The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-07-10
AN ELOQUENT LETTER.
Communicates Tor the Union ]

The startling events Of the past year in Europe have
produced in this country profound interest Our remote
from their immediate theatre avoids the sudden
element that startes the mind from its repose and unxes
the sober Judgment Yet the magnitude of the
shaking with its thunder and fury every throne in Europe
ybrates more less violently the hearts Of twenty mil
lions OF Americans Its suddenness took by surprise
The rapdity Of its Developments have followed IN such
quick succession that the sober mind IS uneoh
WINGED Of the reality of involving in ITS consequent
the interests Of three hundred millions OF the races OF
Adam We do not see the in the Streets nor
hear the shrill voices whose piercing woes go up to
Heaven. Yet feel for mseres we cannot abate, and
appalled, by the horrors of war that startes mercy In
her insecure denizenshp with man.
Many voices have reached us from Old England appeal
ing in that to thousands OF hearts here for sane
ton of war; staying the world in its progress and turn
ing civilization and freedom back upon the circle OF retro
eession YOU sirs have been most eloquent in the Ian
guage these appeals You have appealed to us as being
Of kith and kim to Old England the only branch of
the AngloSaxon race, as speaking the same language
and having with Engishmen the mission Of the cvilza
ton and Chrisanizaton Of the world These appeals
whose eoquence finds willing and welcome audience in
millions of American ears and take strong hold Of many
hearts beating with hope for the emancipation of
from whatever bondage enhrals his liberty or his soul
We thank you much that you have made plain issues
the intelligence of American sentiment IS inqurngy
moved whenever the sword is unsheathed in the work Of
freedom and Christianity Let us look for moment into
the Of this war; and pass upon its probable effect
upon the age and progress OF man.
The equilibrium of Europe the ostensibe purpose Of
your alliance with France TO maintain the integrity of the
Mosen empire. Is not the equilibro Of Europe an
cent abstraction Has ii not been the inesse OF Euro
pean diplomacy in the chance and game of war the past
three centuries Has not experience taught Europe its
plain impracticabity Can Europe enjoy peace while
the conflicting interests of eighty irreconcabe thrones
thar si
ested in these ceaseess euds Or all these conen
TONS these neverending conflicts the continuance of fac
tons conending for throne and dominion in which the
have interest Has England joined Franceher
hereditary enemy-to secure peace to Europe Has
France invoked the help of England for the pur
pose Have you united yourselves and put the armor
Of war against barbarism Is your of civiza-
ton and Christianity against superstition and ignorance
Could YOU srs respond satisfactorily to these inquiries
and the intelligence of the American people that
the side of civilization against barbarsm, of
liberty against despotism of Christianity against nfdey
and superstition the great American heart would join you
and invoke the God of Battles your standards
with victory
In this country have taken another and widely df
ieren view of the of this seemingly unnatural al
lance and this of horrors Among the first disturb
ing causes they appear us that divided Russia and
Turkey pretensons of Roman Ponff to religious
privileges before set up claiming participation
the ceremonies at the aHoiy sepulchr and in the guar
danship of the ioly Places" This gave the first alarm
to Russia The Greek Church had by the prescription
of centuries of care and by the guarantees of repeated
treaties and concessions from Turkey the keeping the
"Holy Shrncs' and certain religious privileges in the
"Ho!y Places" Russia had good ground for alarm when
the Church of Rome through the office of an ambassador
from the new throne of France raised novel preen-
sion OF a Romsh Pontif
Again, while Russia has for years by her system of pa
", of vino
civilization into the East and consolidating her power
there by engrang better laws and better institutions
upon the nomad she has civilized as to strengthen
every snew of war in her empire France and Eng
land, by other systems Of conquest and acquisitions
by emigration and colonization have so weakened their
thrones at home as to be overawed by the rising magn
sude Of Russia France has felt the influence Of Russia in
all her possessions in Egypt, Africa and the East Eng
land has felt the same power wherever she has colony
andia or trade in the East Formidable Russia is
IN her Oriental provinces England looking at her YET
more formidable future when the rich possessions of
ern Siberia shall be filled with millions Of Muscovte sub
yects whose industry, trade and commerce will find their
outlet through the rivers that flow down from the north
west into the Of Japan 1t is the growing power of
Russia in her Asatc dominons that England most fears
Again. the intelligence Of America has been con-
WINGED that Russia barbarous nation The history Of
the past century contradcts that presumption We are not
prepared to admit thaa rude uncivze race within that
spec VI can weakness to rank aud
place among the first powers Chrstendom that out of
barbarism the most powerful empire of Europe has
emerged, and with centurys growth ovsshadows all
the continent with its stature and ASSUMES the worlds
destiny. We had been taught by your own historians
that the Illusions proper were highly civized-cer-
tainIy entitled to the of Christians We know
they have the practical and the practical sciences in
very high state of cultivation They are advanced in
the hne arts Every establishment of civilization they cher
ish Their diplomasts the skilled and finished
lneir generals are the bravest and accomplished in
every professional requirement. their scholars rank among
the hrst; their laws the humane and the best adj
mnsered OF any empire of the world their legislators
sre wise and prudent controlling with great wisdom and
in equity the interests of 100000 of the human family
and among them twelve distinct types Of the races Of
man Their laws bear with equality upon these masses Of
heterogeneous beings securing life property and con-
science giving satisfaction if genuine happiness to
every soul Their judicial system is perfect This is no
exaggeraon The perfection Of all judicial systems is the
prevention OF crime not its punishment In this theirs is
perfected Among the 100000 of Russian subjects there
is less yearly crime than exhibited in civilized London or
Paris on every weekly calendar Their laws are founded
in humanity and for that they are not hated and
are kept reverenty and with religious exactness II is
the certainty of punishment in Russia its sgerfu that
prevents crime They regard life the gift of God and
not to be taken by Upon this foundation their cru
inal statutes are based and life be taken for any
crime by sentence OF any judicial tribunal Transports
ton for life Is the punishment for capital offences crimes
against the empire, and treason The humane laws that
endowed the criminal alive drag him upon hurdles quar-
terinp him and sunderinp s mb INNS. NV tla