The Press. — London, England, 1856-12-20 00:00:00

DECEMBER 20, 1856. put their hands upon everything of a valuable r - In the village they received a check from t in babitants; these defended their coffers with laudable determination, and on intelligence arriving of the near approach of the military the insurgents dis banded and fled into the mountains. Their number never exceeded 200. Bentivegna and his cousin, Coaut San Marco, have been taken. The attempted assasination of the King of Naples must not be laid to the door of republicanism. Milano was a wild fanatic, whose passions had been worked upon by the orders of Mazza, or one of his gang, and was an isolated act. The whole passed off in a manner sufficiently cold and quiet to convince soy rational being that there was no reality of dan ger. The man had more than a dozen yards to run from his ranks, and if General Latour had shown a little more expedition the soldier never could have got within reach of the King. The wound hardly deserved the name, and the mark on the saddle was made in wresting the musket from the bands of the soldier. The words uttered by him were, "Ho tenuto parola," " I have kept my promise," and not "I have done my duty." He has since been banged. The Minister of the Argentine republic has made an offer, on the part of his Government, to take all the political offenders now in the Neapolitan prisons and dungeons as colonists for South Australia. The Neapolitan Minister declined the advantageous pro position on the ground of there not being a sufficient number to make it worth his while. That was not his affair. There are upwards of a thousand in Naples and the islands, without having recourse to the interior; and the Argentine Minister was quite ready to accept of that instalment. But the secrets of the prison -house were not to be disclosed by colo nisation. C. A. H. tortign Cotatial 3uttiligtut. FRANCE. The Emperor presided at a Council of Ministers on Wednesday. An official article upon the Neufchatel question has appeared in the Moniteur The great powers signed in 1852, at London, a protocol stating the rights of the King of Prussia on Neufchatel. The Government of the Emperor, bound, like the other Cabinets, could not, whatever interest he might take in Switzerland, disavow what has been consecrated by treaties. In Me a revolution took place at Neufchatel and broke asunder the bonds which connected the canton with the King of Prussia. That Sovereign constantly protested against the new order of things, making an express reserve of his rights, and has never ceased to raise his voice in favour of a portion of the population which complained of being oppressed by the victors. In the month of September last the vanquished part) endeavoured to take its revenge, invoking the name of the King. That attempt failed. The canton was occupied by the federal troops, and the Netechistelois taken with arms in hands were brought before Swiss tribunals. This event would lead to a conflict between the Hel- vetic Confederation and Prussia ; for the former in advanc. ing troops to reestablish order in the canton of Neuf chatel pretended to fulfil a federal obligation ; Prussia, on her part, found her honour engaged not to allow men to be tried who had raised the standard of the King, and who. according to their conviction, were fighting for right and justice. The attitude of the Government of France from her geographical position must necessarily have a marked influence upon the settlement of this difference. Conse quently it was the interest of both parties not to neglect anything to make sure of its support• The King of Prussia addressed himself to the Emperor, expressing to him, in emphatic language, all the interest he felt for men compromised in his cause. He begged his Majesty to request their liberation. communicating to him at the same time his conciliating dispositions. The French Government, happy to be able to prevent a eonflict between two powers to which it is bound by friendly intercourse, hastened to comply with the request of King Frederick William, and, strong in its good intentions towards Switzerland, and with the knowledge of the conci• liating sentiments of Prussia, it requested the liberation of the prisoners. At the same time the Government of the Emperor did not conceal the happy results which that concession might have, as it would become a sort of obligation on the Part of France to prevent any armed conflict, and to exert itself to obtain from the King of Prussia a final settlement of the question conformable to the wishes of Switzerland. Unhappily, these wise considerations have not been appreciated ; the counsels of France have been rejected, and the Federal Government has preferred to yield to democratical influences which are agitated around it, rather than to comply with well-meant counsels inspired solely by the desire of effecting an amicable settlement of a question which, pending too long already, might, if more complicated, disturb the peace of Europe. Thus France has met, on the one hand, with modera tion, the sincere desire of terminating a delicate question, and a courteous deference for her political situatiou ; on 120 tapha Pacha, Kiamil Pacha, Fuad Pacha, and Aril Pacha. Intelligence of the re-capture by the Hessians of Soudjcuk-Kale has been received. The Journal de Constantinople of the Bth gives the following, under the head of " Serious News " :—" On November 22, the Russian General Philipson retook Soudjouk- Kale, and drove out the Circassians, after an obsti nate resistance.'' The reported capture of some Turkish boats by the Russians is incorrect. AMERICA. Congress assembled on the Ist instant, and on the day following the President delivered his Message. The President commences by a few remarks upon the result of the election:— It is impossible to misapprehend the great principles which, by their recent political action, the people of the United States have sanctioned and announced. 'They have asserted the constitutional equality of each and all of the States of the Union of States. They have affirmed the constitutional equality of each and all of the citizens of the United States as citizens, whatever their religion, wherever their birth or their residence; they have maintained the inviolability of the constitutional rights of the different sections of the Union; and they have pro claimed their devoted and unalterable attachment to the Union and to the Constitution as objects of interest gape nor to all subjects of local or sectional controversy, as the safeguard of the rights of all, as the spirit and essence of the liberty, peace, and greatness of the Ilepublic. In doing this they have at the same time emphatically condemned the idea of organising in these United States mere geographical parties: of marshalling in hostile array towards each other the different parts of the country, north or south, east or west. He then passes to the slavery and Kansas questions, going in detail through the different stages of this " unhappy sectional controversy," and, maintaining the right and necessity of the Nebraska Bill, denies that that measure originated in a desire to extend slave labour beyond the limits assigned to it : When the act organising the territories of Kansas and Nebraska was passed the inherent effect upon that portion of the public domain thus opened to legal settlement was to admit settlers from ail the States of the Union alike, each with his convictions of public policy and private interests, there to found in their discretion, subject to such limitations as the constitution and acts of Congress might prescribe, new States hereafter to be admitted into the Union. It was a free field, open alike to all, whether the statute line of assumed restriction were repealed or not. That repeal did not open to free competition of the diverse opinions and domestic institutions a field which, without such repeal, would have been closed against them ; it found that field of competition already opened, in fact and in law. All the repeal did was to relieve the statute book of an objectionable enactment, unconstitutional in effect and injurious in terms to a large portion of the States. Is it the fact that in all the unsettled regions of the United States, if emigration be left free to act in this re spect for itself, without legal prohibitions on either side, slave labour will spontaneously go everywhere in preference to free labour? Is it the fact that the peculiar domestic institutions of the southern States possess relatively so much of vigour that wheresoever an avenue is freely open to all the world they will penetrate, to the exclusion of those of the northern States ? Is it the fact that the former enjoy, compsred with the hitter, such irresistibly superior vitality, independent of climate, soil, and all other accidental circumstances, as to be able to produce the supposed result, in spite of the assumed moral obstacles to its accomplishment, and of the more numerous population of the northern States? The President then announces, with " unmingled satisfaction," the peaceful condition of things at Kansas, and the entire restoration of tranquillity without " one drop of blood having been shed in its accomplishment by the forces of the United States." In finance, the President states the income at 73,918,141 dols., and the debt at 30,7:37,129 dols. He recommends a reduction of the revenue from Customs so as not to exceed 4R or 50 million dollars. The army and navy are reported to he in a satis factory condition. The navy is not only satisfactory, but exhibits the most gratifying evidences of in creased vigour. The new frigates ordered add largely to the public strength and security "; and, in conclusion, the President recommends " a still further increase " of the naval forces. Foreign relations are declared to be amicable with all powers. The settlement of the Anglo-Central- American question is announced, and the fishery question is thus alluded to : The treaty between the United States and Great Britain, of the sth orJune, 1854, which went into effective opera tion in 18-55, put an end to causes of irritation between the two countries, by securing to the United States the right of fishery on the coast of the British North American pro vinees, with advantages equal to those enjoyed by British subjects. Besides the signal benefits of this treaty t-) a large class of our citizens engaged in a pursuit connected to no inccusiderable degree with our national prosperity and strength, it has had a favorable effect upon other interests in the provision it made for reciprocal freedom of trade between the United States and the British provinces THE PRESS. Switzerland must not, therefore, be astonished if, in the course of events, she should no longer find that good•will which she might so easily have obtained at the coat of a very slight sacrifice. Prince Frederick William of Prussia has during the week enjoyed the hospitality of the Emperor. His Royal Highness leaves Paris this day. The opening of the Conferences is not yet defi nitely fixed. It was believed that M. de Hubner would repreFent the Cabinet of Vienna, M. de Brunnow Russia, and Count Walewski France. The Patrie says of the Conferences, that the importance of them must neither be exaggerated nor diminished. They meet for a special and definite object—that of interpreting certain doubtful points of the treaty of Paris, and the meeting will not be a congress. But the foreign journals which say that all is settled beforehand, and that nothing remains but to affix the signatures, are, the Patrie asserts, " quite wrong." The plenipotentiaries meet for some thing else than to fulfil a mere formality, and " every thing announces that the discussion will be warm, serious, and not without difficulty." The opinion of the Patrie is supported by the semi-official periodical, Revue Contemporaine. M. d'Agioul, the confidential agent of the King of Naples, is in Paris. He has merely come, it is said, on private business. PRUSSIA AND NEUFCHATEL. It is confidently stated that Prussia is resolved on an armed intervention in case the royalist prisoners shall be condemned. Letters from Berlin confirm the seriousness of the resolution which the Prussian Government has taken and communicated to the great powers. Already diplomatic communications have been opened to secure a passage to the Swiss frontier for Prussian troops. The New Prussian Gazette states that the royal army will advance into Switzerland, seize a few important points, and hold them as a material guarantee until justice is done to the King's claims. At Neufchatel people have recovered from the fear hitherto entertained of an attempt to rescue the royalist prisoners, who are now permitted to enjoy all reasonable liberty. Persons are admitted who come to visit them. M. de Pourtales and M. WoMath have been liberated on bail. _ The Suisse says :—"lt is stated that a similar favour will he granted to five other prisoners. The Confederation will indemnify the state of Neufcbatel for the costs of the safe custody of the prisoners and of the local arrangements for their trial." ITALY. Milano, the soldier who attempted the assassina tion of tile King, has been hanged. Before his exe cution he wrote out the following deposition:— For six years I have cherished a hatred against Ferdi nand 11. I belong to the class of insurgents in Calabria in the year 1 , 418. It was my intention to purge the earth of this monster. I have not the slightest intention of revealinr , the names of my brethren who conspire like me to rid the world of this tyrant; but the occasion will come when their dagLtrs will avenge all. The insurrection in Sicily has been completely suppressed. The Chevalier Boncompagni, President of the Chamber of D.Tuties, has been named Minister Plenipotentiary of Piedmont at Florence. Letters from Bologna state that Count Lavatelli has died of his wounds after three days' suffering. SPAIN. M. Gonzales Bravo, on the 12th, was to leave for London at the end of the present month or the be ginning of January. M. Mon was again spoken of for the Embassy at Rome. The Epoca says that a royal decree re-establishing the octroi duties had been submitted to the Queen ; but this was con sidered erroneous, though it is not doubted that the Council of Ministers has resolved to re-establish those duties. TURKEY AND THE EAST. The official list of the Ministry, as it npw stands, is as follows Redschid Pacha, Grand Vizier. Arif Effendi, Sheikh ul Islam. Mehmed Ali Pacha, Minister of Marine. Mehmed Pacha President of the Tanzimat Council. Itiza Pacha, Seraskier. Ahmed Fethi Pacha, Grand Master of Artillery. Ali Ghalib Pacha, Minister of the Mint and Private Treasury. Chefik Pacha, President of the Council of State. Ethem Pacha, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Safeti Paella, Minister of Commerce. Muchtar Pacha, Minister of Finance. Hassib Pacha, Minister of the Erkas or Pious Foun• dations. Izzet Pacha, Minister of Police. Safet Effendi, Mustachar of the Grand Vizier, and Minister of the Interior. Besid, thi • the regular Ministry, there are six .. _ • 111 Mac Locawccia 1.1. G aa.U. I.IIC U[11.1511 provinces and a courteous deference for her political situaiion ;on Besides this, the regular Nfinistry, there are six in America. the other hand, on the contrary, lamentable obstinacy, an The exports of domestic articles to those provinces during exaggerated susceptibility, ands complete indifference W members of the Ministerial Council without port- folios, These are : Raout Paths, .tali Puha, Ulm- he last year amounted to more than twenty-t wo millions her conneeb.