The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-22 00:00:00

THE ITALIAN PARLIAMENT.

FLORENCE, Dec. 18.
The draft of the address proposed in the Cham-
ber of Deputies, in reply to the speech from the

;prone, is as follows :
" Sire,—The words of hope spoken by your Ma-

jesty in inaugurating the labours of the new Legis-
lature are received by the representatives of the

nation with that faith which is due to a King who
has more than once risked his life and crown for his
people, and whose promises have been constantly
justified by the splendid facts of our national res-
toration.

" Your Majesty's language confirms us in the cer-
tainty that your Government, upon which has fallen
the noble task of effecting the unity of the Italian
people, will prosecute, from this venerable city,
which gave us the national bond of language, the
work commenced with so many sacrifices and such
great glory in brave and faithful Turin.
" Italy gladly welcomes the news of fresh testi-
monies of sympathy afforded to us by foreign na-
tions. This kingdom, which is an integral part of
the European political arrangement, may now con-
sider itself recognised both by the nations nearest to
us by blood and by the most conspicuous States of
Germany.
" Civilisation diffused by free institutions fami-
liarises races, subdues and extinguishes jealousies
and hatred, and eradicates the prejudices that have
so long subsisted among European nations.
" It gratifies us to hear that we are in good relations
with almost all the European States, and that the
noble bonds of friendship formed on the battle-field
between Italy and France continue to be strengthened
by projects of common interest for both countries.
" The nation will take advantage of the vast field
which treaties of commerce open to its industry,
and will do all in its power t o multiply and improve
the productions by which commerce and manufac-
tures are supported.
" We acknowledge the truth, sire, that it is to the
efficacy of liberal institutions that we are indebted
for the introduction, within a brief period, of the
unity of civil, military, and administrative laws in
provinces governed by opposite customs and regu-
lations.
" This work of unification, which has no parallel
in the industry of nations, may justly be termed
marvellous.
" The Chamber appreciating the motives which
led your Majesty to discontinue the negotiations
with Rome, is persuaded that the prerogatives of
the Crown and the rights of the nation will always
be maintained intact. It is necessary and indis-
pensable that, by liberal laws, the relations between
Church and State should be clearly defined. The
representatives of the nation will therefore take into
mature consideration the bills already declared ur-
gent relative to the abolition of religious bodies.
" While they rely upon the favourable judgment
of public opinion in Catholic Europe upon the se-
paration of what appertains to the Church from
that which belongs to the nation, they rejoice that
the agreement with France, sanctioned by the Sep-
tember Convention, has begun to enter into force.
" The evacuation of our soil by friendly but
foreign troops is a fresh confirmation of the princi-
ple of non-intervention, upon which is based the
international law of modern society.
" The financial deficit, sire, effects us as deeply
as it does your generous heart. The representatives
of the nation will make effort to remedy it; and
while they do not doubt that the people will sub-
mit to all the sacrifices required of them in order
to preserve the dignity and liberty of the State,
they will provide that the public burdens shall be
equally distributed, the expenditure efficaciously
reduced and revised, and credit restored,