Star.
London, England, 1821-03-19 00:00:00

STATE PAPER.

MANIFESTO OF THE
SICI LIES-
GOVERNMENT OF THE
TWO
The Constitutional Government of the Two Sicilies, against
which the Congress of Laybach has fulminated its anathemas,
while it prepares to repel the most unjust and the most violent
aggression of which history has ever made mention, desires also
to appeal to the opinion of Europe, and of all civilized nations;
and that every one may equally judge on which side is Tease*
and on which side Is injustice. in the war which, after five pun
of peace, is going to break out in unhappy Italy, the Government
owes at to itself to make known all the particulars which have
conducted it to the political situation in which it is at this
moment placed.
The wants of the People-of the Two Sicilies, the degree of
civilisation to which It has attained, had called for many years
for a change in the internal system of the State. At the begin-
ning of July, I SOO, the Constitution of Spain was demanded by
the uoatilmous voice of the nation. The King adhered to it,
easing the modifications proposed by the Representatives of the
ration, who were convoked principally for this purpose, with
the obligation to respect the bases of the new social compact--
On the 15th of the same month his Majesty swore to observe it,
before the Provisional Junta; and on the 19th the King made
an official communication of it to all the fareign Powers, with
whom he was on terms of friendship.
Ever since these first moments, the spirit of moderation, and
a scrupulous regard to the independence, the institutions, and
the rights of other nations, have formed the rule of the conduct
of the Neapolitan Government. It proclaimed these maxims
before the whole world, when it refused to interfere in the
affairs of Benevento and route Corvo, Which had called for
It, interference.
Europe cannot doubt of the sincere desire of our Government
to live in i eace and good understanding with all others, if it
examines without partiality the conduct observed towards
Austria. Scarcely was the form of our political Tillage changed,
when the first thought of the Court of Naples was to assure the
Cabinet of Vienna that such a change could not, in any manner,
impair the relations of friendship and alliance existing between
the two States. The first overtures having been rejected, the
King. setting aside all resentment, repeated his assurances, sent
Ambassadors. and, in short, attempted all manner of amicable
communication; but all was in vain. So much harshness on the
part of Austria, was returned at Naples, by the greatest respect
to the legation, the councils, and all the subjects of Austria.
Nevertheless, the Court of Vienna, constantly alleging that
our political reform " shook the foundations of the social edifice,
that it pmcl4ned anarchy as a law, that it menaced the safety
of thrones, ;and that of recognised institutions, and the tranquil-
lity of nations," urged with precipitation the most extraordinary
preparations f war in the Italian States, increased the garrisons
of Ferrara. Placentia, and Commacchio, and solicited all the
Powersof Europe to declare against the Neapolitan Govern-
7stent, not to receive its Ministers, and to break off all commu-
nication with it.
His Majesty then ordered the Duke de Campo Chiaro, his
Secretary of State, Minister for Foreign Affairs, to demand of
that Coot t, in his name, a categorical explanation of these extra-
ordinary armaments, ;nd of the attitude which it assumed to-
wards so : but this note—sent for that purpose to Prince Met-
ternich the very day when the King, on opening the first Session
of the National Parliament, renewed in the midst of it the o*h
to maintain the Constitution—this note, in which all the accusa-
tions directed against our political reform were refuted, received
1110 answers
[Here follows a description of the mu 'uct of the Allied So-
vereigns at Laybach, which has already been repeatedly given.]
It was then that the Allied Powers assembled at Laybach took
against the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, resolutions, which, at
the utmost, would have been imposed after a great number of
victories upon a vanquished and humbled-Nation. The EnvOis
of Russia and France, and the Charge d'Affaires of Austria,
communicated them to his Royal Highness the Prince Regent
on the 9th of this month, and declared to him that an Austrian
army woi:hl advance to occupy the Neapolitan territory, unless
the order of things established since the 6th of July be immedi-
ately abolished ; and that, even if this spontaneous submission
took place, the army would still penetrate intd the kingdom, to
maintain the new order of things which it was intendial to esta-
blish there.
It was then that his Royal Highness gave to the Diplomatic
Agents those noble answers, sshich, after having excited their
admiration and respect, produced in the Parliament a transport
of enthusiasm, which has communicated Itself to the hearts of
all the Neapolitans. Everybody now knows that the magna-
nimous Prince would not determine on anything till he had con-
sulted the Deputies of the Nation, to whom he communicated
these proposals, that they might take such a resolution as was
isnot suitable in the difficult situation in which the Monarchy
wag placed. As to himself, faithful to his oaths, he protested
that he would share the fate of the Nation, from which he never
valid have separated himself.
[An account of die Resold/ ions taken by the Parliament of
Naples, as already published, here follows.]
It could not have been feared that those same armies which
we
united a short time ago, in the name of social order, to d
re-
t r Europe from oppression, would march against a Nation
which cannot be reproached with any infraction of the Law of
Nations, and which, without exciting troubles among any of its
rieighbours—without offending legitimacy, and even professing
the most respectful veneration for its Sovereign and his august
itynasty,ls perseveringly engaged in the ameliorating its internal
administration. The l'owers of the second rank must see, in
what fi%ppens to the Kingdom of Naples, the imminent danger
which threatens them. On the day when our cause shall be
carried, the independence, the liberty, of Europe, will share the
same fate.
But a cause protected by justice and public opinion—a cause
which intere'ts all wise Governments, and all Nations who feel
their dignity—a cause which will be defended by the whole Na-
tion, whose wishes have expressed themselves on this occasion
with much unanimity—such a cause must triumph ; despair will
combat against force : he who defends the constitutional laws
and Independence of the country—he who combats the foreigner
who comes to rob him of the first, and to tread the second under
foot, is not always the weakest.
The Neapolitan Government, though It has provoked no one,
though it has opposed the noble attitude of moderation to tits;
multiplied outrages which have been lavished upon it by those
who conspired its ruin, is now attacked by at Austrian army,
which pretends to impose laws upon it. But since neither Rue-,
than nor Prussian troops are marching towards our frontiert, It
is only to the Austrian Government that we are obliged to sp.
pose the resistance which oar own defence requires.
However, his Royal Highness flatters himself that the august
Idonarcbs assembled at Laybach, seeing the noble feeling which 1
ignites the inhabitants of the Two &titles, and their unanimous
determination to defend-the liberties and the•honour of their
Nation, will renounce their prejudices, and will leave at peseta
generous People, who live only to enjoy the benefits of its new
f=1:11 system, under the protection of the constitutional or 1
-te Throne—a People which, during- a period of seven
=Oaths, has shewn that noble attitude, and that respect to the
King and to the Royal Family which have made Europe judge
It to be worthy of liberty—t7eople, in fine, which, taking no
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sharelXThealiairs of other Nations,has surely a right to etre* advance, therefore, so far towards the south as I over Lombardy;
hat no one should interfere is iti concerns.
ilia Uoyal Jaighlusil she flames himself that all the other Foligno, would leave the fiedmotitese an almost who were marcl
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