On this page
-
Text (2)
-
May 17, 1856/] THE LEADER. 463
-
AMERICA. Tine last, advices from America...
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.
-
-
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.
Condition Of Italy. We Subjoin The Impor...
having effected the slightest alleviation in the sufferings of Italy , but without having cast beyond the Alps a solitary g leam of hope in the future to calm men ' s minds , and so induce the Xtalians to support yet awhile the present with resignation . , " The peculiar position that Austria held in the late ( Congress rendered , perhaps , this deplorable result inevitable . This the undersigned are ready to admit . But without in the least reproaching their allies , they think thev niav justly call attention to the serious consequences " -which may ariae in Europe , in Italy , and , above all , in Sardinia . It would be unnecessary to describe the actual condition of Italy . What has occurred in that country for some years past is already
too notorious . The system of repression and of violent reaction that might have some justification in the troubled times of ' 48 and ' 49 is now continued without mitigation , and even , with a few exceptions , with a redoubled vigour . Never , at any period , have the dungeons and the galleys been more crowded with political offenders . Never has the number of exiles been more considerable , the surveillance of the police more strict , ore the political state of the people more distressing . What Is now passing in Parma is beyond belief . Such a system of rule necessarily engenders in the popula--tion a constant feeling of irritation and disaffection . This has been the case with Italy for the last seven years . Latterly , indeed , the popular agitation
seem 3 to have somewhat calmed . The Italians , seeing one of their own national monarchs coalesced with the great Western Powers in their combat for the principles of right and justice , and for the benefit of their . co-religionists in the East , entertained the hope that peace would not hive been concluded without some efforts being made to mitigate their own sufferings . This hope rendered them calm and resigned . But when they discover the negative results of the Paris Congress—-when it shall become known to them that Austria , in apite of the good offices and amicable intervention of France and England , has objected to all discussion on
the subject of Italy , that she would not even countenance the examination of measures calculated to remedy so sad a state of affairs , it is not to be doubted that their temporarily suppressed irritation will become more violent than ever . Convinced that they have nothing more to expect from diplomacy , nor from the powers who take an interest in their fate , the Italians will range themselves in the ranks of the revolutionary and subversive party with renewed ardour , and Italy will again become the hotbed of consp iracies and disorder , that perchance may be restrained for a time by yet more vigorous compression , but which the least commotion abroad will cause to bur 3 t forth with
unprecedented violence . " This disastrous state of things , if it engages the attention of England and France , interested equally in the maintenance of order and the steady progress of civilization , ought naturally to occupy most seriously the Government of the King of Sardinia . The stir of revolutionary passions in the countries contiguous to Piedmont , the effect of a cause of a nature calculated to excite the liveliest popular sympathy , exposes her to dangers of the gravest kind , that might possibly compromise the firm and moderate policy which , to her , has been so fertile in excellent results , and that has long attracted the admiration of enlightened Europe .
" But this is not the only danger that menaces Sardinia . A greater one still exists in the consequences of those means Austria may employ to compress the revolutionary tendencies in Italy . Responding to the call of the Sovereigns of insignificant Italian States , who are unable to restrain their own discontented subjects , this Power holds military occupation of the greater part of tho valley of the Po and of Central Italy , and her influence , in fact , extends in an irresistible manner to those provinces where even she may not happen to have soldiers . Resting on one side on Ferrara and Bologna , her troops are ranged
as far as Ancona , the whole length of tho Adriatic , which in now in some respects an Austrian lake ; on tho other side rusting on Piacenza , which , contrary to the spirit , if not to the letter of the treaty of Vienna , she exerts herself to transform into a first-class fortress . She has a garrison ut Parma , and can deploy her forces tho whole length of the Sardinian frontier from tho Po to the summits of the Apennines . Tho permanent occupation by Austria of territories that do not belong to her , renders her tho absolute mistress of tho whole of Italy , destroying tho equilibrium established by tho treaty of Vionno , and constitutes a continual monuco to Piedmont .
" Surrounded in a measure on all sides by tho Austrians , completely beset on her eastern frontier by the forces of this Power , who looks on her with no benevolent eye , Piedmont ia kept in a continued Htato of apprehension , that obliges her to bo over armed , and to preserve a defensive attitude . This draws heavily on her financoH , already deranged by tho events of 1 H 1 H and 1840 , and by tho war iu which aho has lately participated . "These facts , which tho undersigned havo just aot forth , will bo nufllciont to miiko plain tho perils of tho position ia which tho Sardiniun Government Hilda itself placed .
" Troubled in domestic affairs by the action of revolutionary passions that are communicated from neighbouring States , where these evils are engendered by a violent system of oppression , and by foreign occupation , menaced , by the extension of the- power of Austria , it may , from one moment to another , be forced by an inevitable necessity to adopt extreme remedies , the results of which it is impossible to foretel . " The undersigned do not doubt that this state of affairs will awaken the solicitude of the Governments of France and England , not only on account of the friendship and the real sympathy they profess for the Sovereign who alone amongst all , when success was most uncertain , dared to declare in their favour , but , above all , because it is a veritable danger that threatens the peace of the whole of Europe .
" Sardinia is the only State of Italy that can erect a permanent barrier to the revolutionary spirit , and at the same time be independent of Austria , to whose invading influence she is also the only counterpoise . " If Sardinia , exhausted internally , abandoned by her allies , was obliged to succumb to superior force , if she fell under the domination of Austria , then the conquest of Italy by this power would at once be achieved . And Austria , after having obtained in the East without the slightest sacrifice the immense benefit of the free navigation of the Danube , and the neutralization of the Black Sea , would then acquire also a preponderance in the West . This would be what France and England cannot wish—what they can never permit .
" But the undersigned are convinced that the Cabinets of Paris and London , taking into serious consideration the state of Italy , will advise , in concert with Sardinia , as to the means of apply ing an efficacious remedy . " ( Signed ) " C . Cavoitr . " DE VlLLAMAKlNA . " Paris , 16 th April . " The " verbal note , " presented by the Sardinian Plenipotentiaries to the Ministers of France and England on the 27 th of March , we have already published in these columns from exclusive sources . In the Sardinian Chambers , on the 6 th inst ., in reply to Signor Buffa , Count Cavour made a statement of the part he and his colleague had taken in the Conferences , more especially with respect to Italy . Speaking of Lord Clarendon , he observed : —
" I am delig hted to be able to declare that that illustrious statesman , whom I am proud to call my friend , evinced so much sympathy towards Italy , and so ardent a desire to see her position ameliorated , that he ia entitled to the gratitude , not only of the Piedmontese , but of all Italians It is a great point gained , that France and England have both declared that it is advisable that the occupation of Central Italy should cease as soon as possible . " Count Cavour concluded : — "It is certain that the negotiations of Paris have not improved our relations with Austria . I must say that the Sardinian and Austrian Plenipotentiaries , after having sat side by side to cooperate in one of the greatest political works which has been accomplished for the last forty years , separated , it is true , without personal anger ( for I must render full
justice to the courteous conduct of the Austrian representatives ) , but with the firm conviction that the political systems of the two countries are wider apart than ever . ( Hear , hear . ) This may give rise , perhaps , to dissensions and engender dangers , but it is an inevitable and forced consequence of the system of perfect liberty which Victor Emmanuel inaugurated on ascending the throne , and which you have warmly approved . ( Cries o Bravo / " ) I do not think that the anticipation of these dangers should induce the king to change his policy . At present , the cause of Italy has been brought before the tribunal of public opinion , to which it belongs , according to the noble expression of the Emperor of the French , to render the final verdict . Tho suit may be , perhaps , a long one ; but I feel full confidence that the lofinitive issue will be in conformity with tho justice of the cause . " ( T , oud applause . ')
In answer to a question on the following day , Count Crtvour said : — " It is true that some years ago we havo boon advised by some high personages ( this was nn allusion to the Emperor of tho French ) to make up our differences with tho Court of Rome ; but now tho same personages havo changed thoir mind . They have seen that the Austrian Concordat was an attempt to go back to tho institutions of tho middle ages , and therefore , instead of advising us to come to an understanding with the Holy See , thoy huvo actually encouraged ua to assort , u . s firmly us possiblethe rig hts of tho civil power . "
, A declaration of tho Chamber ' s upproval of tho course taken by Sardinia at tho Conferences was thon unanimously carried .
May 17, 1856/] The Leader. 463
May 17 , 1856 /] THE LEADER . 463
America. Tine Last, Advices From America...
AMERICA . Tine last , advices from America contain a summary of a Hpooch mado in tho Washington llouso of Representatives by Mr . Quitmun , in which ho nclvocatotl tho repeal of tlio Neutrality Lawn , which ho considered a violation of the ¦ constitution and a stigma on American intelligence Ho remarked : " Mexico is iu a Htiito of dissolution , divided into factions , and lingering out a nilsorable existence by soiling her territory to this country . 1 "
Central America there has been a series of revolution * for years . Cuba , the last remnant of the gigantic despotism of Spain , is necessary for the protection of our commerce and for the national repose and security . The law of nations depends upon circumstances . Their foundation is reason , right , and justice . We ' have not our . own connecting link between the Atlantic and Pacific States , and that man is guilty of moral treason who halts about the means of seizing the Isthmus . It must be taken even at the expense of a war . It is manifest destiny , as well as a national necessity . " In the course of his remarks he said England had had the address to induce the United States Government to reject a favourable treaty with Dominica , and had besides exerted an influence over Spain to their detriment . Duty to their country demanded that they should guard against the repetition of such flagrant offences . The discussion was adjourned .
Commodore Salter , of the Brazil squadron , reports to the Government that he has escorted out to sea the steamer America ( which was supposed to have been fitted out at New York as a Russian privateer ) , and that she was not molested by the English Admiral , as previously threatened . Messrs . Hammocks , Hicks , and Kingsley charged with setting on foot at New York a hostile expedition to co-operate with General Walker in Nicaragua , have been discharged by the United States Commissioner , as he did not consider the testimony sufficient to warrant their detention .
Kansas is still in a most disturbed and unhappy condition . Further contests between the pro- and antislavery parties have led to fatal results to some of the authorities . About twenty passengers , on therr way to California , have been killed by the Indians of the Isthmus , at Panama , and some thirty or forty were badly wounded . The quarrel originated in a dispute concerning one dime between an intoxicated passenger and a native who demanded payment for a piece of water melon . The war between Walker and the Costa Ricans continues , and the former has sustained another defeat . Rivas is reported to have had two thousand men ; Walker only six hundred . The fight , it is added , lasted eighteen hours , when Walker , "for want of
ammunition , " withdrew , leaving six hundred of the enemy dead , and a large number wounded . Walker ' s loss is set down at less than one hundred wounded ; but the account is evidently coloured so as to make the best for the Filibusters . A correspondence between the English and Costa Rican Governments , containing a tender of two thousand stand of arms at a specified price , and other aid from the former to the latter , is said to have been intercepted . The letters connected with this promise ( whether genuine or not ) are printed by the New York Herald . They consist of a communication from Mr . Hammond , secretary to Lord Clarendon ( dated February 9 th , 1856 ) , and two despatches to his own Government from E . Wallerstein , the Consul-General of Costa Rica at London ( dated respectively February 10 th , and
February 16 th , 1856 ) . In the last of these , the writer 8 ay 3 : — " When I was telling Lord Clarendon that Costa Rica already had an army of eig ht hundred men on the frontier of Nicaragua , he was much pleased , and said , ' That was a right stop , ' and I am persuaded that my having made that insinuation is one of the reasons for giving us the muskets . The questions pending between this country and tho United States aro very complicated , but there will bo no war , for this reason , that the gentlemen in the groat Republic observe that , although tho British nation do not boast or say much on tho subject , thoy are determined to punish tho Yankees very seriously for the least insult to the national honour . To tho eyes
of the whole world—of this country in particular—a war between the two nations would be one of tho worst of evils ; but to Central America the case would be very different , as Walker and his usaoeiates would soon bo kicked out of Nicaragua . " The New York Herald adds : — " Two other letters accompanied tho correspondence , ono of which was from Mr . Moliuy , the Costa Rican Minister at Washington , informing his Government of recent letters recoivod from tho Governments of Great Britain and Frun < : e , in which great sympathy is felt for tho Central American States iu general . The other informs tho Government of Costa Rica that an English Hoot will bo immediately sent to the Pacific coaat of
Costa Rica . " Mr . Buchanan has junt experienced an enthusiastic reception in Philadelphia . Iu his reply to the congratulatory welcome tendered to him at the Morehanta' Exchiuigi ' , he said : — " I have been abroad in trying timoa , it is truo ; but tho grout principles which havo guidqd my conduct abroad aro those : Peace , commerce , and honest friendship with all nations , entangling alliances with nemo . Ask for nothing that is not clearly right h % our intercourse with foreign nations , and submit to nothing which in wrong . Gentlemen , it \ n hardly proper for me to speak of tho diplomatic business in which I have been engaged on tho other Bide of the Atlantic ; but I havo boon asked repeatedly —i . i there danger of war ? I think not , But it is Bunply because I bolievo our country to bo ho clearly and decidedly in tho right on the questions involved between the two countries , that the Dritish people never will consent to irritate them into a dangerous condition for both parties . Wo
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), May 17, 1856, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_17051856/page/7/
-