Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-25
(From she Y. 7 Ledzerl ~
The Sympathy OF 0nssfa.
- - r>r

of Instructions of Prince Gortschakof
to Mr.. de Sfecke1. the Russian Min
lister in this country This dispatch bearing
date st. Petersburg. the 10Th of July, was
read by Mr.. de Sieckel, TO the President of
the United States, and to Mr.. Seward. and
appeared in cur newspapers early in Septem-
Der. It il, in fact, the manifesto of the En-.
peror of Russia, addressed, nominally to the
Government of the United States, but 10 eff
feet TO the civilized world, On the present
state of affairs in this country. 1t Is not
too much to say, that no rate paper has APP
peared In the present generation, marked
with profounder wisdom or more liberal feel
ing, or calculated to exercise happier in
fuence at home or abroad
This important letter is understood to have
been written under the personal Inspiration
of the Emperor. Alexander II, Prince Alex
ander Gortscbakof, cousin of the General
of the same name, who commanded the Rus
sian armies IN the Crimean war; being the
Imperial Secretary for foreign affairs. This
eminent statesman and diplomatist is now
sixty-three years of age He commenced his
career in the suite Of Count Nesselrode, at
the Congress of Lebach and Verona, and 10
1924 was sent as Secretary of Legation TO
London, where be was mainly occupied Tor
several years in perfecting himself in the
languages of Europe. 1t is the practice of
the Russian Government to train a class of
men, for the management of the foreign at
fairs of the country, in the acquisition OF
the French. English, German and Italian
tongues. a practice which has contributed rot
a little 10 The efficiency of the Russian diplo-
matte service After leaving London, Prince
Gortschakof became successfully charge de
ofares at Florence and Vienna; Ambassador
Extraordinary at Stuttgard; Plenipotentiary
at Frankfort, and finally Ambassador at VII
Tn un pnsifinpG and n
casions sometimes of delcacy and embarrass-
ment, he exhibited a diplomatic talent of
the highest order, which caused him, on the
retirement of Cunt Nesselrode, to be placed
at the head of the bureau of Foreign Affairs.
An expression in his circular to the Russian
Ministers on occasion of the late movements
In Sicily. attracted general attention in Eu-
rope. Urging against France aud England
their own principles of non Intervention, he
said, La Russis ne boude pas, ellie de rectteiue:
Russia does not sulk, she collects herself'
An official expression of the views of the
Russian Government OH the American Cues
ton must. under any circumstances, be very
important event Prioce Gortschakoffs let
ter alludes to the ground Of sympathy be-
tween the two countries. To use his own Ian
guage, it recognizes the United States as "a
nation to which our August Master and all
Russia have pledged the most friendly inter-
tremity of the two worlds, boIh in the Assem-
ding periods of their development. appear to
be called to natural community OF Interests
and sympathies, of which they have elread =
given mutual proofs to each other"
This remarkable letter of Prince Gortscha-
koff is not the least significant indication of
the leaniugs of his Imperial Majesty, on a
subject of equal interest to both governments
and with which the present unnatural war In
lrp 10 oil To- With
great d. licacy the Prince observes, Il do not
wish here to approach any one of the ques-
lions which divide the United States. We are
not called upon to express ourselves in this
contest.o When we bear in mind, however,
that the moment the Emperor Alexander was
enabled by the capture of Kars (Which served
as q compensation for SsbastopoD to retire
from the Crimean war with honor, he devoted
himself TO the great work of abolishing serv-
age in his vast domiuions, we shall perceive
that, in addition to the political considera-
tons to which shall presently allude, he
had strong grounds of sympathy with the
United States, in struggle forced upon them
for the extension OF slavery. While assuming
the great responsibility of raising majority
of the Inhabitants of his immense empire
from state of bondage to one of freedom, it
was not possible that an enlightened Prince
could look with cold Indifference upon the
struggles of a friendly power TO put down a
gigantic Instruction whose object is declar.
ed by its own leaders to be to found gov
eminent, 'ffor the first time in the History of
the World, on the corner stone of slavery"
The Emperor Alexander, 10 directing this
noble manifesto to go forth to the world, was
Influenced, as appears on the face of the doc
ument, by two considerations, one of liberal
European interest, and the other of generous
American sympathy, considerations both of
them worthy OF magnanimous Prince
They have doubtless occurred to other en-
lightened governments aud wise rulers in
Europe, but the Emperor Alexander will in
all time be entitled to the credit of having
frs made them the ground of a great official
act. 80
The first consideration. that Of liberal Eu-
ropean interest, is referred to IN Prince
Gortschakoff's remark, that the American
Union is IAN ELEMENT ESSENTIAL TO THE UNI
vERsAL POLITICAL EQUILIBRIUM" II is hardly
necessary to state, that this great principle
of "a political equilibrium lies at the basis
of the peace of Europe With Eve powers
of the first order. and numerous others of in
ferior, but still of great Importance, the only
security for any thing like general tranquil
ty is to maintain the various states substan-
TALLY iu the position to which time and events
have brought Ihenl, and to admit. with ex-
IRENE reluctance, great changes in the dis
tributlou of power, or partition of territory.
The necessity of maintaining this equilibrium
has no doubt been frequently abused by un-
warrantable interference with the internal
affairs OF foreign States; but the principle
itself rightly understood has foundation in
zeal European necessity. Wholly to dis.
regard it would be to plunge the civilized
world into chaos of ambitious and passions.
like the elemental confusion which would
take place in The Universe. if the great law
OF gravitation. which guides the heavenly
bodies in their orbits should cease to operate.
and planets, sans and stars should rush mad.
ly against each other. - - .l5e n
But while this equilibrium is for The most
part easily sustained. by the well-balanced
military str,ngth of the four great contincn.
tai powers, the insular position and naval
superiority of England. with her almost
boundless colonial empire form disturbing
element, TO which. within the limits of Ed
rope. there is not sufficient counierpeise. 1t
he's accordingly from the first dawn of Ameri-
can Independence. been cardinal principle
of continental politics, and eminentiy. on The
part OF Russia, to favor the growth of the
United States, as a commercial and naval
power, which furnished precisely what Eu-
rope could not afford, Wig: s.this essential ele-
ment OF the general political equilibrium
WHAT Dir. Canning, valued himself so much
upon doing when, ssto redress the balance of
powers" disturbed by the French occupation
OF Spain. ne s'called into existence" to use