

madc a secret Remuneration OF MS rlSnt, Wnlcn |
remuneration he now renewed, in favor of his |
younger brother, Nicholas, who, however, hest |
tated to accept the gift and ascend the throne.
But as Constantine continued firm to his reso-
luton, and as it became known that wide
spread conspiracy threatened the safety of the
whole imperial family Nicholas caused himself
to be proclaimed Gar. But he had scarcely
taken this step, when a portion of the troops
stationed at st. Petersburgh, taking for pretext
the irregularity of the succession, raised the
standard of revolt against his authority. But
Nicholas, by his daring spirit and the courageous
conduct of his younger brother, Michael sue
ceeded in maintaining the fidelity of the rest of
the troops, and, by their aid, in queuching the
fame of insurrection. Some German writers
have stated that the victorious Gar q treated
the seduced troops very mildly. Only some of
the leaders underwent capital punishment, and
the rest of them were sent to Siberia while
but proportionally few of the soldiers were pun
ished at all" True, as to the appearance;
but it is to be observed, that those of the al
legged leaders who were sent to Siberia were
there treated with the utmost severity and
that great portion of the soldiers had, while
bravely fighting, been killed; and of those who
remained, some were dashed almost to death,
and all consigned to spill their blood among
the rocks of Caucasus. Nicholas was not the
with generous forgiveness.
Some writers have stated that the revolt of
the troops in StsPetersburgh was produced
by their dislike to Nicholas personally. But
| this is a mistake. 1t was caused by some of
the leaders, implicated in conspiracy which
extended throughout great part of the Rus
sian Empire, and especially among certain
portions of the army. The conspirators them
selves were actuated by very different motives
because, while some desired the introduction of
democratic institutions, the most appear to
| have aimed at establishing an aristocratc Con-
stitution but all were averse to the prolonga-
ton of the despotism of a single man.
| 1t would appear that the hostility which the
| Emperor Nicholas, in consequence of his inn
perious disposition and his education, enter
tanned against Liberty, was much increased by
his having been obliged, at the peril of his life,
to extinguish the spark of this sacred fire
which had so Unexpectedly burst forth In the
| midst of those very soldiers who were deemed
the pillars of the power of the Gar, and the
most ready instruments of his despotism. But
| be this as it may, certain it is, that Freedom
had in the Emperor Nicholas the most formi-
dabe enemy of our age.
He Joined in his person great parts-exten-
sive abilities, personal bravery, inhexible per
severance, unrelenting severity, immutable firm
/ U
| bility to the influence of cold or heat an her
cuean stature, and a most imposing eye But
| few persons had, at the time in question, cor
| rect conception of his real character, and es
| pecialy of the Unsuitable ambition which nes-
tied in his heart.
. Still, his elevation to the throne caused much
| uneasiness to some sagacious men OF the Lib
eral party but, what might appear very re-
| markable, also to some of the warmest sup
porters of the principles of the Holy Alliance,
and among these to the celebrated Count Met
ternich-then the real, if not nominal, ruler
of Austria. This inveterate enemy to Free
dom, who Justly was deemed, next to Talley-
rand the most experienced and the most subtle
| of all then existing statesmen, could not con-
ceal the uneasiness he felt at the news that
| Nicholas had assumed the crown of Russia.
This crafty diplomat saw at once that the infu-
ence which he had welded over the weak mind
of Alexander could not be maintained over
the bold and commanding soul of his success
sor. Consequently Prince Metternich, who
had already before entertained some jealousy
of the power of Russia, and even thwarted
some of Aexander's political schemes, began
to take many secret but efhcacious steps to
counterfeit the ambitious designs which he an
ticipated on the part of the new Gar. Indeed,
from the very moment that the succession OF
r
unanimity and implicit confidence among the
chief members of the Holy Alliance bad ceased
to exist Thus far, the death of Alexander
proved beneficial to the cause of popular free
dom In Europe.
The correctness of Metternich's views, as to
the real character of the Emperor Nicholas,
have since been amply proved. But, 1t tarried
not long ere the great Minister of Austria had
occasion of seeing his anticipations verified. 1t
became, in the course of a couple of years.
: known that the Russian Chancellor, Count Mes
, selrode endeavored, by the most artfu, subtle
: and secret means, to rouse the jealousy of the
minor German princes against Austria, and To
convince them that it would be most advan
tageous to their interests to put themselves, as
body, under the protection of some powerful
foreign monarch, who, in the then state of af
fairs, could be no other, imaginably than the
Russian Emperor, as he could never have the
remotest thought of violating their respective
independence, or of extending his influence
over Germany excepting as friend, but would
prove an insurmountabe barrier against any
, plans, on the part of Austria, against the free
dom of the smaller members of the German
Confederation.
The Russian diplomatists displayed in these
negotiations surprising skill, and the language
E in which the Russian notes to the German
, | princes OF the second ana Inlrd ranks were
couched, relative to this subject, bear the mos
artful garb. But, Prince Metternich was no
asleep; counter poison, prepared with equa
skill, was instantly administered by his agents
D who spoke of the common father-land, of the
, barbarous manners of the Russians of the un
: bounded ambition Of the Gear, of the threaten
ed destruction of the independency of Germany
e by permitting any foreign Prince and especial
: ly the bold and mighty Emperor of Russia, t.
. interfere in the internal affairs of the German
misunderstanding at the same time mucl
upon the Observation-Disclosures of Austria, and upor
the great Importance of the most friendly anC
: intimate connections among all the respective
S German princes.
The momentary disharmony and mutua
jealousy between the Austrian and Russian
Cabinets, and his ambitious designs relative t.
Turkey, were the chief causes that induced the
: Emperor Nicholas to listen to the persuasion
I of the celebrated Canning, and join England
. and France; the Government of the latter coun
try no longer daring in this particular, to defy
E the national wish, In concluding the treaty o.
! July 9th. 1927, the aim of which was to effec
). the final deliverance of the Greeks FROM then
!, Turkish oppressors
This deviation, ON the part of the French
, and Russian Governments, from the principles
. guiding the members of the Holy Alliance, was
. hailed with great satisfaction throughout al
q Europe.
But when the gallant admirals who com
|. manded the respective squadrons of the Allied
Powers in the Mediterranean gloriously sealed
this treaty by victory over the Turkish feet
{ at Navarino, October 10th, the same year, ther
. the generous soul of Canning scared high ovel
= tho tr;nmnba Mt streamers of the combined fleet