The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-06-26
THE WASHINGTON UNION.
THE RUSSIAN MISSION.


the most complimentary rendered to Col.
Pickens Of South Carolina, and that he has declined
TO accept it, We see it stated that his friends de-
sire he should FIJI the place of the late Judge Butler
His experience talents and patriotism fully Justify
their wishes. His selection for the mission to
Russia was a mark of high honor coming from such
man as Mr. Buchanan, and, we think. was well
merited
Colonel Pickens occupied distinguished position
while in Congress in connexion with the great ques-
tons of that day He took leading part in support
Of the independent-treasury system, and also held
the place of chairman Of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs. He was identified with all the important
measures of the democratic party of that period,
and subsequently gave his ardent support to the
brilliant administration of Mr.. Polk By him he was
offered the important mission TO England. The cir
cumstances by which he was surrounded at the time
as we understood, made it, in his judgment, proper
that he should decline that high honor
In this connexion will take the occasion to say
that the mission to Russia is of the first import
ance. It is true England is an older country, has
more commerce and more ships but Russia is great,
very great in her youth, nation, and has the adj
vanced position upon the passes Of the Caucasus,
which WILL within quarter of century, control the
destnies of Turkey and Persia. AS nation she is
unsurpassed in some of the elements of her charac-
ter She has enterprise in eminent degree, pecu-
liarly marked by tenacity and perseverance She is
at present object of deep political interest She
is not only great but growing and improving ma
ton. In her time she has stood singly against the
mightiest conqueror of modern Europe. In later
day the blows upon her of three great nations were
Just enough to give new proofs to all the world of
her enduring home strength and her stern courage.
The terms Of peace scarcely more than fulfilled
when she has designed magnificent railroad to the
mouth of the AMOR, and intends to create naval
depot at that point.
AS unit of political action from one admins
tratve period to another iii the history of the
reigns of her monarchs, no empire since that of
Rome has been so fixed and determined. She will
now penetrate all her great military points of
strength and resources with railroads. Their need
was felt in the late war, and she is nation who
learns Peter the Great set that example when he
worked with the hammer of the carpenter and learnt
to build a ship. Nominally she has more than sixty
millions of inhabitants For the practical purposes
of governmental defence her minimum population
may be rated at fifty millions.
With all these political elements she holds the
keys of peace and war between Europe and Asia
With 6rmly-planted foot in Asia, she presents
stilladvancng, absorbing, and aggressive populations
because her outer borders are half military, slim
ulated and directed by the government Great as
her territory is she wants more, and will have it,
Such is her character. 1t is simply in this respect
like that of the Saxon In truth rather ii is the dis
tnctive feature of the white In her he is
destined to triumph over all Asia. 1t win become
history already told, prophetcally, that "Japheth
shall enlarge his borders and shall dwell in the tents
Of Shem.''
Such are few of the great outlines which will
invite the thought the Judgment and the action of
the American diplomatist who may be called to fill
that important station. 1t is place which may well
interest the curious, the philosopher the historian
the diplomatist and the wise statesman. There is
no kingdom in Europe which has greater future.
country like ours, which promises for time to
come an equal magnitude of interests, directed by
exactly opposite Institutions may appropriately feel
the deepest soncituue III MISSION 10 SUCH a empire
Looking to the past appointments of our Chief Ma
gistrate as an example of what we may expect,
feel confident that he has hitherto selected in
fcror man for such stations, neither with hereafter
Indeed we congratulate our country that he has a
large foreign experience as to the motives and in
terests Of the European world joined to long per-
sonal knowledge Of our own public men and our po-
litca history,