Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-04-05

nresant course of the conduct OF the war
a. far back as the 9th of FEBRUARY, the re-
mort was in circulation 10 st. Petersburgh that
he Emneror was unwell, but it was supposed
that he had only taken cold in the early part
~ the month he had an attack of bronchitis,
from which he had apparently quite recovered
From the London Times March 81
THE CAREER OF NICHOLAS.
The Emperor of Russia is dead. As these
words speed through this land it will scarce
be twenty-four hours since the troubler OF the
earth was called to his account. How he
died, in what agony of body Or soul, we shall
never know. In that dark despotism scarcely
one ruler has yet resigued the rod of power
without giving OCCASION to some new tale of
horror.
The character of the succession agrees but
too well with the con 'iessed conspiracy against
the liberties of Mankind Emperor after en-
peror rises by we know not what law, deriv-
| ing his mission from some nameless cabal, and
disappearing, by we know not what death, at
the moment When his course seems to run, and
the failure OF one movement demands rest and
opportunity fer another.
But from whomsoever Nicholas received
his fearful task, he has done it with no negli-
gent hand, and must ever stand forth, even in
Russian annals, as the conqueror, oppressor
aud distlrber of nations. As such it is im-
possible not to receive the tidings of his death,
we vii, not say with vulgar and thoughtess
cong latulation, but with a sense Of momenta-
ry{relief, and dawn of hope. Never, in
deed, since the beginning of this century was
vle aspect of Europe more gloomy, more dis
eartening than yesterday morning.
Never were the hopes of mankind more
flung back on the deep sense of righteous
cause, and of strong resolution to defend it
at all hazards. Now, at least, we know that
one stubborn will is broken, and one mental
world Of evil Vaccinations gone from our
armament. The daring schemes Of Peter the
Great and the impious visions of Catharne
may still plague the earth; the traditions Of
conqucsts may still be cherished, and the prom
Uses of superstition be believed by willing vo-
taries yet at least one terrible presence, one
active mischief, vnhas instantis tyranni, is
mercifully withdrawn from us, and nations are
permitted once more to breathe free.
1t is easy to imagine how this come to
pass, without having recourse to those darker
suggestions and rresistiby obtrude. The last
that we heard OF this potcntate was that, with
undiminshed strength and exasperated ener-
gy, he Was arming all Russia to the struggle
aud even preparing to present himself in the
terrible arena. Suddenly VIC hear that his
: thousand legions are beyond his reach, and
that Sebastopol-though for some days hence
it will not know it--has lost the great mind
that 50 long had cherished it, and that watch
ed over it with so keen solicitde.
1t can hardly be doubted that, as had been
foretold, the Emperor has fallen victim to
tho struggle which, in one short year, has cost
not much less than Il quarter of million souls.
He had already sustained his great part be-
yond the usual tenure of his race, and the Or
binary reign Of conqueors. There was some
thing portentious in the spectacle of one man
holding so large portion of the Old World,
and still extending his conquests, still streach-
ing his policy, at the age of sixty, and after
a reign Of thirty years.
Great conqueors have commonly been cut
> short either by the stroke of disease, or the
hand Of an assassin, or the fickleness Of for
tune, at much earlier age, and it seemed
something reserved for this century to see one
continually spreading the meshes of q subtitle
policy and an iron dominion wider and wider
for whole generation. But man has his
limits. Flesh and blood are not equal to the
grasp oil ambition and the scope of the mind.
BY the concurrent testimony Of all who have
known the Emperor Nicholas, he was such a
man as the ancients magni6ed into demigod,
-hercuean in his very frame, of uncommon
5 stature, beauty and grace, born to be king
of men--such anone our own William the
Conqueror, or even as Charlemagne.
Nothing this world can supply for itself or
borrow from the unseen was wanting to feed
his ambition, to exalt his genius, to assist his
: undertakings. From the beginning of his
r reign he showed that he inherited and grasped,
as in one possession. all the accumulated hopes
and illusions Of his dynasty. Secure as he
: felt from the West, he prepared at once for
: the conquest of the East. One check after
: another only taught him to lay deeper the
t foundation of dominion, but for thirty years
he has never ceased, above ground or under
e ground, to push his schemes of universal en-
pire.
= The race, however, was with time and when
n he found his own life ebbing apace, at the APP
S proach of an epoch which Tor ages had been
S designated or the triumph OF the Gross over
o the Crescent at Constantinoplc, he could no
longer retain himself, and broke loose, us a
e river from its banks, tor the conquest of the
|. world. We do not anticipate the calm judg-
e ment of posterity when we describe the par
ticular act which begun this unhappy war by
/ saying, that on a mere pretence, and in open
j. contempt for the law of nations, the Emperor
Il invaded, spoiled and seized the territory Of a
g neighbor, and not only justified, but compelled
IS the interference of the western powers, who
10 otherwise would have had, in their turo, to
s. fight harder battle nearer home
d For these two years all Europe has beheld
is with Increasing astonishInent how one man
l. assuming and exercising all the attributes OF
. absolute power, and therefore having himself
alone to rely upon, could maintain that sin
It gle-handed struggle against world of states
h men, dipomatists, generals and admirals, rep
Is reseuting all the art and science of the civil
i lied world. Collecting continually fresh de-
+ termination and vigor from each phase Of the
: struggle, yet provoking still deeper phalanx
d and still wider circle Of foes, he stood at last
q in position of which it is not too much to
d say that, as regards either side, and as re-
D spects either the questions at issue or the tire
o mendous ornaments employed, the world has
not seen the like before, or anything near to
e it,
d. 49, =. 3, Az c,,on, st.t,,o ~ L.