p. 226 | THE THIRD POINT by Editor

Publishing Committee · Rochester, N. Y. · May 15, 1855

THE THIRD POINT.

By Editor

THE latest advices from Vienna give information that the Conference of the several Powers, having agreed upon the first and second points, had passed over the third, while waiting instructions from their governments at home. The Third point has respect to the power of Russia in the Black Sea. England and France would desire to secure from Russia, as a condition of peace, a pledge to reduce her fleet, and to dismantle the fortress of Sebastopol. Russia has consented to any reasonable terms, which do not bring into question her sovereignty on her own territory, but to destroy her own forts at the dictation of her enemies, and so to cripple her own means of defence and offence, is a degradation to which Russia will not consent. Indeed it seems absurd for the Allies to demand that Russia should do to herself, what they have most signally and disastrously failed to accomplish during a whole campaign. But for the Allies to make peace without carrying this point, and thereby admitting that they are unable to cripple Russia, in the field or in the cabinet, will be in the highest degree disgraceful to them, and would doubtless meet the general condemnation of the people of England and France.

Some of the foreign papers, and one or two of our own, have rumors of peace as immediately at hand. We confess it is hard to find any justification for such expections in progress of negotiations, or in the events transpiring in the Crimea. Indeed affairs look more like coming to a deadlock, than like making progress toward peace. In the meantime, an immense Russian army is on its way to the Crimea. The Holy Synod of St. Petersburg has issued an appeal to the people, urging upon them to devote themselves body and soul to sustain the Emperor in the great struggle to maintain the glory of the crown, and the integrity of the empire. We make a single extract from this appeal:

"Inhabitants of the country and of hamlets, you who arm for the defence of the church, of the throne, and of the natal soil, oppose to impious legions your powerful Russian breasts, in which beat hearts devoted to the faith of your ancestors and to the orthodox autocrat! But in preparing yourselves for the combat, place, above all things, your confidence in God, who gives invincible strength to those who execute his will, and remember that that which most terrifies your enemies is your holy religion, your pure conscience, your obedience to supreme authority as to God himself—to your masters and to your chiefs as to your parents. It is in the obedience which is agreeable to God, that dwells all the strength of the Russian empire.

"Fathers and mothers! you have before your eyes a sublime example in the imperial family; the Grand Dukes, blessed by their august parents, will hasten to the field of battle for your personal defence; is it for you now to hesitate to send you children there, at the request of the Czar? Say to them:—Children, take there your place, for the defence of our common mother, the divine church, and of the mother that nursed us—the Russian soil; your earthly parents bless you, and the church will pray for you."

With such a spirit as this animating the Russian Empire, it is plainly impossible for the new Czar to humble himself before the Allies, especially when as yet they have made no progress in compelling him to terms.