Current:

Leader (1850-1860), 14th April 1855, Edition 2 of 2, Page 5, Domcnieo Cecchotti, a workman employed i...

Page 5
Page 5
5 of 24

On this page

  • Text (5)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      The Vienna Conferences. The Sittings Of ...

      for word , or rejected entirely . It states that , though the French Minister is doubtless commissioned to express the final views of the Western Powers , yet the terms in which the final arrangement ( if such should result ) shall be couched , are of course left for the common consideration of the Conference . The Constitutionnel says that Prince GortschakofF is reported to have remarked at the Conferences , " If the Western Powers wish to destroy Sebastopol , let them do it themselves . Our government cannot do it without dishonour . "

      The Pays publishes the text of the instructions with which the Ottoman Government has furnished its ambassador at Vienna . These instructions have reference to the conduct of the ambassador in connexion with the Conferences ; and commence by asserting the " indisputable right" of the Sublime Porte to be heard , " both on the principles that constitute the basis" of any treaty of peace which may result from the negotiations , " and on their practical consequences . " It is added , with a certain appearance of uneasiness and apprehension which runs through the whole document ,

      " This mode of proceeding is too natural to admit of a doubt respecting the adhesion of the representatives of the Allied Powers on this subject . Nevertheless , by way of additional precaution , and to obviate any f- are misunderstanding or difficulty , your Excellency will on this point enter into formal explanations with Count Buol , Lord Westmoreland , and Baron de Bourqueney , and you will transmit to us the result . " The Turkish ambassador is , for the present , to discuss the questions raised merely ad referendum ; but the following general instructions are given him in connexion with the Four Points : — "Inthe First Article it would be incumbent , when abolishing Russia ' s protectorate over Wallachia and Moldavia , that the rights granted by the Porte to these two Principalities , as also to Servia , should be established in one organic law , and placed under the guarantee of the great Powers . On this article there are numerous other important observations to be made , which deserve the attention of the Allies . They should not be left under the erroneous impression , which appears to exists that a real protectorate has ever been granted to Russia by virtue of treaties concerning the Danubian

      provinces . All that results from those treaties may be reduced to an assurance given to Russia , that the institutions established in these provinces should be neither modified nor destroyed . But under the pretext of neighbourhood and similarity of religion , Russia , as is well known , without the slightest respect for existing institutions , and by a great perversion of engagements , sought merely to gain her own ends , and satisfy her own private interests , as the conduct of the Russian consuls , in arrogating a de facto sovereignty at Jassy and Bucharest , has at all times proved .

      " With respect to the Second Article , concerning the question of the Danube , it will be necessary for us to explain on our side our observations respecting the means of both safeguarding the navigation of the Danube and maintaining intact the rights of the Sublime Porte along the banks of this river . """"" """" " The Third Article relates to the revision of the treaty of July 13 , 1841 , with the view of connecting the existence of the Ottoman Empire more closely with the equilibrium of Europe , by putting an end to the predominance of Russia in the Black Sea . The Sublime

      Porte , grateful for the display of sincere iriendslnp which the great Powers intend bestowing on her in this matter , approves of the material means by which these Powers are desirous of virtually terminating the Russian preponderance . But it is at the same time the duty of the Sublime Porte to take good heed that the revision of the treaty of 1841 be not couched in terms capable of infringing on its rights of sovereignty in the Bosphorus and Dardanelles , or over any other part of its territory where the safety of tho empire might possibly be endangered .

      " Finally , on arriving at tho Fourth Article , since tho repose and welfare of all tho subjects of tho Ottoman Empire are of paramount interest for the Sublime Porte , it has for this object assured to * 3 l its Christian subjects , in tho most solemn and public manner , the enjoyment of tho rights and ancient privileges accorded-to them by the Sultans who -were tho predecessors of his present Majesty , as likewise those recently conceded by hia gracious imperial will and pleasure . In again declaring before all tho world that ho haa no intention whatever of encroaching upon or diminishing those rights , hia Imperial Majesty doubts not at tho samo time that , on

      tho part of the allied and friendly Powers , they will continuo to deem « s an object of tho highest importance that whatever concerns tho internal administration of the subjects of the empire should not bo the subject of any stipulation not compatiblo with tho independence of tho Sublime Porto—an independence which these very allied Powers havo declared their wish to protect against tho encroachments of Russia . It is on tlmt account that tho Sublime Porto will , in concert with its allies , reject any attempt on tho part of Prince Gortschakolt to obtain tho insertion into tho treaty of pcaco of any guaranteeing clause whatever by which tho full

      integrity of its independence may be exposed to encroachment : " We will not inflict upon the reader the host of idle rumours , speculations , and assertions which have been poured forth during the past week ; but an article in the Debats . has attracted sufficient attention to require some notice , though its allegations must of course be received with considerable reservation . It is asserted by the Debats that , during the suspension of the Conference , frequent unofficial meetings have taken place in M . de Buol ' s office , to talk over the various solutions suggested from Berlin or elsewhere ; and that the ministers of several secondary German states have been admitted to these debates . From a summary of the Debats article , published by the Daily JVetvs , we learn

      that" It is proposed to maintain and proclaim anew the principle of closing the Straits , to declare the Black Sea a viare clausum , but , at the same time , to stipulate that the Powers bordering on that sea should have no naval force there . Another plan is that the Straits of the Dardanelles should be closed against Russia ( whose ships of war should not be allowed to leave the Black Sea ) , but open to other nations . The Russian plenipotentiaries have provisionally repudiated any proposition tending to limit the Russian naval forces in the Black Sea ; they make no objection to the abolition of the principles of the closing of the Straits ; they are ready to consent to the free circulation of ships of war of all nations in the Dardanelles , the Bosphorus , and the Black Sea , provided

      that it is well understood that Russian ships of war shall enjoy reciprocal rights , and may always freely pass backwards and forwards from the Black Sea to the Mediterranean ; and they are willing that , if desired , the Sultan , or the Western Powers , shall have the right to make as many maritime stations as they please on the Turkish coast opposite the Crimea . The Debats goes on to say that Turkey made serious objections ( in the private meetings ) against the opening of the Straits , and was indisposed to consent to a revision of the treaty of 1841 , if the consequences of that revision was to be the recognition of the right of everj r power in the world to pass

      the Dardanelles and Bosphorus with ships of war . The consequence to be apprehended from such a stipulation would be ( the Turkish minister said ) that the independence , and even the existence , of Turkey would be at an end . ^ Constantinople would become a mere commercial town , open to all comers , and exposed , defenceless , to every insult . The principle of closing the Dardanelles is , say the Turks , as ancient as the domination of the Ottomans at Constantinople , and is a consequence of the simultaneous possession of the European and Asiatic provinces situated upon the banks of _ the Straits . "

      April 14, 1855] The Leader, 341

      April 14 , 1855 ] THE LEADER , 341

      Turkish Reforms. Lord Stratford Jde Redc...

      TURKISH REFORMS . Lord Stratford jde Redci-iffe has addressed a circular to the English consuls in the Levant , giving them an account of four important measures of reform emanating from the Turkish Government , and requesting that they will aid the local authorities in enforcing them , since many traditional prejudices and adverse interests will need to be overcome , and the task will be oneof great difficulty , requiringjupport and encouragement . His lordship appends the annexed outline of these measures : —

      " By the first , a signal improvement has been introduced into the procedure of criminal jurisdiction throughout the Ottoman Empire . New securities have been given to the protection of innocence , and for the discovery of guilt , in trials of that description ; and , above all , the testimony of witnesses , to whatever class of the Sultan ' s subjects they may belong , has been thereby placed on a footing of perfect equality . " The second is directed against tho disorders and acts of cruel violence but too frequently perpetrated by irregular soldiers in the Porto ' s service , or by unemployed individuals , abandoned to tho indulgence of their passions , and addicted to plunder and sanguinary crime . " The third has established tho removal of every kind of restriction attached of lato to tho free exportation of grain from the ports of Turkey .

      " The fourth , and not tho least beneficial , is n complete interdiction of tho traffic in slaves from Georgia and Circasaia . "

      America. Tub Latest Advices Received At ...

      AMERICA . Tub latest advices received at Now York from the South American Pacific coast , states on the authority of El Mercurio de Provincial ! , published at Valparaiso , that a protest against the transfer to tho United States of any interest whatever in the Galapagos Islands has been made by the minister of Peru , tho chargds d ' affaires of Spain and France , and the English consul at Quito . Tho JNcw York Courier and Enquirer says that this tendency on tho part of England and Franco to interfere In the negotiations between tho United States and their sister republics of the West , is extremely irritating to Americana , and that there is no justifiable ground for such proceedings . AH accounts received from Canada ( says tho American correspondent of tho Daily News ) lead ' us to tho opinion that tho Canadians are fast verging towards republicanism . A bill has been introduced

      into the Canadian Parliament by Mr . Cauchon , the Commissioner of Crown Lands , to render the Legislative Council elective . A party seems to have been organised to insist upon the extension of the same principle to the governor-generalshipj the judiciary and the magistracy . A profound feeling of discontent has , it is said , been created by the Militia Bill ; and there are many other signs which would . appear to indicate a desire to uproot the present imperial system , which in the opinion even of the people of the United States has been characterised , during the late years especially , by the largest spirit of liberality .

      There is a split in the ranks of the " Filibusters . " Colonel M'Kinney has been dismissed ; and the freebooters , it is thought , will be scattered . " Filibuster " Captain Walker , however , thinks of rallying the ranks , and proposing to them some new scheme of buccaneering . It is said that President Pierce is well inclined towards the " Fillibusters ; " but is kept in check by the superior influence of Mr . Secretary Marcy . The Sardinian Government has explained that the individuals recently thrown by it upon the shores of the United States were not paupers , but political exiles from Lombardy . Nevertheless , they were provided with so scanty a stock of money , that they were very soon obliged to come upon the American almshouses . America naturally objects to being thus forced to support the outcast poverty of Europe ; more especially as the evil increases year by

      year . We find it stated , by the correspondent previously quoted , that " Colonel M'CIuny , the notorious American duellist , who is said during his life to have killed in personal combat more than fifty persons , has come to a most appropriate end—he has killed himself . This barbarous practice of duelling , which at one time prevailed extensively in the south , is now nearly obsolete . Stringent enactments exist against it in all the states ; and where we had formerly two duels a day , we have now scarcely a dozen a year . " commercial

      California . —The recent crash in the world has , to a certain extent , passed . Many of the houses which had suspended business are either resuming , or about to resume . The cause oTthese suspensions is stated toJje the appropriation by the bankers of their depositors' money , which they were Consequently unable to return when it was suddenly demanded . A new and extensive mining district of many miles has been discoyered ,-which goes by the name of " Kern River Diggings , " about 650 miles south of San Francisco , Tmd which , from its richness , has attracted a great many miners from all parts of the State . Several destructive fires ( as usual ) have lately taken place in California .

      Mexico and South America . —The partisans of the insurgent leader Alvarez , at Acapulco , affirm , under date the 6 th of March , that he is gaining great successes , and that before long he will enter the city of Mexico in triumph . In Peruvian affairs there has been no further change . From Ecuador it is stated that very rich silver mines have been discovered at a place called Riobemba . „ .. _ ,.. _ _

      Continental Notes. {Extract From A Priva...

      CONTINENTAL NOTES . { Extract from a private letter . ") Paris , April 12 . . . . I suppose you have heard what great discontent has been created by the conduct of the Government with reference to the Exhibition . The Faubourg St . Antoine was almost entirely rejected by the jury , this haa excited such anger that there is to be a new gallery constructed , and an endeavour has been made to soothe the rejected by alleging want of . "pace . Perhaps , after all , tho Government is , in itself , not immediately to blame . It seems almost too absurd to suppose that they would wilfully create enemies . But they are surrounded by a set of unscrupulous speculators who want to make money by every form

      of jobbery You have seen , of course , the article in the Moniteur on the conduct of the war . It is not only an answer to tho Brussels pamphlet , but to the universal impatience now prevailing hers . It is thought that a government which lias always affected resorvo must begin to bo iitraid when it is reduced to tho defensive . Tho state of feeling in France—* . e . in Paris—is incurably hostile . W * ny arrests take place daily . Tho report is , that after tho visit to England will come tho expedition to tho Crimea : and that tho opening of tho Jwclubitionwillbo put on" till tho lflth of June in consequenco . Some of tho English exhibitors threaten to send back what they have brought ; others have already sold again .

      Domcnieo Cecchotti, A Workman Employed I...

      Domcnieo Cecchotti , a workman employed in a tobacco manufactory at Florence , has been sentenced to a yoar ' a imprisonment'for niading tho Biblo . Ho is a widower with four children , of whom tho youngest is only six yoara old . On being examined by tho Chancellor of

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 14, 1855, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14041855/page/5/