The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-01-31
RICHMOND, VA
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 81. 1855

WEDNESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 81. 1855
ALLEGED RUSSIAN BARBARiTY.-The st.
Petersburg Journal refers to the charge that
the Russian troops despatched the wounded
as they lay on the ground after the battle
1t says that Prince Menschikoff, an officer
by the way, whose statements command gen.
eral confidence, has met the odious accuse.
tion with the most prompt and energetic de-
nial. The Journal asks, "Who can believe
that the nation which has adopted as pop.
u!ar saying that beautiful maxim, never
strike fallen enemy could render itself
guilty of these exeesses p A few isolated
acts of the kind alleged, the Journal thinks,
may have unfortunately occurred, and which,
had they come to the knowledge of the mil
itary authorities, would have been checked
with the rigor which is characteristic of
Russian discipline. If such facts did occur,
they ought, in the opinion of the Journal, to
be attributed to the atrocities of the inva-
ders, who desecrate churches and converts,
violate women, and who, in the battle of the
5th November, unable to resist the collision
of the Russian bayonets threw themselves
on the ground under the pretence of being
wounded, but as soon as the Russians had
passed, stood up again and fired upon them.
A striking example of the unciUili7ed and
barbarous character of the Russians is men,
| toned bya writer from the allied camp in the
following incident:
About ten days ago, servant, with his masters
baggage, both just arrived from Eugland, lost his
way when proceeding with II from Balaksva, to
where the iment was ated. and found himself
Unexpectedly In the Russian army, and close 10
General pyramids tent. The General had the port
mantesu opened in his presence and taking out all
documents and letters sent them, unopened, by the
servant, with a note to the owner, MIR. Chichester,
of the 97th stating what had happened, and that
the rest OF his property had, of course been dis.
posed of according to the custom OF war. This
strikes me as being most civilized and gentleman.
like conduct 1t 10 more than we have done, or
am disposed TO think. would do
NAPoLEoS's PoLIcY.-The n. Y. Times
has an article, in which it contends, justly, we
| think, that Louis Napoleon Lever intended
actually to get into the present war; that his
| personal policy, and there is no other policy
| for which he cares straw, is peace; that, be-
ing no soldier, he is not over anxious to be
overshadowed by the military glory of one of
| his Marshals, and that he is in fact anxious to
be out of this Eastern scrape:
Europe" says the Times is at the eve of peace,
gained by Losses and victory of decisive char
acter OF peace in which nothing will be settled af
ter hostilities, by which nothing has been gained
| But NAPoLEoN's policy triumphs. He has been re-
ceived into the family of Kings and Emperors
| This satisfies his ambition and vanity He initiated
all seemingly energetic steps in the recent compli-
cation, and thus got credit for far more than he ever
dare carry out. This keeps up the Napoleonic type
OF his rule He contrived to paraly the effect OF
bis energetic declarations and verbal limitations by
the underhand work OF administrative soth, inves-
| ted with the false cOiors of moderation. This be-
| friended him with those whose weakness was
haunted by fears about the rehearsal OF Jena and
Marengo. He closed the war without any one Of
| his Generals having made himself dangerously con-
| spicuous This leaves him uneclipsed in the eyes
OF the army,-the support of his throne He REIN
forced that support under the title of war; and by
| means of national loan to carry ON that war;
This provides him with more safety for all the time
| that the army shall be kept on war footing and
| enables him at the time to make, from tn p.
| eventual reduction OF that army to the peace STAN
dard, capital OF popularity, by representing it
| measure OF prudent economy and Self-cUnhdent
| strength. He will, moreover pocket 500 millions
| new loan, at the point of concluding war, by
| tacit acknowledgement of all parties-but Turke,
who Is not consulted that it would be extremely dan
gerous for them all to carry 1t to further crisis
1t is always good to have 500 millions, and it is
superfous to say what this sum- SO easily got, will
be good for to him, but it WILL at all events, render
the moneyed classes OF not only France, but also
OF England--for loan is partaken in there too
| interested in the maintainance of his rule"
| Those speculations of the Times, we con-
fess, appear to us very plausible. Louis Ma
poleon, above all things, will look out for
Number One-and Number One does not lie
in the bloody track of war. He is the most
cunning and crafty of statesmen, the greatest
political juggler of Europe, and if Nicholas
will give him half chance, the war mask
will drop from his face, and Peace will soon
smile upon Europe. The French Emperor
stands in greater fear of one of his own Mar.
| shals than of the Gear.
| THE LONDON TIMES AND PIT. BARNUM -.