The Express.
London, England, 1860-03-12 00:00:00

TIER EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, MARCH 12,

wine have so lug lived under the sceptre of his
anesetorre should now resolve to cut thearatilves off
hem the rest of his states and seek other destinies,
whatever that will may be, he will restl.ect it. How
does the French Government Apts.; to this noble
intimation ? Let its answer be carefully noted,
for it will be immortal as the name of NAPOLEON
itself. M. THOU UM disc oven an essential diffe-
rent:4l between the question of the annexation of
Tuscany to Piedmont ar.d that of the annexation of
Savoy to France ; ant. the principal difficulty which
opposes the first is, he says, to obtain its recognition
by Europe, which has guaranteed the possession of
Tuscany to the dynasty of Lorraine. Bat in the
cue of Savoy this difficulty disappears in presence
of the arrangement between France and Sardinia re-
lative to the spontaneous cession of Savoy, conse-
quently the Emperor of the French requests the
regulation of the question of &coy by a simple
cession, to be settled by mutual consent, and
without haring recourse to universal suffrage.'
M. THOUVEN EL thinks that to become ac•
quainted with the sail,' of the country it would
be sufficient to consult the municipalities of Savoy,'
And who, then, is this Sovereign, who, when
the Head of the oldest Royal House in Europe is
ready to release his people from their allegiance if
they, indeed, wish to place themselves under another
sceptre, says "No, but rather hand them over to me
" unasked P " Can it be that LOUIS NAPOLEON, for '
whom France defied European treaties, and whom
universal suffrage called from a private estate to a
throne, now identifies himself with the usurpers and
hereditary tyrants of Europe, and proclaims himself
ready to deal with a brave population as if it were a
flock of sheep? Was there no friendly band to stay
the Woe of this disastrous deepatih, and protect the
EMPEROR from self-betrayal ?
After all, we are not answerable for the good
conduct of the French EMPEROR. If he is bent on
throwing away the noblest opportunities which
Providence has ever placed before a ruler in our
dais be must do so. Even if we have no faith in
the strength innate in the cause of freedom and
progress, we have seen within the last twelve
months the faults and errors of individual.
reputed almost omnipotent corrected and redressed
by the peaceful, powerful action of public opinion.
To the operation of this force,
present, Europe owes in great part the peace it en-
joys. But public opinion, which often restrains
armies, sometimes impels them. Europe was not
helpless last year, when it stood by and saw treaties
torn, traditions violated, end provinces wrested
from their rulers. The end proclaimed was
one which it in the main approved, and
it was content to lcik patiently on. It
would be • great mistake—a mi‘take which men
who understand their epoch are in no danger or
making—to imagine that the public opinion of Europe
may safely be defied. The time is come which will
try the princes and statesmen who figure foremast
in the affairs of Europe, and they will be judged,
not according to the sage or foolish things they have
said or written, but according to what they dot and
they will prove the wisest and strongest at the trial
' who can do most to satisfy the real wants of their
age, sod connect their deeds with the advancement
of freedom and the reservation of peace.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

THE ITALIAN VOTE.
-•-
BOLOGNA, Sylmar, Nrxa P.Y.
There has been an immense concourse of people
at the voting to-clay.
Out of 27,000 persons inscribed on the electoral
lime, 17,000 had voted by 6 o'clock this afternoon.
The town is illuminated, and the Marquis Popoli
has received a grand ovation.
FLORENCE, SUNDAY Naar.
The number of people assembled to vote has been
' very great and perfect order has prevailed. Out of
32,000 persons inscribed on the lista in Florence,
about 16,000 voted to-day.
The streets are decorated with French and Italian
An ►ddress to the Bing has been signed by the
clergy.
The peasants, headed by their cures, are on their
way to the voting places, and maintain admirable
order.
The people are everywhere enthusiastic and fall
of confidence, and their attitude is excellent.
MODENA, 13UNDLY 11VINLNO.
In all the towns of the Bmilian Provinces the
number of people assembled to vote is extraordinary.
In the country the clergy are conducting the po-
pulation to vote for the annexation.

MODENA, MAzcR 10.

Crowds of peasants, displaying flags, are ar-
riving from all parts of the provinces, in
order to be itueribed in the lista of the ap-
proaching suffrage. The same enthwiium pre-
vails throughout the Ernilien provinces. The
Modenese clergy have addressed • petition to
the governor, expressing their wish for annexation
to Piedmont. The clergy of Piacenza have trials_
mitwd an address to the Intendant-General, accom-
panied by • letter to the King, in which they say
that the duty of the clergy is to give an example in
acts of patriotism.

AUSTRIA.
VIENNA, Name 10.
Monsignor, Merode, private chamberlain of the
Pope, arrived here a few days since, charged with a
private mission and an autograph letter frees the
Rely Father to the Emperor of Austria.

VIENNA, B•TUIDAT ETNNING.

M. Richter, chief director of the Credit Mobilier
Association, has been arrested—it is @apposed for
eomplicity with the late General Eynatten. The
managers of the Credit Mobilier hare declared that
the affairs of the establishment are in perfect order,
and in no way connected therewith.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, DUicit 10.

It is stated that, although declaring an intention
to maintain a passive attitude if the Emperor Napo-
leon persists in the realisation of his wish for the
annexation of Savoy, Austria has nevertheless noti-
fied to our government that she has already informed
the wart of the Tuileries that if ever the Rhine fron-
tier should be menaced, the Emperor Francis Joseph
would immediately unite with Prussia for the pro-
tection of the territorial integrity of the Germanic

FRANCE.

The Moniteur of to-day says :—Yesterday the
Hanoverian Minister presented his Itottrea de cremes
to the Emperor.

SERVIA.
BELGRADE, MARCH 10.

Prince Milos& has despatched a deputation to
Constantinople, entrusted with the mission to
establish a better understanding between the Porte
and himself, and to obtain new political concessions.

INDIA.
INDIAN FINANCE.

Mr. Wilson made his financial statement on the
19th of February.

The deficit is about nine millions.

He proposes a trade license of from 2e. to 20e.
yearly ; a tax upon incomes of from 240 to 600 at 2
per cent., and above that at 4 per cent., with no
exemptions.
A large duty upon tobacco.
The tariff is to be modified.
There will be no loan.

THE UNITED STATES.
QUEENSTOWN. SUXDAY, MARCH 11.
The Royal Mail steamship Canada arrived here
at 2 p.m. ; she embarked mall' and proceeded at 610 p.m.
for Halifax sad Boston.

EXPRESS FROM PARIS.

CPIOII OVA owx

PARIS, SUNDAY EVENING.

The Cologne Gazette and the Independanee Bilge
concur in the expression of a belief that a conference
will be assembled at the request of France to con-
sider the question of Savoy, and that is this confer-
ence the efforts of England will be especially
directed to the object of seaming Chablais and Fan-
, cigny for Switzerland. Prussia and Ramie, these
journals say, would be disposed to ratify the annex-
ation of Savoy to France with the exception of the
above two provinces. It might be hoped, after the
statement in M. Thouvenel's despatch of Feb. 24,
that Prawn had claimed the annexation "subject
to the interests of Switzerland, which we shall
always be desirous to take into consideration," that
the condition now assumed to be insisted upon by
England, in conjunction with other powers, would
be readily acceded to. Nevertheless, the semi-
official journals have, since the date of that despatch,
vehemently urged the right of France to push her
frontier to the very threshold of Geneva, and French
agents are still actively at work in Chablais and
Faucigny.
The Pair(' of this evening publishes a letter dated
Fancigny, March 6, and supposed to be written by
a native. The writer says that whenever he looks
towards France he feels homesick. All other rule
but that of France is to him foreign domination;
he represents the sighs and groaned the inhabitants
of Faucigny, who, whether under Roman pro-
consuls, Swiss depredators, or Piedmontese clerks,
have known nothing but persecution throughout a
long vista of centuries, and now at last see a haven
of happiness in the bosom of France. This enthu-
siastic candidate for French citizenship is thrown
into ecstasies by that word in the Emperor's speech,
so horrible in the eyes of Sir Robert Peel—revers-
diver. This word " assumes; a form, a voice, and
almost a soul" in his imagination ; he and his fellow
countrymen see in it" the genius of nationalities
disdainfully rending the shameful work of the
osalition ;" but here the simple-minded Savoyard
begins to perceive that his " style is not quite
epistolary," and he "stops." The pause, however,
is merely to give him breath to drop down from the
high flight to which his eloquence had carried him.
Re proceeds to certify, and 1 take his evidence to be
valuable, that " the French manifestation in
Fancigny and Chablais follows its imposing—
(imposing is a happily chosen word)—its imposing
course in every commune."
The Steele has received a warning for quoting
with approbation some passages from a recent theo-
logical work, published at Brun* by M. Larroque,
formerly rector of the Academy of Lyons. M.
Larroque's book had been prosecuted, but upon his
mounting to the destruction of the copies seized in
Frans*, the Procurenr Imperial had entered • soils
prosegui. The article of the Slick now incriminated
appeared on March 9, under the signature of Louis
Jourdain ; it is described in the warning as contain-
ing " attacks upon the fundamental principles of
Christianity," and which are " more culpable when
propagated through the periodical press than in
works which, by their form and nature, are addressed
but to a small number of readers." Contrary to
established practice, this warning has been commu-
nicated to the evening papers before it has appeared
in the Sleds itself.

Mr. Parisi', the Bishop of Arras, Boulogne, and
St. Omer, has written a letter to M. Thotivenel on the
subject of the spiritual and temporal power of the
church. His argument is moderate in form, but in
substance he goes perhaps further than any prelate
has yet dose in denying the Gallic= distinctions
between spiritual and temporal thing., and he
claims the most comprehensive jurisdiction ever con-
tended for by the court of Rome.

It is understood that Cardinal Antonelli's answer
to M. Thoaveners last despatches has arrived in
Paris.

Count de la Ferriere-Percy (a brother of one of the
Emperor's chamberlains, and a cousin of two of the
Empress's ladies of honour), who was lately elected
a deputy for the Arne u a government candidate,
he. been recommended to resign his seat rather than
face an inquiry, pertinaciously called for by the
Marquis de Toney, into various frauds, misrepre-
sentations, and aota of illegal intimidation by means
of which, as it is alleged, the election was carried.

ITALY.

-.--
CENTRAL ITALY.

MON Olni SPICIAL COMMIPOWDINT4
BOLOGNA, NAscit 6.

I should not be at all surprised it the Austrians
were plotting mischief, and preparing for a new and
more obstinate struggle against Italy. Parini's
manifesto was, as you know, published here early
in the morning of the Ist of March, and already, at
daybreak on Saturday last, the Austrian army,
which occupies the Mantuan districts, on the right
bank of the Po, was suddenly increased by 3,000
men. The small corps d'armee, which in the event
of a new war would form the avant-garde of an
Austrian army moving against Central Italy, is now
about 6,000 strong. What, therefore, could have
induced the enemies of Italian independence to make
such an augmentation of their forces on the boundary
of Modena and Parma but the idea of attacking
these provinces as soon as the Emperor of the French
announces his abandonment of Italy to her fate ?
The fear of being attacked by the army of Central
Italy cannot surely have caused such a measure, for
the cabinet of Vienna must be fully aware that all
the Italians want is to be left alone in the final settle-
' ment of their internal affairs. It appear., therefore,
to me that the attitude of this northern power is any-
thing but reassuring, and that it does not intend to
keep the peace, a was stated in Count Rechberg's
last despatch. The order issued by the military go-
vernor of Mantua on Sunday morning makes still
clearer the warlike intentions of Francis Joseph.
After the peace had been signed at Zurich
the peasants of the bordering states of Mo-
dena and Parma were allowed to cress the
Po, for the great emigration which had
occurred in the Mantuan province made it necessary
for the proprietors of the land to draw from the
country a large number of labourers. On Sun-
day morning a decree was issued by the
Austrian General Cubes that no person would be
henceforth allowed to cross the river under the most
severe penalties. This order, so injurious to the
agricultural interests of that province, must have
been determined on for some serious reason,
and confirms the opinion that Austria is
really bent upon mischief. That such is
the case may also be inferred from the fact
that new fortifications have beea ordered at Revere,
Moteggiana' and Sustinente, three important points
from which the forward or backward movements of
an army coming from the Venetian provinces can be
successfully protected. The threatening attitude
thus assumed by Austria mast be, and it is so here,
considered as the consequence of M. de Thou-
Tenet's famous note. This unexpected docu-
ment issued by the French Foreign-office at
first produced a very bad impression both
in Central Italy and Piedmont. This impres-
sion has, however, been modified to some extent, for
the Italians, who, in spite of their fervid tempera-
ment, are essentially logical, have not overlooked the
fact that when M. de Thouvenel wrote to Count Cavour,
the Emperor was under the impression that both
Parini and Ricaeoli made an obstinate opposition to
the ides of having universal suffrage employed for
the final settlement of the Central Italy question.
Now that this principle has been not only loyally
accepted but actually applied by the rulers of these
provinces, the main argument of M. de ThoavenePs
note falls to the ground, and Louis Napoleon's oppo-
sition, if sincere, ought therefore to disappear.
We are already aware, by the very words of
the diplomatic document, that his Imperial
Majesty of France has made no objection
to the annexation of Parma and Modena.
The two questions at issue are, therefore those of the
Legations and of Tuscany. To have the former
erected into a Sardinian vicariat under the high
dominion of his Holiness is the project so much re-
commended by French diplomacy. But even sup-
posing for a moment that the Pope eoald be induced
to accept such an absurd so] ation—a thing which
very much doubt—how could the people of the Le-
gations be persuaded to accept even the shadow of
papal authority ? How could they be brought to
make the required distinction between the direct
end nominal dominion of the two sovereigns ? If
the principle of universal suffrage is so dear to Louis
Napoleon he cannot surely impose on the people of
these provinces the recommended solution without
having it put to the vote. The act which
the people of Central Italy are called on to
accomplish on the 11th and 12th of this month will,
besides, completely solve this question ; for if they do
not want to be annexed to Sardinia, liberty has been
left to them to vote for the formation of a 'operate
state. The same reason can be urged for Tuscany, for
the Emperor of the French could not consistently im-
pose on it a form of government which its people do
not like. Here therefore, as well as in the kloailian
provinces, universal suffrage must decide. If the four
words, " Italy for the Italians," have any meaning,
they mean that the Italians are to be left to arrange
their internal affairs as they like without the slightest
moral or material pressure from abroad. It may suit
Imperial views to threaten them by hinting that the
French army will withdraw from Lombardy ; but as
long as England stands for the principle of non-
intervention, both Victor Emmanuel and the rulers
of Central Italy will courageously follow the path
they have wisely chosen, and form a united consti-
tutional state without oaring for Buonapartist
caprices or taunts.

The Usione Liberate of Turin says :—" When the
Piedmonts,e shall occupy the Emilian provinces,
the central command of the army will be at Bologna,
under La Marmon. One division of La Marmora's
will march into Tuocany, another to the frontiers of
the Papal States, and the third will remain at Bo-
logna to complete its military instruction."