The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-11-07

they had big Lell which was always ring as notice
10 the enemy whole month before the commence
ment OF ho0tilities.
Al fret blush this little Constitution may seem 10
be faulty and inadequate to the government OF Re
public. IL certainly contains some admirable and
noble provisions but the ambition of the mobiles and
the stifes OF party suffered il continue but short
time IL expired after brief existence OF ten years
1t established, however the freedom Of the people,
and in what country and in what age has liberty taken
root that the state has not hourished Macha'elii
profoundly yersed with all governments both ancient
and modern filled with political wisdom derived
alike from the prooundes study and the most extern
sve experience, does not hesitate TO bestow upon II
the warmest and most enthusiastic praise. lie as
sures us that it wonderfully increased the name and
power Of Florence and placed it not only at the head
of Tuscany, but among the first cities OF Italy, ana
that under its wise provisions the Republic would
have attained still greater glory but for the new and
frequent dssensions with which she was afflicted
The Ghibbelines became dissatisfied with this gov
eminent in which they possessed not the power they
desired, and having been summoned by the Msgs-
traes to for their intrigues they not only 70
fused TO appear but fortified themselves for defence
They were, however, driven from the city, but as
sisted by The forces Of the King of Naples they gave
dreadful rout TO the Guelphs on the banks Of the
Arbia. They took possession Of Florence, and but
for the opposition Of of their party, Farnala
degli Ilberti would have RACED it to the ground
Thus in 1860 the city under power of the King
Of Naples and ruled by of his Governors un-
til 1867. The Ghbbelibes in order to appease the
people for the injuries which they had inflicted and
TO support their power which they saw had begun to
toter established in 1866 order of government.
They chose thirty-six influential citizens and two
Knights from Bologna 10 reform the Consultation
These citizens and knights divided the city into Arts,
and over each Art appointed Magistrate to admin
ster justice to those placed under his control They
gave TO each Art standard under which each man
should appear in when the city had need of his
services. In the beginning there twelve Arts, seven
greater and five lesser The number of the lesser
was afterwards increased TO fourteen and thus that
of the whole 10 twenty one The thirty-sIx citizens
also proceeded 10 the institution of other regulations
The Ghibbene Governor finding himself unable to
enforce certain taxes which were resisted by the
people, resolved TO destroy the constitution which he
had granted Having raised tumult he drove the
thirtysix citizens from their hall of council, but the
people rallied under the standards of their different
Arts, and defeated him in the streets Of the city,
The Ghibbelines, although invited back to the city
by the Guelphs, were yet disked by the people, and
having been disappointed in the assistance which
they expected from the King of Naples, they volun-
tarly fed from Florence. The Guelphs, left sole
of the city, formed in 1867 government
They elected twelve men chiefs, who were styled
not Elders but Good Men, and who were ass lsted
by council of eighty citizens called the Credensa
Thirty persons chosen in each of the six wards in
conjunction with the Credensa, and the twelve Good
Men, composed the General Council. Another
council, consisting of one hundred and twenty mobiles
aud citizens, established, and was clothed with
the power to perfect everything resolved by the
other assembly, and to distribute the Offices of the
Republic. Other orders and institutions were estab-
lshed IN this government of the Guelpbs, TO
protect themselves against their banshed enemies
The influence of the Pope and the wishes of the
citizens who desired to guard themselves against the
crimes and violence of the Guelphs, brought about
the return of the Ghbbelnes, and the constitution of
the Republic was again remodel.ed in 1850. Seven
Governors appointed by the Pope for year,
and Florence continued under their government two
years, and until Pope Martin restored to the King of
France all the authority of which he had been de-
pryed by Nicolas ILL., This restitution was the sig
nal for the revival Of parties, and in 1892 the constr
tuition was changed again Instead Of fourteen Gov
errors three chosen, called Priori, who con-
tnued in the government of the Republic two months
and might be chosen from the ranks Of the nobility
of the people, but it was indispensable that they
should be merchants or tradesmen The chief ma
gistracy was lodged in six persons, for each
ward, and this number prevailed for a century.
public palace was assigned to the Priori and in the
course of time they acquired the superior title of
Signori.
According 10 Machiavel this magistracy was the
destruction of the nobility. Under various prete IS
the mobiles were excluded from all share in the gov
eminent Of the State, and indeed from their dissen.
sons and nordinae desire to grasp exclusive power
that class lost all influence and authority in the az
fairs of the Republic. As, however, upon the de-
preston Of the Ghibbenes, the mobiles still continued
to harass and Cypress the people, the chief men of
the Arts provided, in 1884, that each Sgnoria at the
com nencement Of its term, should name Gonfalo.
nieri Of Jusce-that under the command Of this Off
Ger should be placed a thousand men ranged under
twenty different banners, and that this entire force
should be ready to execute justice when called out
by the Signord, or the Captain Of the People. Even
this institution was not sufficient TO protect the mass
from the lnJurie, Of the nobility, and in 1893 it was
ordained that the Gonfaloner should remain with
the Priori and should have four thousand men under
his commapd-thst the nobility should have no right
TO seat in the Signoria-that accessories should be
punished with the same severity as principals, and
that public rumor should be a sufficient ground for
criminal investigation. These regulations we're re-
commended by Gano della Bella, man Of noble
family, but an ardent lover Of liberty. They were
10 nrniect the rennle from The