The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-25

long been monoPolized by The clergy
The cardinals who composed this council
were some Of them shocked at the infallible
radicalism of the Holy See, and one Of
them told him that if he did not alter his
system, the people would demand consti-
tuition. "'And why" was the answer,
I" should not accede to their desire, if a
constitution is necessary TO the welfare Of
my subjects"
Such an answer did not satisfy the unea-
sy dignitaries, and conspiracy was formed,
but its authors were discovered, the council
abolished, and one appointed in its place,
composed Of simple prelates with single
cardinal for president; and now that also
has given way TO a body composed partly Of
laymen- Formidable opposition was expe-
rienced from neighboring desPotis govern
ments, and especially that Of Austtia, which
made energetic protests, gathered armies.
fomented Instructions. and even marched
her troops into the Papal territory Amidst
all these difficulties, added to tbose which are
inseparsble from such an immense labor OF
reform as Plus TX. marked out fec tinlself,
il is not wonderful that he has been OBJ
liged TO defer the execution OF some projects
till more favorable season, and to even
recede slightly in one or two points from
positions already taken. In these cases,
however, he has shown The sincerity Of his in
tentions, by making, as far as possible, real
concessions to liberty, and only formal con-
SESSIONS TO despotism. Thus in regard 10
the censorship ofthe press. point on which
the remonstrances of Austria are supposed
to have been especially urgent, the subjects
Of the Pope were greatly disappointed by
the language of the decree which be issued,
mitigating but slightly the severity of previ-
Gus laws, and equally grati6sd by the char
actor oil the new censors, who had been Sc
lected from the ranks of literary men Of
known liberality. The execution of the
law has been 50 satisfactory, that the number
Of newspapers in Rome has trembled under
its influence, and that Of other publications
doubled, so that the whole number of peri.
odicals is now not far from 30.
BE the intentions Of the new Pope what
they may, he has so managed both his phi.
vate conduct and public acts, as to gain The
unbounded confidence Of bis people, and
produce such good conduct, order, and quiet
among them as TO astonish ever his best
friends. The number OF offences commit.
ted against person or property in Rome, in
June, 1916, was 500; in July $40, in Au-
gust $50, in September 200, and in Octo-
Der 112.
The following is list Of reforms actu.
ally accomplished
A reduction Of the tariff ON imported
cotton goods one quarter. and on woollen
aDd mixed goods one half. A reduction Of
the internal duties on salt and some other
articles Of universal consumption. The
concession TO private companies OF -four
lines of proposed railroads, having a total
length Of nearly 400 miles,
The 5000 hired Swiss soldiers were sent
home and national and civic guards orgn-
nized in their stead.
The publication Of law journal with
the proceedings in the Courts of Justice has
been authorized.
The learned men are permitted to attend
the Italian Scientific Congress, which the
previous Pope had forbidden their doing.
The Ghetto, that miserable part Of Rome
in which the Jews have hitherto been con.
fined, is thrown open, and they are allowed
to live elsewhere. Some special taxes
which they labored under are removed, and
to insult Jew is now a criminal offence Sc
verely punished. The law concerning the
liberty of the press was so altered that the
censors must hereafter be laymen.
A municipal council has been granted to
to the city Of Rome, to be composed Of a
hundred persons, Of whom sixty-fom are to
be ProPrietaries, thirty-four to be men oil
business, and only four ecclesiastics. This
is the legislative body, and from itself it
chooses an executive body Of nine, who
serve without pay. A resident Council Of
State has been convened, consisting Of one
member from each province Of the Papal
territory, two from Bologna. and four from
Rome, twenty-lour in all, besides cardinal
as president. This body is to deliberate and
advise about all national affairs, and is al
most legislature. These councils are not
elected by the people, yet their organization
goes great way towards recognizing the
principles of the popular representation.
With regard to purely ecclesiastical mat
tiers, the Pope has projected none but moral
reforms. He has exhorted the religious or
ders to purity, the clergy to preaching with
simplicity, and forbidden the ecclesiastics Of
Rome to attend the theatre. One Of his
last acts, is letter to the Irish prelates, ad
monishing them to have nothing to do with
the colleges which the British Government
proposes to establish in Ireland The pre-.
else ground of this measure we have moi
time to describe. This is an outline of the
principal measures already adopted by the
new Pope. They give him just claim to
the sympathy and praise Of all enlightened
philanthropists.--N Y Jour. of Com.
Foreign Ncws--Ceasinacd.