The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-04-17

an unbrided mob. They vested the whole power Of
tho Republic in Michel di Lando, and, not satisfied
with tho regulations which that patriotic citizen made
for tho reform Of the state they attempted to wrest
BY force the power which they had Of their own ae'
cord, and but short lime BEFORE lodged In his hands
They were, however, repulsed; Of them driven
into exile, and Others forced ts conceal themselves In
the city. The plebeians were deprived OF tho two
members to which they were entitled in the sgnoria
their acts abolished, and their members, with
few exceptions, deprived Of their Offices. The
stations Of honor we're divided into two parts,
one OF which was assigned to the greater, and
tho other TO the lesser Arts. -Four Signori
were chosen from the former and five from the latter
The Republic although thus drawn from beneath the
power of the mob was still under the constitutional
influence and control of the plebeians The more
substantial citizens obliged TO submit to this state
of things to escape the tyranny of the lower orders.
The chiefs Of the pebeian party remained in fact
masters Of the city Thus the second act In the po
htcal drama Of Florence commenced, and the nobili-
~ being Frustrated the divisions and contests ofparty
took place between the popular and plebeiAn fac
tions-a contest which many found it their interest
to fan-whieh was rendered bitter by the ambi-
Ton Oh Tue ftlccl apu hlOissib tneH icaueIsI anu
which destined to produce many and such i'm.
potant effects in the future history Of the Republic.
| This constitution continued for three years, and
was full of exile death and confusion. The Gov
eminent was in continual fear of its enemies within,
and the designs of Charles Durazzo protender 10 the
throne of Naples, and his Captain at Bologna from
without The mobiles dissatisfied because they
unable to support the deprivation of Office and
honor to which they were subjected. The popular
party and the greater arts displeased at equal
division Of power with the lesser arts and lower
ders. One side wished to increase rather than d.
mnsh it's power, and the other feared to lose the
ssoendency which 1t already possessed Hence
confusion; quarrels strife and open conflicts,
until the preponderance of the plebeians was de-
sroyed, and that Of the Popolan established by the
adoption of new constitution in l3Sl-a consti,u-
ton which failed signaly the last to give salts
faction TO tho citizen, restore quiet and hal mony to
the distracted Republic. The usual circle was run
by those in authority their partisans rewarded
with honors and Offices the leaders of the opposite
faction prosecuted and punished-some eIied, some
admenshed and Others put to death--laws passed to
suit the views Of the present moment rather than
adapted for the permanent good and every thing d.
rected to the advancement Of party rather than to the
welfare of the Republic. weak government in
stale of fear, suspects without reason, and Furnishes
without justice, and its very .vindicveness only in
the disconents which il strives to suppress.
And thus, after six years of umult and confusion
from the of the adoption of The constitution
the city beg to be quiet, when, in 1893, the Repub-
lie became involved in war with Giovasmi Galeusso
Viscont, Duke of Milan. Happily, however, the
death Of the Duke relieved the city of this danger,
and that of the King of Naples from the war in which
it was shortly afterwards engaged with that mon
arch. The Florentnes always profIed more by the
death of their enemies than by their prudence.
The city made considerable acquisitions of territory
during the existence Of this constitution from 1881
to li34, and would have increased still faster l.:
wealth and power but for the revival of its ancen,
factions.
In order to bring about the Punishment Of Cozimo
del Medici, and afterwards strengthen the party Of
that illustrious Florenne on his triumphant return
from exile, alterations, usual, were made in several
fundamental provisions of the State. In the jealousy
which sprang up between the rival factions of the
Neri and Medici of the chiefs of the former par
ty was murdered in the Chamber of the Sgnoria and
the existing Government avaed themselves of the
murder to strengthen and increase their power. A
new balia was created by the Councils which re-
formed the several Offices and conferred upon few
persons the power of appointing the Signoria. The
confinement of their imprisoned opponents was
heightened and friends placed in the stead of enc
mics in the principal Offices. By these high-handed
measures, the Government increased its influence and
authority. and humbIed the pride both of their secret
and other open foes. By his modesy and prudence,
by the emineD. services which he rendered the Re-
public, by the munfcent berality with which he en-
dowed churches converts and other public buildings
by his splendid generosity all ranks and classes of
men, and by the influence of regal fortune, Cosimo
del Medici continued for the remainder of his days
the virtual ruler of the city. He was not indeed, en-
dowed with the title of Prince, nor were all the or
binary mags races Of the Republic abolished, but
although nominaly citizen, he really the sove
reign of the country His funeral was soemnzed
with almost royal honors, and with ilial reverence
the people styled him the Father of his country. His
influence and authority were transmitted TO his son,
and neither the ,reacherous councils of false friends
nor the conspiracies of open enemie, could deprive
Pero of his power in the State. He bequcathed the
same rank and influence to his sons Julian and Lo-
renzo and in fact the Medci family only lacked the
title which was afterwards assumed by Cossmo l. to
| be in name, as we'll as in fact, the Grand Duke of
Tuscany. And thus after fretfrl, indeed but still
brilliant career, the Republic of Florence gradually
and without violent usurpaton yielded the supreme
authority to of lis own citizens and clothed with
Ducsl robes family Of merchants, whose ducats won
them the way from the Exchange TO the Palace.
He who reads auentvely the history Of the Flo
rentine Republic will find that its citzens desired lib
erty, but knew not how either to it with wis
dom or to enjoy it with moderation. Blighted by this
fatal defect, its story is melancholy picture which