Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-05-29
EONEkGN.
FROM THE NATIONAL GAZETTE.
NAPLES.

Our Madrid papers to the 18th OF
February, contain long report OF the
Committee of the Neapolitan Parliament,
TO whom was referred the question of the
mission of the old King Ferdinand to the
Congress Of Laybach, upon the invitation
of the Allied Sovereigns. We have not
seen this report in any of the English or
French Gazettes but it ought to have
been circulated as full reply, by antici-
patton, 10 whatever the Congress might
put forth against the Neapolitan Revolu-
ton. II it does not fully confirm the re-
mark made by Mr.. Burke, in 1871, that
81 Naples has an old inveterate DISPOSE
ton to republicanism, and is as liable to
explosion as her own Vesuvius," it
proves by historical induction that she
had for many years desired, and been en-
titled by the promises of her several
governments, to expect a free constltu-
ion.
The Committee quote entire, procla-
NATION Of Ferdinand to his Neapolitan
subjects, dated Palermo, May /, 1915,
of which they note in particular the fol-
lowing passage -" Advance to meet
your father, who has laboured for your
happiness and will strive to make you
the envy Of the rest of Europe. A sta
Bile, wise, and religious government is
that which you shall enjoy. The nation
shall be sovereign and the Prince the
dchository Of the laqvs zvho shall dictate
the best and most energetic Of ConStitu-
TONS Sir Robert Wilson made a
statement, in the British House of Com
mons, on the 2lst of February, in unison
with the representation of the Neapoli-
tan Committee. "He had," he said
."himself been told by the present King
of Naples, when that monarch was eX-
cluded from his dominions, that the mo-
ment he became re-possessed of them,
he should give his people the Constitu-
fion they desired. The late King OF Ma
pies, { MuraD had also told him that he
say Constitution could no longer be
Withheld from the people" The report
ofthe Neapoli,an Committee states that
Murat after having violated for some
time, on this head, between his own de-
sires and those of the people, between
ambition and his duty, finally began to
totter on his throne; and it was then that
he offered the people seeming Consti-
tuition, like miser who when pursued
yields up deposit which he,had long
withheld" Ferdinand forgot the pledge
given in his proclamation, and what is
more, put an end to the Sicilian Parlia-
ment, which the British re-established in
1912.
Jealous" says the committee "of
our own independence, we have not
touched that of others. Neither consi-
derations of fraternity, nor the opportu-
nifty of neighborhood, nor the utility of
the acquisition, could induce US to re-
ceive under our protection the cities Be-
n0vrnsu anu ronte Corvo on their revolt
from the Papal government. The am
bassadors of the soyereigns of Europe
continued to enjoy in our country all the
estimation and advantages which their
office cxacted. Our freedom was as ill.,
nocent as decorous and pacific. Never
theless, the representatives of our nation
found the door Shut against them in va
rious parts of Europe, and pens sold to
imposture and calumny, emblazoned
without intermission our pretended anar-
chy." The allegations here made by the
Neapolitan patriots, respecting their
moderation, are strikingly true. Their
revolution differs from that of France,
not more in the internal character, than
in the external policy with which it has
been accompanied, They proclaimed
at once their determination to maintain
strictly all the old ties with foreign gov
crnments; they sought at once to fix
their foreign relations uponthe footing on
which they found them. They circula-
ted no inflammatory manifestoes; sent
forth no emissaries Of sedition menaced
no sovereigns with the revolt of their
subjects. Their ambassadors were de-
puted not to contrive plots for the over
throw of royalty, and to sow the seed of
discord even in the bosom of republi-
cans, as were the French, but to ask for
peace and good will, and explain the ne
ccssity of the changes in their political
system.
Lord Castlereagh, indeed, in his reply
to Sir James Mackintosh's speech, pro-
ceeds- thus: "Thc Carbonari were a
sect, whose operationswere not confined
to Naples alone, but were extended to
other and distant parts of Europe. 1t
was idle to say they only required free |
Constitution for Naples; their aim was
not Naples, but the consolidation of all
Italy. He knew positively that at the
moment when the late events were going
ON in Naples, simultaneous plan was
matured al the, other extremity namely