The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-12 00:00:00

THE STATE OF ITALY.

On the motion of Lord PALMERSTON that the house, at
is rising, should adjourn until Monday, the 28th,

Sir G. BOWYER called the attention of the house to
the affairs of Italy. He repeated, the statements which he
had made on a former occasion as to the atrocities that had
been committed under the new rule in South Italy, and he
strongly deprecated the intention avowed by Lord
Palmerston, on the part of Government, of non-
interference in the affairs of that part of the
continent. Having adverted to different details in con-
nection with the recent events which had taken place in
Italy, and which he argued from his peculiar point of view
were not the developments of popular feeling, but the result
of the insurrectionary sentiments of a minority of disaffected
persons, fostered by foreign influence, to which the noble
premier and certain members of his party had contri-
buted, to a considerable extent, with a view to obtain-
ing political capital. He vindicated the conduct of the King
of Naples, and contended that the Government of this
country was chiefly responsible for the invasion of Sicily
and the revolutionary movement in South Italy, and that
they had violated the principle of non-interfering in re-
ference to Piedmont. Her Majesty's Government were
thanked by the Piedmontese Government for the
course which they had pursued in the insurrection
in South Italy, and he would ask what had been obtained
by this country in consequence of the violation of the prin-
ciple of non-interference in regard to the affairs of Italy. He
utterly denied that they had succeeded in securing Italian
unity, and he reminded the house that with the exception of
England and France, no countries of Europe admitted that
the kingdom of the Two Sicilies had ceased to exist. With
respect to the brigands in Piedmont, he contended that they
were in reality the population of the country, or they could
not have maintained their position. And yet it was thought
by some politicians that all that was required for the settle-
ment of the affairs of Italy was the possession of the
revolutionary party of Rome. (Hear, hear.) He desig-
nated the expedition of Garibaldi as an act of piracy, and
the means to which he had resorted in carrying out
his views as the most foul and dishonest recorded
in the history of modern Europe. He ridiculed the preten-
sions of Victor Emmanuel to the title of the King of
Italy, and he told him emphatically he would never get
possession of Renee. (Hear, hear, and laughter.) The
hon. and learned baronet then proceeded to condemn the
policy of the Government in allying themselves with France
against Austria, our ancient ally, merely to promote the
views of the Emperor of the French, and the interests of
Victor Emmanuel. He insisted that the people of Italy
never could be reconciled to the Piedmontese, who were not
Italians, and did not speak their language, and that the
British Government were, to a certain extent, responsible
for what had taken place in Southern Italy, which had
been the result of their policy, and of their gross violation
of the principle of non-intervention. And what had been
got by it ? The kingdom of the Two Sicilies still existed ;
that of Italy, recognised ex animo only by this country,
was not acknowledged by the public law of Europe; Nice
and Savoy had been given to France, which had been made
the preponderating Power in Italy, while the influence of
England had been impaired, and the British flag was re-
garded as the harbinger of revolution.
Mr. LAYARD said he had no doubt Sir G. Bowyer was
honest in his opinions and spoke from his own convictions ;
but he (Mr. Layard) had never heard a speech in that
house which had met with so little sympathy. Sir George
must have been grievously misled if he believed the things
he had stated ; and it was time that this question should be
set at rest. He would prove, by documents and the testi-
mony of facts what he was about to state, which was due
to the Italians and just to the people of this country, who
had given to the Italians their moral support, as well as to
her Majesty's Ministers, whose policy had been proved to
be wise and just. He then described the state of the Neapo-
litan provinces under the late Government, and the condition
of Southern Italy under the present rule, remarking, in con-
tradiction to the assertions of Sir G. Bowyer, with respect
to the Roman provinces, that, up to that day, in the
Marches, is Umbria, and the Legations, there had not
been a single insurrectionary or reactionary movement,
though the people had been left entirely to themselves,
there being not a single regiment there. He read details of
the social improvement of the people since the change of
g
Government, the extension of education, inclndin
Sun-
day-schools,—and the great diminution of crime. The
people, he said, were satisfied; if not, they could have ex-
pressed their dissatisfaction. In the Neapolitan provinces,
jthe habits of the people could not be suddenly changed ;
I their vices had been created by a long period of bad govern-
! ment under a former state of things, which had corrupted
and brutalized them. He did not justify certain proclama-
tions that had been issued without the sanction of the Go-
vernment at Turin, and had not been acted upon, but he
protested against the habit of Sir G. Bowyer of asking
questions concerning imaginary crimes, and matters in
which he had been mystified. The bands that were deso-
lating the Neapolitan provinces were not composed of
Italians nor led by persons of rank ; they were foreign bri•
gands, and their inroads—of the cruelties attending which
he read details—were confined to the provinces adjoining
the Roman territory. The Italian "Parliament deserved the
highest admiration of this country. (Hear, hear.) It was
a house of which the Speaker of that house might not dis-
dain to preside over. All parties were fairly represented in
it. There was the sober, sensible citizen, the somewhat
canny Piedmontese, and the gentleman from Naples, ex-
citable in temperament, great in eloquence, and great in
grievances. (Laughter.) His right hon. friend the member
for Wells(Sir W. Hayter), who had lately been to Turin to
examine for himself,and who was a great authority upon con-
stitutional Government (laughter) —said that the Houses of
Parliament at Turin would be perfect if they had only that
institution which he had himself so ably represented in this
country—he meant effective " whippers-in." (Continued
laughter.) He did not wish to make disparaging comparisons
between different Italian Governments, as the Italian* ;tete
the best judges of their own affairs, but he could not help
expressing his deep sorrow for the loss which Italy had sus-
tained in the last year, and which would be felt more and
more every day. (Hear, hear.) Indeed, this was the time
of all others when that calm, ready, and skilful pilot was
required; but, nevertheless, he was sure that the Italian
Government would do its duty as it had hitherto done,
Although 22 millions of men were released as it were in
one day to enjoy the full flood of liberty, there had been
no outbreak and no crime committed except by brigands.
There had been no reactionary movement except at Parma,
and that was an aggravated case on both sides. Tho
Government had to weld together seven States, with seven
different systems of administering the law, and seven dif-
ferent systems of finance and currency. He trusted his
hon. and 'canted friend would bo satisfied with the facts
he had stated. He only marvelled that with all these great
changes there had been so little crime, and no political
Nkengeance. (Hear, hear.) When the hon. and learned
gentleman referred to Count Christen being imprisoned for
rhtael'alat,hs, he seemed La overlook the fact that, probably,
taot. at bad been in any other country he Nould have been
•' of
y order of a court-martial, He was engaged
fomenting insurr • .
'treaded, not a
regulariinprisoneee„twate army, but a band of brigands. His
4 proof of hurea,iit.l....fore, under the circumstances, rather
taken if be imagined
that
hon. and learned friend was mis-
her Majesty's governmentt ,:he views, opinions, and policy of
d to Italy would be changed
tldence in the fate of Italy,
biy these events. They had"rlar
andarathouratiime when they should
air. a they thought that now a,
y zal:easir to profit by
liberties
twilolvo her their sympathy
they
shouldg offer her friendly advice, and 6‘,',;tr-when' —when
his own experience. The position of Ital
1 unpre-
cedented. No nation had ever r. covered her lilae
i going through great suffering. and great trials, and it:I:,