Baltimore commercial journal, and Lyford's price-current. [volume] (Baltimore, Md) 1840-1849, 1847-12-18

Plus IX-Cardinal Mastai Fcrrcti elected
Pope, June 10TH 1876, and assumed the title OF Plus
TX He at once entered upon course the reverse OF
what his predecessor had pursued. He went through
the streets foot which the five preceding PopcS
had never done. He preached, which no Pope had
done before for three hundred years. He sought the
society of men of talents and information, and spent
much time with them and with the officers of the
government, discussing the projects OF reform. lie
gave audience without the ordinary ceremonies, and
appointed days on which the meancst subject could
have free access 10 his person.
Nor were these mere tricks TO gain popularity, hut
the fruit of honest desire to be acquainted with the
wants of his people, that he might relieve them. A
common soldier brought TO him a loaf OF miserable
bread and said it fair sample Of their ratons.
Pins took the loaf and laid it the plate of the
minister of war, whom he had invited TO dinner; and
as the astonshcd iunctionary turned pale, charged
him with the fault. After that he went through the
barracks found 1000 lOaves OF a similar character
which he distributed to the poor; he degraded the
minister imprisoned the bakers, and gave each sol.
der money to buy bread for himself.
On the 10th of July, Just on" month alter ms Gle
vaton appeared the great first public act OF his adml-
nstration decree of amnesty political offences
which restored TO liberty, their country, their homes
and the rights of citizenship, the victims of previous
tyranny, to the estimated number OF 6O00 Many Of
them were in great poverty, and subscription was
started in Rome for their relief. Marini, governor
of the city, TO the Pope that dangerous
political motive had prompted the movement. The
Pope called for the subscription paper put down his
own name for 100 and Marnl's for 10 scudl, and or
dered it to be handed around amongst the nobility.
Renzi, the leader of an instruction at Rimini the
previous year. called him TO return thanks for the
restoration of his liberty, and was received son
rather than rebel and during long and aifcconatc
conversation, Plus took from his desk copy Of Rem
zi's revolutionary proclamation, and said that although
parts of il were wrong, it contained many useful sug
eestions of which he should avail himself.
He sent out circulars TO the Governors Of the pro-
yinccs requiring them to investigate and report upon
the TEMPORAL and religions condition Of the people
and the methods of improving them especially witt
regard TO the diffusion of education, and the estab
lshment of military school for poor boys at Rome
With the same object, he Reconstructed board o.
education, which had been first established by Lee
X. but never called together since his time. He APP
ponted a number of committees, partly OF ccclesias
lies and partly Of learned aymen, each charged with
the Investigation of some subject which concerned
the public welfare and the drawing up OF plans fol
melorating the condition of the people.
Among the subjects were the followlng-Reiorn
of the municipal organzation-Reform OF the criml-
nal and civil code, the commission on which have al
ready reported in favor of trial by jury-suppresson
Of Neutrality-suspicious. of forests and rivers
construction of railroads.&c. condition OF the Jews
in Rome-the tariff on imports-thc duties on sail
and other articles of home production-the sanaory
condition of towns, and the erection OF gas WORKS
He proposed also his council the abolition OF capi-
tai punshments and sccuarzing OF the state ofces'
which had long been monopolized by the clergy