Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-10-12
PEACE OF EUROPE.

the following article on this subject:
Although considerable difficulty is fel,
both in London and in Paris as to the con-
duct Of the mediation undertaken by those
two Cabinets in the affairs of N orthern Italy,
and it is easy to point out the deplorable
consequences which have ensued from the
refusal of British mediation when it was o.
riginaIly solicited, we must not lose sigh, of
the great and essential objec, which IS, we
hope, common 10 the three Powers, En-
gland, France and Austria, namely, the main
ienauce of the general peace. Two plans
have been proposed by the respective par
ties in the negotiation. The mediating
Powers, tardily availing lhemsel yes of the
offer made by the Austrian Government
under different circumstances, have recon-
mend-d the adoption of the line of,he Min
clio as the frontier Of the Austrian Empire,
covered as j. is by two rivers and by the
most important fortresses of Italy; aud if,
in addition to this concession, Venice had
her option of becoming free city, like Ham
burgh or Lubec, there is little doub, tina, all
the practical ex,gencies of the French in
provided for Without any serious prejudice
10 Austrian interests.
II, however, this plan be adopted, the
difficulty of disposing Of the Mlanese ter
rtory remains-to annex j, TO the Sandman
dominions, which would be The best solu-
ton Of all, would be equally dis,astefuI to
both parties in the present state of feeling
on both besides the Ticino to constitute
Milan into an independent duchy or repub-
lie would be to ruin that grea, city, and prob
ably to create pretext and to open road
for future French Intervention under rulers
less scrupulous or less pacific than Genera
Cavaignac.
The other plan, which is said to be pre-
ferred by the Austrian Cabinet and by Ger
man statesmen, would be to raise the whole
of the Lombardo- Venetian provinces into a
separate kindom under one branch Of the
Imperial family, enjoying an Independent,
constitution, an Italian administration, and
connected with the Austrian Empire bv q
close treaty Of amity and defence. The diff
Guilty attending this project is that the pre-
sence of large body of Austrian troops
would still be indispensable to garrison the
fortresses and to defend the line of the Min
clio and the Adige from aggression of treach-
cry. And, moreover, this proposal is regard
ed by the French Government as less favor
able to Italian interests than that which they
had previously adopted. In reality it ap-
pears to us TO be the reverse.
Under any circumstances it is admitted
that the territory beyond the Mincio is of
no value for the purposes of military defen-
ce, and by retaining her authority only up
to that line, without the inierposition of any
new or independent government. Austria
is the better able 10 avil herself of all the
advantages OF that position We think,
therefore. that by asserting to the suggestion
Of the mediating Powers, the Cabinet of
Vienna will consult its permanent interests
more eAelually than by persevering in
scheme which would be less popular al the
present time, perhaps more embarrassing
hereafter.
But above all, it is to be hoped that the
Austrian Government will not lose sight OF
that paramount interest, the maintenance, for
itself and for the rest of Europe, in the dis
cussion Of the relative merits of these plans
1t must be borne in mind that tho value of
our joint mediation with France consist not
so much in the adjustment of the quarrel
between Austria and Italy, as in the means
which it seems TO hold out for the preven-
ton of an armed demonstration on the part
of the French Republic.
The continued concentration of troops in
Ruroundy the magnifcen nj reuio,y of m mn
men which took place last week in the
Champ de Mars, and the extensive prepara-
lions carried on by the French Government,
sufficiently prove that the vigorous admins
traton of General Lamoriciere in the war
department has restored the French army to
to all its yigor; and efficiency, and that the
pacific policy of Gen, Cavaignac has not led
him 70 loose sight of the chance of military