The Express.
London, England, 1848-12-22 00:00:00

ITALY.

PIEDMONT.—The Piedmontese Gazette of the
17th, gives, in a supplement, the programme of the
Gioberti Ministry. It declares the principal points of
its future policy to be the promotion of the principle
of Italian nationality, and the development of the ex-
isting institutions. " The first principle," it says,
"radix upon the independence and onion of the
peninsula. The question of independence is
political and moral, excluding all foreign demi-
mien and influence—such influence not comprising the
interest which other nations, possessing institutions in
harmony with the present Italian ones, may take in the
internal concerns of the peninsula by friendly media-
tion. But Italy must, for her own decorum, give her
own aid to such friendly acts. If, therefore, dissen-
sions arise between different provinces or states of Italy
who could undertake mediation between them better
than Italy herself? Italian independence canted be
completed without the assistance of arms; every at-
tention will, therefore, be given to that branck'of the
service. But the expediency of resuming war-
fare is a question of time and circumstances; the new
ministry, however, engsge their honour that they will
use the greatest energyand activity to hasten the moment
when the subalpine army shall return into the field.
The Anglo-French mediation shall be no obstacle to
the bar. To break off such mediation when its ope-
ration is on the wane would be useless, and might be
hurtful if it could be interpreted as an offence to-
wards the mediating powers. If the mediation
cannot give us that absolute independence to which
Italy aspires, it will, nevertheless, be a proof
of the high esteem the government feels for two
friendly and generous nations, like France and
England, not to cut asunder a knot that is on the
point of being undone by natural means. Union is
the other fundamental condition of Italian nation-
ality. This unioq has been already sanctioned by
the Chambers of Piedmont, by confirming the
free votes lately emitted by the people. The ministry
will do its best to complete the undertaking. Will it
succeed? It hopes so, without however under-
valuing the impediments which will be thrown in its
way; but should necessity render its efforts vein, it
will maintain the principle as its political religion,
and give up the direction of public affairs to those
whose conscience enables them to accept so painful
' a fact. The complement of union is the confedera-
tion of the different states of Italy, which cannot be
worthily sanctioned without the aid of the people.
The ministry, therefore applauds the patriotic cry
raised in different parts of the country, and
embraces the banner of the Italian Constituent
Assembly. It will agree with Rome and
Tuscany upon the best mode of convoking such an
assembly, which, besides bestowing civic union upon
Italy, without prejudice to the independence of the
different states, will render it easy to use the united
strength of all in favour of the emancipation of all. The
development of the institutions is founded on the har-
mony of constitutional monarchy with the spirit of de-
mocracy. The ministry declare themselves fervent par-
tisans of the monarchial principle, provided it be
mixed with the democratic principle. The ministry
will be democratic, give all its attention to the working
classes, make every effort to instruct, ameliorate, and
protect the lower classes, and raise them to the rank
of a people, and surround the throne with popular
institution,. Such democracy is eminently concilia-
tory, and conciliation is the view of the present
ministry."
ROME—The Risorgimenfo of Turin publishes in its
number of the 16th inst. the text of the decree of the
two Chambers of the 11th inst., provisionally depriving
the Pope of temporal power. It is as follows :
The two Chambers auctioned the following decree pro-
posed by the Commission of five, with the assent of the
Ministry :—A commission of three persons shall be elected,
for the purpose of carrying on the Government in the 'b-
anes of the Executive powers. The members of this com-
mission shall be elected by the Chambers from persons
not forming part of them, and by an absolute majority.
This commission shall exercise, in the name of the
Pope, all the functions of the executive power. It shall dis-
continue its functions on the return of the Boverei n Pontiff,
or when he shall himself appoint, according to constitutional
forms, a government destined to replace it.
We have received despatches from our correspond-
ent at Rome to the 14th inst. The capital was then
quiet. Our correspondent sends the decree of the
Chambers appointing the Provisional Government.
He says that the Pope personally is still an object of
affectionate interest with the Romans.
The Roman ministry have made the follow-
ing declaration against the resolution announced
by General Cavaignac in the sitting of the National
Assembly of the 28th : "As it appears from the
words pronounced by General Cavaignac in the
National Assembly, and from the instructions given
by him to M. de Corcelles, that an armed interven-
tion on the Roman territory is possible, the under-
signed, passing in silence many other reasons, remind
General Cavaignac of the terms of Article sof the
new constitution of the republic, which declares
that in future the arms of France will no longer be
employed to the detriment of the freedom of natious.
Since the first liberty of a nation is national inde-
pendence, and the right of being the master of its
destiny and of the form of government to be estab-
lished, and since all intervention would be unjust and
ought to be repelled by force ; and since, lastly,
the words and projects of General Cavaignac, which
we do not believe the generous French nation
to accept, are a most humiliating outrage to the
entire Italian nation, a flagrant violation of the rights
of the people, and are not even justified by the appeal of
the Pope, even supposing that foreign arms could be
legitimately called for in the Roman territory,—we,
the undersigned, protest solemnly in the face of Italy
and Europe, against the expedition prepared by Gee.
Cavaignac; and we declare that we will resist with all
our force the soldiers who may invade our soil, not only
to defnd the honour of the Roman states, but that of all
Italy, and second the manifestation of the will of the
populations of this peninsula. At the same time, we
make an appeal to the sense of equity and justice of
the powers of Europe, because the conquest of political
liberty is the cause of all nations. Rome, Dec. 8.
(Signed) "C. E. MUZZABELLI, pres.; T. MANIANI,
G. OALLETTI, P. STERBINI, P. CAMPELLO.,"