The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-03-15
The I,a,e Revolution in Naples.

..llaa the kingdom of the Two SlclIes. Though |
,ot unattended with bloodshed, the movement |
,osms to have been effecualat least, as far as the
entering wedge of reform may be considered effec-
nal The Two Sicilies are much the largest OF
the Italian dominions, comprising population OF
seven or eight millions of people. Injected by the
holy impulse which seems spreading athwart tfe
continent the inhabitants have been for some time
aroused to a sense of the wrongs done them by their
dasnotic and lHbera rulers or rather by the prlncl-
n,a ON which that part of the world is governed
and at last it seems organized determined rebel
lion In every way, the revolution IN Naples en-
orosses notice and as in all struggles OF such
nature. the feryent sympathes OF the American
people will go forth for the masses and their cause.
IN England, this revolution is the source OF much
astonishment and speculations are numerous as 10
its effects upon various other interests The London
Times says of it.:
Tt has given an impulse to the progress OF reform
in other parts of Italy, which may, we tear, change
its character and increase It's difficulties. IL nas
commenced a series of events which will materially
affect the policy of some of the greatest European
| powers. and which seems destined to bring 10 a
fresh issue the old conflict between constitutional
| rights and military force. Each OF these three
| heads-the Neapotan, the Italian, and the Euro
pean view of this questions entitled to the utmos.
consideration. and, however we might be disposed
| to exult in the concessions which have been made
by the Crown to the .Neapotan people, we cannot
lose sight of the probable effects OF so great change
| upon the tranquility of the rest OF Italy and lhe
| general peace of Europe. .
| We proceed to give an account of the affair, con-
densed fop the material at present within our reach;
The Revolution in Naples and Sicily appears to
be entirely successful In Naples the hlng lohg re-
sisted the demands of the people. When he learn.
| ed their unanimy and determination he ordered
Robert, the commander of ST Elmo, to lombard
the city. The reply of the commander showed
more firmness and good sense and feeling than mlght
have been expected from the court. - He could
not he said, massacre the people and destroy the
city, He accordingly resigned. statelIo, Gov
ernor Of Naples was next requested and refused to
fire on the people The rage of the King is SAID to
have exceeded all bounds. With clenched fists and
eyes sparkling with rage he drove his Ministers to
the door, vociferatng You all traitorsl dis
miss you all!''
Conferences took place on the 25th between the
leaders of the moderate reform party and the popu-
lar Chiefs, when it agreed that all proceedings
should be suspended until the result of certain
petitions which had been presented to the King
| should be known. Ii seol, howevet becAIne appa
rent that the movement of the PEOPLE could not be
controlled, even by their own chiefs. In the after
noon of the 18th, the people, to the number of up
ward OF LOCO, collected in the Via Voledo. the
great main street of Naples. Shouts in favor Of
the Constitution Were everywhere heard to resound
| Meanwhile the numbers augmented, and all the
streets leading to the Via Voledo presented dense
| masCes
Such was the state of things on the evening of
the 26th. The King still hesitated, reluctant to
give up the last hope of suppressing the revolt by
the armed force. He was however, brought to a
sense of his situation by the report of the comman
ders of the troops, themselves. cabinet was i'm
ting it published in Naples the next morning, the
| 9th. Two days later, on the 29th, royal ordin-
| ance was published, decreeing national Consttu-
ton for the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, to be
founded on the same principles as the French
Charter of 1880, including the two chambers, the
royal nviolabiity, the responsibility of Ministers,
liberty of the press. and the National Guard. Re-
hgious liberation alone is aoithheld. No relg ion,
save the Catholic. is to be permitted. The follow
ing is the text of the conditions agreed upon:
The legislative shall be exercised by and by two
Deputies The members Of the first Chamber shall be
mated by the Deputies shall be nominated by electors
The only nominating religion Of the State shall be the Ro
CATHOLIC and Apostolic religion, and other form of
The person of the King shall always be sacred nvolabe,
The Ministers shall always be responsible for all the acts of
The land and services shall always be dependant
The National Guard shall be organized in all the kingdom
The Press shall be free and only subject to repreve law
Fl that TIA MAY ed religion moy pb sst
Is well as the honor and interests Of private individuals
/ When the Constitution was proclaimed, there
were two days tetes at Naples, during which King,
Queen. Prineesses, mobiles, citizens all appeared an
mated by one thought-the welfare of the country,
and the preservation Of order in the midst of an
etferveseence Of enthusiasm which may be inagin.
ed when it is remembered that, without any trans.
ition, the country passes from what was, perhaps,
the most absolute system in Europe, to a system Of
constitutional government On the 29th the entire
population of Naples and its envrons traversed the
streets in holiday attire and covered with ribbons
of the three Italian colors.
| At Palermo, and indeed throughout Sicily, the
King has not been able to resstablish himself with
| the people. After series of encounters between
the people and the troops, from the 18th to the 18th
January. in which the troops though they could
not be disodged, were hemmed in at their different
quarters-the Palermitans began to organize a
Provisional Government. They appointed four
Committees, to whom implicit obedience was rem
dered Committee of Defence, under Prince Pan
tellaria of Finance, under the Marquis Rudni of
Supplies, under the Prator of the city, the Marquis
Sredalotto of State. under Gen. Ruggiero SETTING.
On the 18th, shells and round shot were fired
upon the city from the fort of Casteamare, with
out any previous notice being ven to allow the in
offensive portions OF the inhabitants opportunity
of Withdrawing. The commander of the British
war steamer Bulldog vainly applied to the Kings
Lieutenant for suspension of hostilities and on
the 18th the matter was taken up by the Consus,
who repaired to the palace of the Duke di Majo,
and with difficulty got a~susrension of twenty
hours. The interval was employed in shipping off
the strangers, principally French. Matters con-
tnued in the same state till the threat of a gem
eral bombardment again called out the Consular
body, who on the 18th signed most energetic pro-
test, denouncing the act as one of unnecessary bar
barity. The protest was circulated in French and
Italian, and produced an effect. Negotiations
were at the same time opened between the Marquis
i de Spedalotta and the Duke di Maio The insur-
gents demanded the constitution of 1912, and the
convocation of Sicilian Parliament at Palermo.
These demands were formally transmitted to Ma
pies without loss of time.
The following day two of the frigates returned
from Naples, bringing four DEGREES issued by the
Neapotan Government on the 18th. Collectively
the DEGREES appointed two Councils Of State, one in
Naples and the other in Sicily, with dcliberative
but not legislative powers-estabshed freely,
elected Municipal Councils with control over local