The Virginian

INTERESTING FOREIGN NEWS
From the Paris papers of December 2.

The Congress has changed its place: it is no longer at Verona. According to an article in the Moniteur of yesterday, it will be for Spain at Paris—for Italy at Vienna -and for the East wherever the Emperor Alexander may happen to be.

A new political system is to take the place of the old. Instead of admitting in Europe only one single interest—that of the Holy Alliance -the new system of policy reduces every thing to the particular interests of each separate State.

We remark, however, that the Moniteur seems indirectly to exclude England from that honorable union which has placed in the hands of the French Government, the balance on which, relatively to Spain, the policy of the European Cabinets ought to rest. Will that Power consent to be thus disregarded? But if England do not consent to the intervention, will it preserve at least neutrality? The Moniteur has not released us from this difficulty.

Be this as it may. it necessarily results from the article in the Moniteur, that France in the name of the high Continental Powers of Europe, is going to enter into new negotiations with Spain.

We know not whether France ought on this account to congratulate herself on the triumph of her diplomatists. We also do not know whether our merchants ought to rejoice at that triumph. At present, from the mere fear of war, it is difficult to insure at London the return of a French ship from India at 5 per cent.—What will the insurance be if war break out?

But it is not decided. It is at Paris the question is now to be agitated, since it has not been decided at Verona.

The speedy arrival of the Duke of Wellington and the Russian Ambassador is announced, who may be regarded as the representatives of peace and war. If they have any thing to say to our government. it will no longer be in the general interest of Holy Alliance, but in the particular interest of their Cabinets.

Such is the new diplomatic jurisprudence established at Laybach, and confirmed at Verona. The Holy Alliance is nothing, the vicinage is every thing.

It is in virtue of this right that Austria invaded Naples, that France wishes to invade Spain, and that Russia will, without doubt, invade the Ottoman.

If we do not deceive ourselves, this was the law of nations before there was any Holy Alliance, and the Holy Alliance, was only created to make this law of nations disappear.

Extract of a letter to the London Courier dated Paris. Dec.3.

"Dispatches were sent off this afternoon to Spain. The question of a declaration of war will, in all probability, depend upon the answer to these dispatches.

The decision of the Congress was sent off to Madrid from Verona, and the dispatches now spoken of, are supposed to contain a statement of the views of France, and a requisition to certain acts, on the refusal to comply with which: requisition, a war is threatened.

"The late accounts from Madrid by no means lead to the expectation, that the present Government of Spain will be willing to make any concessions for the sake of preserving peace

The last advices from Madrid are only eight days old, and by them we find that the Cortes was adopting every active and vigorous measure to raise a large military force?

The confidence of a war is freely spoken of, and it was again required, that France should give a clear and categorical answer to the question, as to her intention in bringing so large an army on the frontiers.

It seems that this demand was answered by a statement on the part of the Spanish Ministry. that negotiations were pending, upon the subject.

It was declared in this discussion, according to a private letter, that but for the aid of France in money, arms, and protection, the rebellion in the north would have been terminated long since.

"All the news from Toulouse, Bayonne and Perpignan, relative to the successes of the Constitutionalists, is receiving confirmation; and having quelled this domestic enemy, for the present at least, it is not likely that the Spanish Government will be inclined, on this account, to be more submissive."

The above is the substance of the intelligence received at London, where it produced an unusual sensation. Cabinet Councils were frequently held and the stocks had fallen to 79 1/2. The French Stocks had fallen to 68 1/2.

The Courier of the 4th remarks that "war must take place between France and Spain, unless one of two things happen, which we have not, at present, the least right to expect --1st, that the Cortes will abandon their Constitution, and consent to modelled one upon the views and principles of the Continental Powers; or, 2dly, that France has persisted with such constancy and determination in getting her claim of a right to an armed intervention with the affairs of Spain acknowledged, without having the intention of exercising it.

What a ridiculous figure would she cut in the eyes of European Powers— particularly in those of Spain! They would argue in this way—The Holy Alliance think to intimidate us by threats, but dare not carry them into execution."-- Why, in that case, infinitely more injury than benefit would be done to the cause of legitimacy, and it would have been better that the claim of right had never been enforced, but that Spain had been left unnoticed and untouched, in all the mischief of revolutionary warfare.

Upon these grounds which appear to us perfectly plain and natural, we cannot but be of opinion, that war will take place.— And, as far as we are able to ascertain, both parties have, for some time been making preparations for such an event.

Nor has France been backward on her part. She has been gradually increasing her army on the Spanish frontiers; and we see, by a decree in the Moniteur on Sunday, that she has ordered 40,000 men of the class of 1822. to be called out.

With respect to the reports in the French papers, of a commercial treaty between England and Spain, we can say, that no such treaty has been made—though it is understood that in two or three sittings of the Cortes about the 20th of last month, authority was demanded by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to negotiate not only a Commercial Treaty, but a Treaty of Alliance offensive and defensive with this country.

Whatever foundation there may be for the report of such a demand having been made, we may safely take upon ourselves to assert, that next to the wish that Europe should remain at peace, is the determination of our Government to be strictly neutral in the war that appears to be impending. Of course such a determination will be totally incompatible with the policy of entering into an offensive and defensive alliance with Spain.