The Press. — London, England, 1856-11-29 00:00:00

NOVEMBER 29, 1856. Sortign (tr,errrsgoablatc. Bnnssm.s, Nov. 26. THE late debates in the Belgian Chambers, in answer to the address, have been ably conducted. Betwixt a Jesuit and a liberal religionist there can be no ground in common, if each be true to his cause, as there can be no middle course or doubt respecting the nature of the conflict, and of the inevitable consequence. Without resorting to the subterfuge of periphrasis, it is practically and really an extreme struggle betwixt the Pope and the Belgian Constitution, declared by the encyclical letter from the Vatican, of 1832, which set forth the liberty of conscience, the liberty of speech, and the liberty of the press, to be contrary to the spirit end the ordinances of the Roman Catholic religion. A war directed against these safeguards of freedom by the old enemy of Reformed England, and at the very threshold of Anglican Protestantism, cannot fail to interest. It is the van of an Austro-Papal legion that has imprudently commenced the battle, without waiting for the Vatican signal. The question of Papal encroachment was clearly put by M. Frere Orban, and drew from the Roman partisans angry observations and hasty admissions of a nature most damnatory to their cause. In the appeal to Catholic history, the facts cited by M. Frere were called by the Romans " worthless fragments of an antiquated history (l'histoire surannee)"—a remark that went to sap the foundation of Papal infallibility, and of which the acute orator, amidst loud applause, availed himself to make a telling application. In his reply, M. de Theux, the leader of the Catholics, an able, moderate, and accomplished statesman, deserving of the name, failed to grapple with the le *ding points of the debate. He did not deny that the opinion of a representative system of govern ment being adverse, in principle, to Romanism, had been upheld by Roman Catholic journals, but " l'itranger," and not in Belgium. The Bien Public and other papers, however, had quoted and adopted the maxim as authentic doctrine. Here was a distinction without a difference, not in character with the usual ingenuousness of the speaker. He admitted also the power of a Catholic majority to change the Constitution of 1880, and claimed especial credit for their not having so done, and for himself per-lonaliy in having proposed and obtained a salary for the Anglican Church. This was a weak argu ment, and was seized upon by M. Verhaegen to show the animus of the " parti pretre," and the ultimate object of their political combination. M. Felix de Merode, with greater sincerity than judg ment, still further proved the truth of the accusa tions against the Ultramontanes. He held boldly that the Church of the majority should be the only one subsidised by Government, asserted that every thing contrary to the doctrine of Rome was false, and that it was wrong and impious in professors to teach aught in their scientific and philosophic lec• tnres not in strict unison with such religious code. Upon being reminded that certain great truths of novel discovery in science—geographical and surgi- cal, for instance—were not quite consonant to exclu sive Romanism, and that his rule, if practised, would have banished Guizot, Humboldt, Thierry, Cousin, &c., from the professor's chair, M. de Merode became confused, and ended his diatribe by uncon sequentially attacking the Jews, and by lauding the pastorals of the Bishops of Ghent and Bruges, although these same were censured by the Pope. M. Henri de Brouckere was eloquent in the defence of a Constitution, in the framing of which he had so large a share. As each debate inflicts greater injury on the Roman priest party, the irritation of the de feated in argument vents itself in suicidal confes sions, that justify the Belgian Liberals in guarding the Constitution of 1930 against the open attempt of the Ultramontanes to damage it even to destruction. There is a singularity, however, in the Ministerial law laid down by M. Dedecker. A professor, accord ing to the Minister, must measure his teaching by the conscience of his pupils; so that a combination of Jew and Gentile, materialist and ultramontane, amongst the students, might silence a professor from the outset, and close the door of science at once. At the same time, and by the same law, that func tionary is permitted to puhlish anything without restraint, even of the most offensive description, without subjecting himself to collegiate 'ensure or governmental interference. This is a strange in eonsistency. There is nothing of a reassuring character in the aspect of continental affairs. The Danish memo random has been replied to formally by Austria and Prussia in an unfavorable sense, an expression that is not likely to be modified by the support which Denmark will probably receive from Russia. liana 1 THE PRESS. ver also will furnish troublesome matter for the Frankfort Diet, and test the value of confederated interference in the Home Government of a country disposed to question the right of such intervention. Neither is the Bavarian concordat with the Pope a subject of congratulation at Munich, since it is highly displeasing to the Germans, and renders them still more contrary to Austrian interests, to which they attribute this unpalatable measure. General Dufour has quitted Paris. His mis'ion has been fruitless, from the determination of the Federal Council to refuse the liberation cf the Neufchatel prisoners unless Prussia consented to yield her rights to the principality and countrof Valengin. The represen tation of the German Diet in favour of the protocols of 1852 has had no effect, and, according to a brag gart letter from M. Fazy, of Geneva, Switzerland is prepared to hazard everything rather than concede a single point. Extreme rigour is exercised towards the royalist prisoner., many of them being aged and of high rank. Their dungeons are narrow and con fined, and without fireplaces; they are given the poorest fare, sufficient only for existence ; no servants are allowed, not even those of the prison, to perform the necessary and menial offices ; and only lately has a candle been given, which must be extinguished at nine. The report that the English Minister at Vienna would acocmpany the Imperial retinue into Italy was incorrect. Another personage, of a different sex and different sympathies, will be a more ominous substitute, and this is the Archduchess Sophia, mother of the Emperor. Ever since the time that the Emperor received his injury in the head from a cowardly assassin, there are moments when he with draws his attention from public affairs, and when the vicinity of the political mother is reckoned upon to uphold the integrity of Austrian tactics. Upon the policy of adopting a clement rule towards the Lombardo-Venetians, the Cabinet of Vienna is divided. The partisans of the Archduchess main tain that history shows from time immemorial that severity alone has been able to keep the northern Italians in subjection, and that the milder mode of treatment by Radetzky and other generals has never succeeded in repressing the revolutionary tendencies of the Milanese. A strong opponent to harsh measures is found in M. de Bach, the Minister of the Interior ; and as he was sent on a mission into Lom bardy to ascertain the sentiments of the people before hazarding an Imperial visit, a certain leaning towards his advice is about to be shown by way of experiment. Whilst the Emperor of Austria is at Milan it is expected that King Victor Emmanuel will take that opportunity to pay a lengthened visit to the Empress Mother of Russia. _ . C. A. H. fortiga an 4 6olaniat 3atelligtnce. FRANCE. The Emperor and Empress return this day from St. Cloud to the Tuileries for the winter. A Council of Ministers was held on Wednesday. The Emperor presided. General Dufour left Paris last Saturday for Berne, to lay the result of his mission before the Federal Council. Despatches have reached Paris from St. Peters burg, which anticipate the opening of the Conferences at Paris about the end of December. The Marquis de Turgot left Paris on Wednesday for Madrid, to resume his functions as Ambassador of the Emperor of the French at the Court of Queen The Marquis Antonini, the Seapolitian Ambassa dor, has not yet left Paris. The AssembMe Nationale, taking up the text of the Constitutionnel, in a late article against England, is desirous that Government should at once efficiently fortify the coasts and ports of Algeria :—" After having been so long a nest of pirates Algeria must not become a branch establishment of Malta and Gibraltar." AUSTRIA. The Augsburg Gazette last week contained a semi official article on the Bolgrad question. The writer observes that the powers intended that Russia should retain possession of the Bolgrad marked on the map used at the Conference. This Bolgrad had the name Tabak, placed between brackets, attached to it : But the St. Petersburg Government now lays claim to another Bolgrad—a place which is connected with the Danube by means of a lake—a Bolgrad which was not marked on the map used, and was not even alluded to by the Russians during the Conferences What the Russian Government now requires is a 7101411 t, a some• thing which goes beyond the stipulations of the treaty of peace. How can such a matter be brought before the Paris Conference ? Shall Russia bejudes in re prop Ha, or shall Sardinia act as umpire between the great powers? We do not doubt that the Bolgrad and Serpents' Isle ques tions will be amicably settled, and the treaty of April 15th points out the way in which it may moat easily be done. 1133 Various changes are anticipated in the military and civil government of Lombardy. Marshal Radetzky, it is said, will retire, to be succeeded in the command in-chief by Count Giulay. The Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, it is also reported, will be nominated Viceroy of Italy, with Baron Krauss as President of the Supreme Court, and Baron Burger Minister of Justice. The Council of the Empire at Vienna will be reorganised, with Archduke Regnier as President. A question has arisen between Austria, Prussia, and Denmark, upon the appeal lately made to the German powers by the States General of Holstein, who com plain that the new constitute. in of Denmark, that of the 2nd October, 1855, was promulgated without their assent. Count Buol, in his correspondence with M. Von Scheele, the Danish Minister, takes asimilar view as M. de Manteuffel, and says he is of opinion that the method of direct negotiation between the Danish Government and the provincial representa tives of the Duchies, would be the most satisfactory provision, and would establish the Danish constitu tion on a more solid basis, recognised and accepted by all parts of the kingdom. If the Danish Govern ment does not think fit to take this course, the Governments of Austria and Prussia will afford the German Federal Diet an opportunity of securing the position of affairs in accordance with the spirit of the feueral law. In conclusion, Count Buol remarks that the question of the settlement of the Holstein fron tier has not yet been resolved, and that it should speedily be taken in hand by the parties concerned in it. The Emperor and Empress arrived at Trieste on the 20th, and started on the 25th for Venice. RUSSIA. The report that Prince Gortschakoff has issued a second " circular " to the representatives of the Court of St. Petersburg, at the different Courts of Europe, is incorrect. The document is not a "circular," but merely a memoranium upon the questions in dispute, urging the necessity of submitting them without delay to the Second Conference. The Frankfort Zeitung, in speaking of this docu ment, remarks : This document alludes chiefly to the actual state of affairs, and criticises severely the attitude assumed by Austria and England as regards the execution of the treaty of peace. Aithough the question as to whom the Island of Serpents belong in future is at least doubt ful, Russia is nevertheless ready to cede on this point to the demands of England and of Austria. As regards the possession of Bolgrad, the more impor tant question of the two, Russia declines pronouncing a decision alone, and on this point invokes the decision in common of all who signed the treaty of Paris. More cannot be asked of Russia, hut Austria and England have opposed insurmountable obstacle to this decision, and con sequently things remain in suspense. The Presse of Brussels confirms this statement, and even gives the dates : It was communicated (says the Pram) to the various Governments, and particularly to the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin, on the 25th, 26th, or 27th of October. The title it bears is this—" Memorandum of the steps adopted by the Russian Cabinet for the execution of Arts. 20 and 21 of the Treaty of 30th March, 1856." General Chruleff has been appointed to the com mand of the corps d'armee echeloned on the Persian frontier. The Emperor, since his return from Gatschina, is described as most earnestly occupied, not only with diplomatic matters, but also with numerous grave questions of reform in various branches of the Administration. PRUSSIA AND NEUFCHATEL. The statement that a strong corps d'armee of the Prussian army was en route for Neufchatel is untrue. The Prussian Government had simply applied to the Germanic Diet, anti the Diet has reported that the Governments of the German Confederation shoed support the demand of Prussia for the liberation of the royalist prisoners, and energetically to second the steps Pruss►a purposes to effect that object. To this proposal the Federal Council has unanimously refused to comply. The Council declares, moreover, that it is ready to negotiate, and that it is willing to re-open the relations of friendship and good neigh bourhood with Prussia, but that justice must take its free coutse with regard to the prisoners from Neufchatel. The Bourse Gazette of Berlin of the 21st has the following statement with reference to a renewal of the Conferences : The Prussian Ambasssdor at Vienna has informed th• Government here that Austria has withdrawn her opposi tion to the assembling of a second Congress at Paris. The Cabinet of St. James having also declared in favour of the meeting, the second Congress will be opened at the latest about the middle of December. Austria is agreed with the other powers as to the propriety of settling the various difficulties now pending, such as the Neufchatel question, in the said Congress, besides the points resulting from the treaty of the 30th of March. SPAIN. The Gazette of the 22nd contained a specific denial of the statement in the Ind,ipendance Beige that Lord Ti I