Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1847-12-23
people, for their great talents and piety.-
He casts look over the eternal city, and
behold it lies before him den Of serpen.s,

behold 1t lies before him den Of serpents,
Roma deserta,
dal Laterano al Colosseo;
the people dying for food, or wandering in
anarchy and poverty; thousands exiled in
foreign lands; the prisons crowded with
political offenders; The government held bv
the enemies of the people, and deaf to their
cries. No public instruction no industry;
religion corrupted by its own ministers;
crime 'riumphng in every shape of depravi-
~; desPotism showing its low and odious
front at every step; justice unattainabIe
the courts, which should be the schools Of
conscience, converted into Offices of bribery
and gross oppression; the whole State reel
ing to lis centre, and about to fall forever,
and be swallowed up Rather than pass un-
der successor like Gregory, the Roman
people would have preferred the dominion
of Austria; but Heaven had so favored them,
that should their ponliff perform his duty to
himself and his officers, they might once a.
gain, and perhaps forever, gain footing a.
mong nations, and step forward boldly in
the race of civilization
Born in the time Of the great Revolution,
descended Of a noble ancestry, Plus TX. in
heried equally the ideas of liberty and the
true feelings of prince. He had brother
in exile when elected Pope, and could not
he understand the condition of the nation.
Like Moses, he was saved from the water,
10 be the saviour of Rome. In his child
hood, while playing near pool, he slipped
| n / h.,
. countryman who saw him fall. He enlist
ed early, it is said, in the army of Napoleon,
and quickly rose to leutenancy, At the
dissolution of the empire, the young Mastai
Quilted military life and assumed the reli-
gious habit. Sailing aflerward for Chill, in
the quality of missionary, we find him
employed in that character, in resisting
tide Of ST. Simonism, will, its attendant athe-
ism and immortality. which flowed into Chill
from France. The republic Of Chilli, under
revolutionary influences, had become cor
rupt and anarchic. The influence of the
magnanimous missionary Masta was sue.
cessfully exeIted against the scandals and
abuses of the clergy and unbelievers. As
sisted by few moral and religious persons,
he succeeded in restoring order and good
morals in Chill. From that country he
went to Montevideo and other parts of
South America, in his capacity of an envoy
of Christ. After many years passed in this
manner, he was recalled, and made Bishop
of lmola, and Cardinal.
A few days after his election he suppress
sed the military warrants, kind of secret
tribunal for the seizure and condemnation
Of political oAenders-analogou with the
Council of Three of the Venetian govern
ment He then called upon six cardinals to
compose a council for deliberation upon
public affairs, and resolved upon giving, on
certain day of every week, a public audi
ence TO all corners, without distinction of
rank or condition. He caused a private
letter-box for himself to be placed in the
entry of the Vatican.
These regulations gave the fist blow to
those who committed abuses and aggressions
upon individuals. To favor the advance of
science, he conferred the order of ST. George
upon three persons selected for merit from
the body of the learned and scientific these
we're, the Count Marchet!i, and Professors
Rett and Venturoli. He offered his prince
ly protection to the Roman Academy de
Lincei, one Of the most ancient and learned
of Italian academies, of whom the illustrious
Calico was a member. Meanwhile he
granted especial favors to the Congress of
the Scenziati ltaliani, and named scientific
commission of railroads and canals.
Lambruschini was still Secretary of State;
and while he continued in that Office, there
was no hope Of amelioraton for the people:
he saw only anarchy and license in the re-
form movements, and opposed giving a Con-
slitution to the State, as if it were merely
revolutionary policy. To oppose the inju-
rous influence of This minister, Plus then
conioned the two offices of foreign affairs
and the secretaryship in one, and conferred
+ it upon Cardinal Gizz. Lambruschini re-
tired, but still maintained correspondence
with Austria, and began to plot against the
views, fell in with the plans of Plus for re-
form; but, though all enthusiastic friend of
the people, he had not the requisite firmness
and audaci,y to oppose himself to the threats
of the opposition, or to act with promplness
in the momen, of peril. There was still
vast deal to be accomplished. Austria con-
,inued TO exert immense power through her
envoy in Rome; the King of Naples did not
cease from his endeavors to dissuade the
ponliff, and the Italian princes generally
seemed resolved to hold fast to their despo-
teal policy the system Of police continued
to be the same as under Gregory XVI, and
acted under the spiri. Of The old system;
the patriots continued in exile, bu. still looks
ell towards Plus as TO the rock Of their SAL
valion.
From the W nnows Of his palace the good
Plus overlooked the desoa.e city. The
sad silence of the people reminded him Of
j i1s nresent xreich edness and of ifs ancieni