Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-01-05

will doubtless be exchanged speedily as pOSSlnies
ard the treaty itself will then be made known 10 the
world. In the meantime a variety of conjectures
have been haZarded on this important subject some
of which have been transmitted to US by our own
correspondents abroad; but satisfied that the
real substance and purport of the treaty has not yet
transpired. Whatever may be its provisions
dertake 10 affirm, from knowledge of the policy
of the allied Governments and of the intentions of
Austria, that 1t does not postpone for period of
three months the decision of question of vital in
terest to the conduct of the land to the future
peace of Europe; that it poes not 2tain any guar
anee either direct Indirect of tnt aeSsessons OF
Austria; that it has never been inte4 3si to send
division of the Austrian army either tC Tarna or to
the Crmea; that it does not contain any promise of
subsidy secret article that the begerent Powers
have not in any way bound themselves to make any
fresh propositions of peace TO Russia to enter upon
negotiations any basis proposed by the German
States; and, lastly, that although France and Eng
land adhere to the Four Points contained in their
Notes of the 9Th of August the chief substance OF
their demands and the sole basis of negotiation as the
sole basis of negotiation at the present time, they
have distinctly ntinated what their Interpretation
of those propositions is, such to include all the
great OBJ ects of the war, and that the Cabinet of
Vienna concurs in this Interpretation of those terms
The conf ectures we have mentioned having been
or less accredited and circulated in Europe, we
feel it duty positively to contradict them; and
inclined to believe that when the articles OF
the treaty are known, they will prove much more
consistent with the account gave ON Tuesday last
of the results of this negotiation flour information
be correct although this convention is not actual
treaty of offensive and defensive alliance between
Austria and the Western Powers, nasmuch as Aus
tria is not this moment with Russia, it is
of nearly similar significance, and this strongest
gaeement which, under the circumstances, Austria
could sign We mean by this expression that we be-
lieve the Emperor of Austria to have contracted a
positive engagement to enter into an offensive and
defensive alliance with the begerent State against
Russia, unless peace upon terms eXacen by all the
Powers be concluded before the termination of tkis
current month Of December; or, in other words I'm
less IN answer 10 the announcement at ST. Peters
burgh, that Austria is about to join the Western
alliance the Emperor Of Russia declares at once his
inability to prolong the contest. Such act of sur
render the part of the Gar is at present highly
improbable. He rejected these terms in the summer,
when they were presented to him in conciIia-
tory form, and when they not preceded by the
invasion of the Crimea Count Nesselrode declared
that such terms could only be accepted by the Rus
sian government if it had already suffered the defeat
and exhaustion OF protracted and unsuccessful war;
so that the very language in which the Emperor
scornfully rejected this proposal, seems to condemn
him to ablde by the consequences of that refusal
The very first pledge of the sincerity of Russia, if
she protested her readiness to enter into negotiations
upon the conditions required by the rest of Europe,
would be the entire cessation of her military move
ments and preparations these are, however. carried
on with unabaed activity. A despatch from War
saw, dated the 4th of December states that General
Sievers is concentrating the First Infantry Corps of
the Russian army, with portion of the Imperial
Guard the left bank of the Vistula that is on
the extreme western frontier of the empire, while
General Paniutn is advancing with the Second IN
fanny Corps on Podolia and Volhynia Movements
of this magnitude and importance, undertaken by
whole armies for each infantry corps consists, when
complete of about 80, 900 men at this season of the
year. when the troops would otherwise be taking up
thoir ind
near approach of hostities. Prince Gortschako off,
and the Russian agents in Germany, have been lavish
OF their promises and unsparng IN their exertons to
prevent the conclusion OF the treaty between Austria
and the Western Powers, but there is no reason to
suppose that they authorized to make larger con-
cessions after an act of all but direct hostility than
they consented to make in the whole course of the
previous negotiations. The policy of Austria though
slowly executed has been steadily pursued she has
gwen ample anu repeated notice to Russia and 10 all
the world that, II peace was not restored, she would
throw the weight of her armies on the side of the
Western powers as soon as her / Preparations were
completed and the factous opposition of her German
cOntederates overcome Accordingly, within four
days after The conclusion of the additional article of
her treaty with Prussia which removed all uncertain
ty III that quarter, she entered into her present en-
gagements with the Western Powers which bring
her to the verge of declaration of war against Rus
STA, and of offensive and defensive alliance with
France and England at the close of the present year.
The effect already produced upon the whole of
Germany by the intelligence hat the treaty with the
Western Powers is actually signed has been great
and instantaneous. 1t is everywhere felt that the
time is approaching when Germany may hope to play
holder and nobler part than she has hitherto
borne III these transactions. The King of Prussia
boasted the other day in the speech in Which he
opened the session Of the Prussan Diet, that he was
acting in the closest union with Austria and that
whatever might be the necessities of the time Ger
many would act as one body. We are not SO san
guine to believe that the inertia and the divisions
of the Confederation can be so easily overcome as to
make the German States parties to the agreement
now subsisting between the allies, to engage the
federal forces of Germany actively in the war but
the Prussan Assembly, 10 which the words referred
to recently addressed, can hardly fail TO ask
tor proofs OF that intimate union with Austria which
means also union with the west of Europe and
among the first obj ects of the alliance concluded at
Vienna we have no doubt that one Of the chief pur.
poses OF the three Powers s to apply their influence
with energy to determine the future conduct of Prus-
STA at this crisis.
1t is fortunate that at the moment when the cham
bers just convoked Berlin an event of this i'm
poance occurs, not in the obscure regions of diplo
macy, but in the face of Europe. few days more
Will bring this treaty to the knowledge ofthe public,
anu the question will then be asked with authority
whether Prussia intends 10 adopt the resolutions of
the triple alliance or to separate herself from them
by neutrality, which is disguised adherence to
the cause OF Russia The King of Prussia is suspected
IN Germany OF some secret engagement or personal
promise TO his Imperial brother in law, which pre-
cludes him from acting an independent German
Sovereign behalf of the honor and interests of his
country and it is remarked with establishment that
the military forces of Prussia have been studiousIv
removed from the Polish frontier, TO leave the
kingdom detenceless on the eastern side But these
suspSclons Will ere long be brought to more deci.
sve test for when Austria announces that she shall
JON the western Powers, and place herself at the