The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-20 00:00:00

LATEST FROM ROME.

PROPOSITION FOR AN ITALIAN DIET
PRESENTED TO PIUS IX. BY DEPUTIES
OF THE DIFFERENT STATES OF ITALY.

Most Blessed Father,—The benediction of GOD,
invoked by your HOLINESS has descended upon Italy.
The MOST HIGH has heard the magnanimous voice
which, from the sacred heights of the Vatican, has
secured triumph for the oppre ised, redemption for
a people. Now Italy is free, is mistress of her own
destinies, is independent, is a nation.

All the citizens of Italy, with hearts overcome by
unspeakable joy, turn full of hope, and trust to the
generous PONTIFF who has initiated the Italian re-
surrection, and entreat him to accomplish the holy
work commenced. These people have the conscious-
ness of their nationality, are sons of the same family,
and earnestly desire to bind the compact of love and
brotherhood, uniting themselves around their father,
their liberator.

In this urgency, the undersigned beg of your Hou-
NESS to use your efforts for providing, that without
loss of time, the representation of the Italian States
(which you have promoted) may be centred in Rome,
formirg a national Parliament, ur Italian Diet.
Most Blessed Father ! in this great shipwreck of
all the Potentates on earth, in this sublime reorgani-
zation of European nationalities, one Power alone
remains enduring, because, resting on the immove-
able foundation of truth and right—that power is
yours. Your Holiness first pronounced the sacred
word that opened the new era for Italy and Europe;
to your Holiness pertains alike the glory of adding
fresh splendour to the Papacy and Religion, raising
yourself to the supreme dignity of Moderator for all
the Italian people, and restoring to Rome her moral
and civil primacy, not only in Italy, but Europe and
_ _

the world. All Italians now anxiously wait the
sound of the all-powerful voice, whose religious ac-
cents give civilization—that of your HOLINESS.
They desire to consecrate the triumph of their cause,
uniting around you the standard of Religion, Liberty,
and Fraternity—the Cross; on the eternal altar of
their nationality—the Capital.
The undersigned interpreters of the sentiments of
all Italians beg of your HOLINESS to promote the
convention of the Italian Diet in Rome ; and in the
certainty of being heard, present to you the homage
of their national gratitude and filial devotion.
1 Marquis D'A Z EGLIO.
Professor ORIOLI.
Padre VENTURA.

The following has been written for circulation
among parties in authority in support of the project :
"The Italian arms in the ages of Roman domina-

ion sufficed to govern the earth. Italian union gave

them force, and with this they introduced civilisation
a:nongst barbarous people. The fatal divisions of the
Roman empire opened a path to the incursions of the
barbarians, and thus Italy, because wanting union,
was invaded, conquered, and dissolved; but strong in
the Latin civilisation of which she preserved the
germs under the iron yoke of barbarism, she was
able to restore to many of her provinces, in the mid-
dle ages, the ancient glory of arms, learning, and
culture. These provinces, become powerful by
knowledge, wealth, and civilisation, effected a new
civilisation amongst nations, which subsequently for-
getting that benefit, and availing themselves of our
divisions, constantly conspired for our disadvantage.
Italy has been obliged to expiate more than five centu-
ries of opprobrium and foreign tyranny owing to the
blindness of our ancestors, who never could create a
centre of opinion and national force. If this had
been done, Italy would never have suffered the
scourge of those dominations which, in the spirit of cal-
culation, and as a condition to their existence, have
had to make use of every nefarious artifice to suppress
the Italian genius, and beat down every element of
prosperity in Italy, with the manifest object of de-
stroying arnoeg us all sense of dignity and national
life—dominations from their nature and self-inter-
est hostile to every generous sentiment, perpetually
stationary and retrograde.
" Now, that the doctrines of Italy are rising again
triumphant throughout the Peninsula under the guid
ance of the universal cry that invokes union, this
magic sound should not remain an abstract and
empty word, but should become a truth—a fact—
serving as a foundation and safeguard to our political
existence and future glory. But this union cannot
be obtained without forming, by common consent, a
central and supreme authority to represent Italy, and
serve as a legitimate organ to the national opinion and
will—a supreme directing authority agreed to, vene-
rated, and obeyed throughout the land. Without

such a centre we should fall back into our ancien

and disastrous municipal differences, and into those
inevitable divergences of opinion, which have never
failed to be fatal to Italy. _ _

"In order that the regenerating principle of our
political resurrection may succeed to the victory of
arms, that no anarchic confusion of ideas and
languages may arise; that desires too ardent and
intemperate may be purified; local and personal
pretensions contrary to public interest checked; we
invite all persons in authority to promulgate by
every possible means the manifesto accompanying
this. We exhort them to make use of every effort
that the proposition contained herein may be ap-
preciated as the anchor of our salvation. Amongst
the means to be employed, we recommend particu-
larly the adhesion of the municipal authorities, and
subscriptions from corporations or individuals. The
example of the great misfortunes of Italy, and the
terrible spectacle of empires now tottering before
our eyes, from the absence of union amongst their
component parts, will excite every well-intentioned
person to effective co-operation, that the evils sure
to arise out of divisions may not again afflict our
beautiful and renovated Italy.
"In this holy work fervent zeal and the highest, the
promptest activity are demanded.
"As soon as the public sprit of Italy shall have
shown itself unanimous in the inculcated principle
of unity, we may be certain of having for ever,
secured, under the peaceful standard of Pius IX., the
perfect and enduring resurrection of the independence,
liberty, nationality, happiness, and power of our be-
loved country."
(Signed by the Marquis POTENZIANI, Advocate
PETRUCCI, PIETRO HERBINI, &C.)
The Mat quis of POTENZIANI is one of the wealthiest
and most enlightened of the Roman nobles. HER-
BINI is the editor of the Conlemporanco.