Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-03
THE EUROPEAN CONGRESS.


We have already placed before our readers the
circular letter addressed by the Emperor of the
French to all the soveregns and heads of indepen-
dent States in Europe, inviting them to participate
in Congress of Nations for the purpose of digest
ing some plan that shall compose existing dssen-
sions on the Continent.
This circular has been addressed to the Govern
msnts of England, Russia, Austria, Prussia, Spain,
Italy, Portugal, Bavaria, Wurtemburg, Hanover,
Saxony, the Germanio Confederation, Sweden,
Denmark, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium, Holland,
Greece, ard the Papal States, being twenty in all
1t will thus be seen .lat TIE Germauic States, in
their several and collective capacities, will count
for seven votes Cor one-third of the whole NUM-
bor) in all decisions which may be reached by the
Congress, should it be he'd
NJ. T. Gaillardet, the intelligent Paris CORE
spc.GcDto. the New York Courier DIES Flats Uaais,
in ais last letter 70 that journal, expresses the
opinion tbht il England, Austria, and Russia shall
each ictust to accept the Emperors invitation, his
projected Conference will fall to the ground. But
if England and Austria shall abstain, while Rus
STA and Prussia give in their adhesion to the plan
it is thought that they would form, with Italy,
Spain, Portugal, Saxony, Sweden, Denmark, and
Holland, and other minor Powers, tribunal sufh-
GENTLY strong in numbers and weight to meet the
requirements of the OCCASION and that France
would agree to abide by its awards.
Whether the proposed Congress shall ever be
held or not, it is admitted on all hands that its
mere suggestion marks an epoch in the history of
Europe. Other French monarchs--a Henry w,
a Louis XIV, and Napoleon I.--have in like
manner essayed a remodelling of the map of Eu-
rope, but always by means of war IS the primary
agency. As M. Gaillardet says, Napoleon III.
is the first who has sought to reach the same ends
by the resorts of peace. Hitherto such Congresses
in Europe have followed wars and not preceded
them And their decree has been q the law of
the strongest imposed on the vanquished, who en-
dured but lid not accept it," BY convoking
Congress before ,0ar, the present Emperor of the
French has departed from tho traditions of the
past, aud sought to substitute reason for force,
peace accepted instead Of ptace imposed. "The
idea il grand" says NJ. GaiarGet, but " | fear it
is more philosophical than practical, and that it
will remain nothing more than dream, in spite
of present indications, which represent almost all
the Sovereigns as disposed to accept an principle,
the proposition Of the Emperor"
1t will be rendered that the Emperor pro-
poses by this Congress to reconcile "the rights of
Sovereigns with the legitimate aspirations of the
people," What are these aspirations as to-day
known to the world The same writer briefly
recapitulates them us follows:
Poland aspiTes to her independence; Hungary
aspires 10 her Cover Venice sspres
unite with the OF Italy, Rome aspires rid herself
Of the temporal power of the Pope and France asprs to
enter again within her natural boundary Of the Rhine
To sanction the quo would be to sggravae it, and
however ccnclatory he may be- do believe that Ma
poleon ILL., will soemnly renounce, in the of France
her aspirations the direction Of the Rhine Instead of
browning this could be abdicaton, and the triumph
would be turned TO defeat Unless he expects to aston
ish Europe, and especially France the first opening he
shall make this subject will exor cries from Prussia
and all Germany. Russia aud Austria will exclaim in like
manner, 80 far they concerned unless than
sufficient corporations be offered them aud these cannot
b, found except at the expense of the Turkish Empire
But England is more willing to see Turkey touched
than Pruss ard y Only moderately disposed for her Oar
to rest re Glbr.tar to Spain and Malta to Italy
"A European REIMBURSEMENT cannot be effected 1t
the expense Of certain Powers and force alone
which performed by iron and not by words Such at
least, my opinion. Europe will be adustd by
or not at ALL