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722 THE LEADEK. TPuBtTr
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THREATENED RENEWAL OF IMPRESSMENT. " The...
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* a PHY m? i?t?tctwtvj a xrr* i muijrttAJ. liX U* J>fcKX)lNAND H
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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.
For An Extension Of The Franchise, And H...
Austria to come to terms with France ; but those who know the obstinacy -which characterises the Court , of- "Vienna whenever it is wrong , do not anticipate anything so sensible as a confession of defeat . The Adda is not reckoned a strong line of defence ; but on the Mincio Austria may hold her ground for months , and during that period she may calculate upon regaining by diplomacy what she has lost by war By transporting troops through Bavaria she has compromised the neutrality of that Power * find will continue her efforts to force either that or some other German State into hostility with France . These efforts , howevei ,
cut both ways , and would justify Prussia in breaking up the Germanic Confederation , rather than permit one of its members to plunge all the states into danger by acts contrary to the spirit of their union . The advice given by Russia should be enforced by England , as the best chance of bringing the war Ito a quick and satisfactory termination , by making Austria feel that the cup of quarrel is her own making , and that she is welcome to drain it to the dregs , if she doos not choose to cry " hold , enough . "
We regret to observe that the Tuscans are doing very little for their own emancipation , and this will be the more deplorable if jealousy of Sardinia is connected with the inaction . At such a crisis in Italian history all differences should be set aside , and , as a practical step towards ultimate unity and liberty , all the north of Italy should hasten to acknowledge allegiance to the Sardinian crown . This may not be the best thing that Italian patriots Could conceive ; but the man or the nation that neglects the practicable in search of the ideal incurs a penalty of bitter experience as the inevitable reward of a lack of sense .
722 The Leadek. Tpubttr
722 THE LEADEK . TPuBtTr
Threatened Renewal Of Impressment. " The...
THREATENED RENEWAL OF IMPRESSMENT . " The . greater is the danger of war—to be prepared for which the ] whole nation is now arming—the more incumbent it is on the public to prevent all new measures , and sweep avay all old measures , which tend to excite an unwillingness in our seafaring people to serve in the navy . We would fain hope that Ministers entertain a similar view , for the only measure which they announce in the speech from the throne is a bill to give effect to the recommendations of the commissioners , for inquiring into the best means of manning the navy . In the main , these recommendations consist of concessions of more pay , more
proviin order to lessen the repugnance of the maritime population to the naval service . Bounties , pensions , and other blandishments , however , have failed to overcome this repugnance . To this day it occasions alarm for the public safety , and numerous inquiries have been instituted how it may be conquered . Last year the commission already referred to was appointed in consequence of an address of the House of Commons . It consisted of the Earl of Hardwicke , the Marquis of Chandos , Mr . Cardwell , Admiral Martin , Sir J . D . H . Elphinstone , Commodore Shepherd , Mr . Lindsay and Mr . Greene , shipowners , and Mr . Shepherd , a
Deputy Master of the Trinity House . The commission ended its labours " last February , and its report has recently been published . To ascertain the reasons of the acknowledged repugnance of the maritime population to the naval service was one object of the commission , as many of the questions put to the different witnesses distinctly prove . But neither the character and position of the members of the commission , not one of whom belongs to the class whose feelings were to be inquired into , nor the witnesses summoned before it , only one of whom was a member
of the seafaring communities of Shields , Sunderlaiid , Bridportj Yarmouth , Leith , & c , is calculated to inspire the public with any confidence in the investigations and conclusions of the commission One of its own members—perhaps the one in whom the seamen might place the most confidence , Mr . Lindsay—dissented from its conclusions , and announced liis dissent in a separate report . Thus the latest investigation leaves the subject , sofar as official men are concerned , in all its Original obscurity , and leaves the country exposed to all the evils of its natural defenders continuing disaffected and iinwillrna to serve the State .
Some of the conclusions of the commissioners , and some of the statements of the political witnesses , will excite the surprise of the public . Notwithstanding , our experience " of the disastrous effects of impressment ; notwithstanding the assurance given to the commissioners by many conir petent witnesses , that compulsion could no longer be used that , in fact , it is as dead as Gqo . III ., as surely killed by the progress of civilisation as the custom of wearing swords , the commissioners do not propose to " weaken the force of her Majesty ' s prerogative . " They think she may still require compulsory service at sea ; arid so they keep , as Captain Pirn- has already informed the seamen , impressment hanging in terrorevi over thorn . Our snmi ^ barbarous authorities still claim
to exercise the prerogative of the middle ages , and of a slave state . The ci-devant First Lord of the Admiralty to the " dirty boy " of Punch , one of the witnesses , is strenuously opposed to " any legislative enactment which should , in the slightest degree , impair the prerogative of impressment . " Sir James Graham even prides himself on having given a statutory sanction to the old prerogative , though even he was obliged to " impair" or restrict it . With such opinions entertained by our statesmen , should
the least emergency arise , the country will again see our unteachoble authorities driving , by their arbitrary violence , our natural defenders into the arms of our opponents . A dog returning to his vomit is not inqre disgusting than those often defeated and convicted men , ever going back with ardent lovo to their old dishonoured and barbarous practices . For elodhopping persistence in old ways , for claims to' power more absurd than the Pope ' s claim to infallibility , commend us to our Admiralty , and all connected with it . Worse than the Bourbons—it never learns that it is
oven possible to be wrong . The Queen ' s preroga ~ tive is now another name fbr the Ministers' power ; and in the yenr 1859 , when such claims arc made , the public should at once curtly and decisively eay that no ministers- —no Parliament even- —shall over again be allowed , on any pretext whatever , to use brutal compulsion towards the seamen , and treat thorn as if they were the slaves of the throne .
sions , and less restraints on the seamen ; but all these could be carried into effect by grants of money without further authority from the Legislature ; and therefore we suspect that the bill is chiefly intended to modify the law , as recommended by the commissioners , for more effectually enforcing " the compulsory service of the seamen , " In consequence , we feel it oui' duty to refer once more to this semi « barbarouB method of procuring useful services . It is nothing better than a civil war on a small scale , ruinous in proportion , like all civil wars ; yet high authorities talk complacently of reviving it .
There are some things , we must remind the reader , which Government ought not to do , such as prescribe or bins religious faith , settle the interest of money or the price of corn ; and there are other things , such as defending the nation or raising »• revenue in the best manner , which it is bound to do . Our country can best be defended on the surrounding ocean , and its defence must mainly be entrusted to our maritime populationborderers , everywhere placed nearest to the post of danger , and by nature appointed the defenders of their native land . Their instincts concur with
their position . They are fearless , and dislike foreigners . Only by retaining their affections and wisely guiding their exertions , can our Government perform its duty of defending the State . It has , however , been so stupidly arrogant and oppressive , so blind to facts and reason , that it has overpowered their strong instinct of" patriotism by their stronger instinct of self-preservation , and driven them from the naval service and the country . These consequences of prerogative have been known fbr a century , and , tlie conduct of Government has been condemned alike by moral sentiment and caroM observation . Latterly , a thousand peddling little improvements in pay , pensions and provisions , badges for good conduct—no ono will give Government such a badge—have been made
* A Phy M? I?T?Tctwtvj A Xrr* I Muijrttaj. Lix U* J≫Fckx)Lnand H
which the liberal world is deeply indebted for the liberal lessons she imparted eleven years ago . The birth-place of the immortal Giovanni Piraino the learned Baron Casiiniro Pisani , and the seat ' of a Parliament during eight centuries , this city , which dethroned kings because they could not or would not maintain its free institutions , boldly cast the gauntlet of defiance at Ferdinand the Second , and under the humble roof of a man of law drew up a proclamation which would have been characterised as a mere foolish bravado , had it not been followed by definite results . Francesco Bagpasco published the following m'Offranime : —— " Sicilians ! nnr rwaw-ra n < in ; A »
protestations , demands and supplications , have all proved vain . So far from listening to them , Ferdinand has despised them . We , a people bora free , are obliged to humble ourselves and beg for our rights . To arms , then , Sicilians I Let the morning of January 12 th be the moment when the era of universal regeneration shall commence Union , order , obedience to your leaders , respect for property ! Heaven second and prosper our holy undertaking ! Sicilians to arms ! " This proclamation began to be circulated throughout Sicily on the 4 th of January , 1848 . In the evening of the 11 th , every one supplied himself with a stock of
provisions . The Government of Palmero awaited the dawn of the 12 th . Patrols of fifty soldiers , picqiiets of cavalry reinforcements of the guards were attended to . The troops were consigned to their quarters ; the mortars with the artillery of the forts prepared and the matches lighted were undoubted signs that , notwithstanding the incredulity of Government , it was preparedfor any event . On the 14 th of January , in spite of the universal excitement , the common desirejand wish of 200 , 000 inhabitant ? , the revolution was begun by fourteen individuals only . Of these only one was killed and one wounded , while the other twelve had put to
flight , by teii o ' clock a . m ., 135 soldiers of the line , a picquet : of cavalry commanded by tlie son of Marshall Vlall , and compelled Government to plant . four pieces of artillery in the front of the Roj'ai Palace , to command the Via di Toledo , the principal street , a mile and three quarters in length . These prodigies , accomplished by twelve resolute men , produced their effect . In the evening the city lay in a state of profound . silence , broken only by an occasional shot fired from the Royal Palace . On the 13 th a revolutionary committee was formed , and La Masa , Crispi , arid Pilo , . assumed the direction , as far as circumstances would -permit , of the revolutionary movement . Victory favoured
the Palermitans . Without ¦ arm * , powder , or artillery , they kept at bay , routed , and compelled to ask quarter , an army of J 7 , 000 men , with an artillery of sixty guns . Nine thousand men under the command of Desuget , and the brother of Ferdinand IX , were arrested and routed by 300 combatants . On the 28 th of January , eight steamers bore the relics of 26 , 000 men to Naples ; the rest had fallen a prey to the balls d the insurgents . Two hours and a-lmlfs bombardment , executed by four pieces of thirty-six , and two mortars of sixteen , obliged the fort to yield ; . and it is false to say that it yielded in consequence of orders received by the commander from I crdinand . His orders , issued between September 1847 , and February 4 th , 1848 , were the followm : — i 1 . Arrest all whom you believe to be opposed to the Government . . 2 . Punish the arrested by beating at the hands of thermblio oxecutionor . 3 . Fire upon any ono who offers resistance . 4 . Bombard every two minutes from each
mortar . 6 , Permit the soldiers to make booty . 6 . Promise everything . Use the most energetic means to arrest the revolutionary chiefs . These orders were executed to the very letter , and the headsman employed his office upon from fifty to two hundred daily , to impose terror upon the people . Had Sicily not risen in revolt in January , 1848 ,, the other revolutions which burst out in almost every country of Europe would , in nil pro bability , have' been unheard of . Palermo , the birthplace oi Ferdinand . IT ., was the city most oppress ! througliout hie -whole empire , and , in conftequeneo , botn before and since that period , her share ha » been groat in the efforts made to resist the tyranny oi King Bornba . Had nlie remained iinmive , it w more than probable that Naples would have mauo
BIOGRAPHY OF FERDINAND U . NO . III . In Novcmbei ' , 1847 , a political demonstration , wlijoh lasted two days and three nights , took place at Palermo . Tnis may bo regarded as the prelude and precursor of all the European revolutions ol 1848 . Palermo , the capital of Sicily , is a city to
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), June 11, 1859, page 14, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11061859/page/14/
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