Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-01-27
Affairs in EurOpe--A Speck of war on she
Horizon.

The latest news from Europe by the Circassian.
contains two or TIN very significant points which
TO the mind indicate that unless the obstacles which
stand IN the way Of the proposed Congress be spec
Oily removed. affairs that Continent are drifting
war-wise. The Nap0leOnic plan Of disposing of the
Papal difficulty, as expressed in the pamphlet, is
manifeSGy acceptable 10 the great body of intelli-
gent lay Catholics as well az 10 all the Protestant
nations OF Europe, while at the same time it re-
ceves a determined opposition from the majority of
/ the Catholic hierarchy and clergy fact which
must Be expected, as the ecclesiascs OF the Church
everywhere are instructed and governed by the
| home government at Rome, just as ministers pleni-
pOtentary, charges des affairs and consus of all
other nations are instructed and governed by the
governments from which they are accredited. I'm
less the yeXed questions concerning Italian affairs
and the nature of the Pope's temporal sovereignty
can be amicably settled by general Congress. we
confess that we see alternative but another war
combined very probably with an exciting contest
between the Catholic clergy and the enlightened
portion Of the laity Of the Church
1t viii be remembered that Court Walewski de-
CARED that the programme Of the Laguerronierre
pamphlet should form part Of the policy Of the
French government while he was at the head of
foreign affairs and following hard upon that de-
earati3n we hear of the dismissal or withdrawal of
Waewski from that position This is the first sig
nfcant point in the late news, and looks as If the
Emperor was resolved that the programme Of the
pamphlet should be the imperial policy. Again:
Marshal Valiant. who assumed command in Italy
during the war. not because he was a prominent
fighting man. but that his wisdom and experience
might be at hand 20 assist Napoleon. has been re-
called TO France and thorough fighting man. Nc
Mahon the hero of Magenta, has been sent to Italy
in his place. And again: Sardinia declares that un-
less the Pope abandons the raising of volunteers N
Germany, she viii march body of Sandman troops
into the Legations.
These three circumsta iiees it must be admitted
are open to anything but paciiicatory interpreta-
ton. The peaceful tenor of the Emperor remarks
to the diplomatic corps on New Years day. it is
true, has served temporarily to ahay somewhat the
fears Of Europe; but the ambiguous declarations Of
Napoleon are not very reliable. particularly when
we remember that preceding the late Italian war
his words We're all of peace. until the very eve Of
the day when the first divisions of the Eepeh army
were ordered to cross the Alps and confront the
eagles Of Austria upoa the plains Of L0mbardy.
Upon the whole then the condition of Europe seems
perilous at the present moment; and predicting
upon the failure Of the Congress of Paris TO settle
the Italian question, hardly see The mode Of es
cape from 4 terrible struggle between the combined
Powers OF France, England, Prussia. and possibly
Russia backed up by the public opinion Of all the
Protestant people and the intelligent Catholic laty
on the one side and the Catholic Powers on the 9TH
era conflict the results whereofar fearful to con-
template In the end the Pope viii be compelled TO
accept the position which Napoleon so wisely and i
judieiously proposes for him; but in the meantime
all Europe viii be CONFUSED and a tide of blood 4
viii bear Italy TO the consummatiOn Of her desti-
nies.-A. y. Herald. ,Idl. 22d.