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Leader (1850-1860), 14th April 1855, Edition 1 of 2, Page 341, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      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 t he final arrangement ( if such should result ) shall be couched , are of course left for the- common consideration of the Conference . The Conslilutionnel says that Prince Gortschako 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 future 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 Pour Points : —

      " In the 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 exist , that a real protectorate lias ever been granted to Russia by virtue of treaties" concerning the Danubian

      provinces . All that results from those treaties maybe 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 [ ofthe 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 friendship which the great Powers intend bestowing on her in this matter , approves of the material means by which these Powors are desirous of virtually terminating the Russian preponderance . But it is at the same time the duty of the Sublime Porte to tako 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 the empire might possibly bo endangered .

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

      the part of the allied and friendly Powcrn , they will continue to deem as an object of the highest importance that whatever concerns the * intcmul administration of the subjects of tho empire should not be the subject of any stipulation not compatible with tho independence of the Sublime Porto—an independence which theso vory allied Powors havo declared their wish to protect against the encroachments of Russia . It is on that account that tho Sublime Porto will , in concert with its allies , reject any attempt on tho part of Prince Gortsehakoft " to obtain tho insertion into tho treaty of peace 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 tne 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 Bud ' 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 News , we learn

      that" It is proposed to maintain and proclaim anew the principle of closing the Straits , to declare the Black Sea a mare 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 toell understood that Russian sldps of war shall enjoy reciprocal rights , and may cdways freely pass haclcwards and fonoards 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 even-- 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 . "

      Untitled Article

      TURKISH REFORMS . Lord Stratford ue Hedcliffe 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 one of great difficulty , requiring support and encouragement . His lordship appends the annexed outline of those measures : —

      " By the first , a signal improvement has been introduced into tho 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 tho Sultan ' s subjects they may belong , has been thereby placed on a footing of perfect equality . " The second is directed against the disorders and acts of cruel violence but too frequently perpetrated by' irregular soldiers in the Porte ' s service , or by unemployed individuals , abandoned to the indulgence of their passions , and addicted to plunder and sanguinary crime . " The third has established the removal of every kind of restriction attached of late to the free exportation of grain from the ports of Turkey . " Tho fourth , and not the least beneficial , is a complete interdiction of tho traffic in slaves from Georgia and Circassia . "

      Untitled Article

      AMERICA . The lutest advices received at New York from tho South American Pacific coast , states on the authority of J £ l Mcrcurio de Pruvinciuxi published at Valparaiso , that a protest against tho transfer to tho United Status of any interest whatover in tho Galapagos Islands has been made by the minister of Peru , tho chargds d ' affaires of Spain and France , and tho English consul at Quito . Tho JSew York Courier and Enquirer says that this tendency on the part of England and Franco to interfere in tho negotiations between tho United States and their sister republics of tlio West , is extremely irritating to Americans , and that there ia no justifiable ground for such proceedings . All accounts received from Canada ( says the American correspondent of tho Daily JYews ) lead uh 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-generalship , the judiciary , and' tne 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 . f

      There is a split in the ranks othe " Fillibusters . " 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 Air . Secretary Marey . 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'Cluny , 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 . " California . —The recent crash in the commercial

      world has , to a certain extent , passed . Many of the houses which hadsuspended business are either resuming ' , orabout to resume . The cause of these suspensions is stated to be 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 discovered , which goes by the name of " Kern River Diggings , " about 650 miles south of San Francisco , and which , ftom 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 Soutii 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 ; - - ~ -

      Untitled Article

      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 has 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 ppace . Perhaps , after all , the 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 tho war . It is not only an answer to tho Brussels pamphlet , but to the universal impatienco now prevailing hers . It is thought that a government which hua always affected reserve must begin to bo afraid when it is reduced to the defensive . Tho state ot feeling in France—i . e . in Paris—ia incurubly hostile . Many arrests take place daily . Tho report w , that after tho visit to England will como tho expedition to tho Crimea ; and that tho opening of tho Exhibition will bo put off till tho 15 th of Juno in consequence . Some of tho English exhibitors threaten to send back what they havo brought } others havo already sold again .

      Untitled Article

      Domonico Cecchotti , a workman employed in a tobacco manufactory at Florence , han been Hentcnccd to a year ' s iiripritionmunt for reading tlio Bible . Ho ia a widower with four children , of whom tho youngest is only eix years old . On being examined by tho Chancellor of

      Untitled Article

      April 14 , 1855 . ] THE LEADER . 341

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 14, 1855, page 341, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2086/page/5/