The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-10
ManifcstO of tho Roman Republic to NIL
Nations.

THE CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY.
Anew nation presents itself to you to solicit and to
offer fnendly feeling respect, and fraternity. The
ton that formerly was the most illustrious one on
the face OF the earth, presents itself to you as
new one. But between the ancient randeur and
this resurrection, the Papal power stood for up
wards OF thousand years. People of Europe, we
knew each other when the name of the people of
Rome inspired terror; we have known each other
when our name excited pity. You may abhor the
memory OF that age OF dominion and violence, but
you cannot condemn us TO excite for ever the pity
OF the world. Which of you would wish to be
pitied? The people of the Roman State have de-
termined to reform their political constitution and
have created Republic; and before this great act
OF the lmprescrlpbe sovereignty of the people, the
past is destroyed and vanishes The people have
but God created the people for liberty. The peo-
pie have willed 1t, and they need not seek justif
cation tor the past their reason is anterior every
human act. But, II we turn our eyes to the past
we may with tranquility contemplate the ruins Of
the Papal power, much more so than the latter
when 1t contemplated the ruins of our ancient po-
lltcal greatness. The history of Italy was tale
OF sorrow, and large portion Of it was ascribed
to the Papa power: And notwithstanding, when
the Pope came forward, and placed the cross
on the national banner, the world saw that the
See, and the revolution began in the name of a
Pope. But that was the touchstone of what a Pope
could or could not do The predecessors of the
last sovereign had been too cautious to attempt
the trial, and their power was measured only by
the misery entailed upon the people. The last
sovereign was the first to risk the attempt, and
wished to stop when he discovered that he had
revealed terrible truth, namely, the .impotency
free, independent and glorious he wished to
withdraw from the, work but it was too
late, for Papacy had Judged itself. 1t is
near its glory; the glory of the Papal power was
the northern light that precedes darkness. We
still hoped but a system of reaction was the an
swer that came from the Papal power. Reaction
fell the Pope at first dssembled, saw the tranquil
lily of the people, and fod and in his fight he
bore with him the certainty of exciting cieil war
he violated the political constitution, left us with
out government, ,repelled the messengers of the
people, fomented discord, then threw himself into
the arms OF the most ferocious enemy of Italy, and
accommodated the people! These facts suffi-
GENTLY show that the Papal sovereignty neither
could, nor would, modify itself; and nothing was
LETT but to bear or destroy it. 1t was destroyed IF
the llberay OF kings. or the federation Of nations,
had placed the Papa power in the city of the Scipios
and CAESARS instead OF in the heart of France,
reason for depriving the Italians Of all the rights
common to nations-the country and liberty! And
If 1t be true that the possession of temporal sove-
reignty be necessary to the spiritual powor of the
Pontlficate, although 1t was not on such condition
that Jesus Christ promised Immortality to his
Church, was Rome then destined to become the
patrimcny OF the Pope, and be so forever! Rome,
The lmtrimony OF sovereignty, that to suhsist
iVttu W oPPess, ana 10 De glorious was fofCsd 10
fall And, as patrimony Of papacy, was Rome
to be The permanent cause of the ruin of Italy I?
Rome, whose traditions, whose name, nay, whose
ruins, so. loudly speak Of liberty and patriotism
Provoked, and abandoned to ourselves, we have
effected the revolution without spilling drop
of bloodwe have re-edified almost without letting
the sound of demolition be heard--we have COM
pletely uprooed the sovereignty Of the Popes after
having patiently submitted to il for so many ages
not from any hatred of Papacy, but from love for
cur country. When revolution has been effected
with such morality of purpose and means, it is at
once proved that this people did not deserve to be
under the sway of Papacy, but was worthy of being
its own mastei-worthy Of the Republic. 1t is wor-
thy, therefore, ofbeing admitted into the great ia
mily of nations and Of obtaining, your friendship
| and esteem. The Roman republic will bear tho
stamp of its origin. II will make free people de-
fend the religious independence Of the ponth, to
when the religion of a republican people will be
worth more than few roods Of territory. The
Keenan, republic proposes to apply the laws of mo-
rality and universal charity 10 the line Of conduct
it intends to follow, and to the development of its
| political life. For the Assembly,
| The President, G.. GALI.RTri.
| ROME. March 9