The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-05-08
THE EUROPEAN WORLD.


The Portuguese insurrecton, to beraliss 1t Is like
the fight between the man and the bear to the wife
of the former-The political condition Of Rome-The
progress Of subscriptions Ia Maxzinis loan prove
that the People Of the Popes states are unanimous
asains, his G Observation-Disclosures Ina Rome at this
time-Our mistaken notions Of the liberalism of
Plus IX-Instead Of advancing according TO prom
ie he has proved reactery i'm all things-He has de-
prived the accused of the shadow of rights
corded by the Gregoran Code-His amnesty turns out
to be no amnesty - His municipal reforms
nought but reactory measures, as bold and bald
striugent-He proves n reactisnist In all things
His agents irresponsible and their acts are not
permitted to be made publie-Law and order, JUS
tice and commercial soundness necessarily BAN
ished from the Papal States Quad erat demon
strandum.
New YoRk, My 5, 1851.
To the Editor of the National Era:
The advices received by the Niagara confirm
the impression that Prussia has TsSJsa, rri-
umphed in the Dresden discussion, which de-
rived from the details Of Atlantic news ar
irving by three or four previous steamers. 1t
cannot however, be said that the months of
March and April gave birth to any decided
change in German political affairs other than in
assuming the reestablishment, intact, of the old
Diet, instead of the new Confederation which
Austria 80 pressed on the plenipotentiaries con-
sulting at Dresden.
Russia jesuitically puts forth the idea that she
willingly advised Austria to abandon her demand
that her Hungarian and Italian provinces should
be recognised as a portion of the country to be
hereafter represented at Frankfort. The emisss-
;oa 80 N;obolaa fof tho raeol doolara that ha nm
posed the scheme because he saw In 1t the aggran-
dizement of Austria to an extent likely, in the
end, to render her dangerous rival, even to him
SELF This is all fol de rol. 1t is clearly the in
terest of Russia to place as much despotic power
over the Continent possible in the hands Of his
agents, the Cdmarillas of Vienna They govern
but for Nicholas, who acquiesces in the tardy de-
termination of Prussia and the minor States of
the Confederation not to give up the semblance
of independence because, to persist in opposition
to it, could not fail to renew the struggle the
Continent by the sword and fire. The conse-
quences Of its renewal were duly explained in my
last if mistake not
On the 18th ultimo, despatch from Schwartz
enberg to Msnteufel reached Berlin, in which
Austria yields as gracefully as possible to the
final decision Of German Public Opinion in this
matter of the reconstruction of the Confederation,
and expresses her willingness to be content with
the simple reconstruction Of the Diet formed in
1915, in which shape it is just nov being reassem-
bled and reopened. Schwartzenberg by way of
carrying out the Camarills purpose Of the con-
struction Of his masters Europe has given notice
through the columns Of the Vienna News Bureau,
that he proposes to apply to Hungary and Aus
trio-Itsly ali the ordinances which will become
applicable to the rest Of Frederick Joseph's pos
passions, as portion Of Germany proper. That
is--that he will make them part Of Germany
virtually, though public opinion denies to him the
additional influence in the direction Of German
affairs 80 lately sought in the effort to introduce
Austris's non-Gern,an possessions into the Con-
federation. Though all the States have not yet
responded to the manifesto of Prussia in favor Of
the original Diet, the interference Of Russia in
the matter referred to in my last has settled the
question. However, SAKE Meingen, Atenburg,
Coburg, Gotha, Wiemar, Reuss, Frankfort, Bre-
men, Lubbock, and Baden, have declared for the
old Diet while Saxony, Electorate Hesse, b.
varis, and Wirtemberg, were evidently inclined
to fall into line on Austrias side. This division
is very natural The latter all hoped to become
more important Powers by swallowing each some
neighboring tom-thumb sovereignty, al their re-
spective shares of the national plumber to grow
out Of the contamination of the late grand scheme
of Russia for strengthening the hands of Despot-
ism.
The establishment Of the old Diet, IL strikes
me, will fail to accomplish q single end of the
plotting Governments. Its characteristics gave
80 much scope for the operation Of rivalries and
jealousies among its members, IS to weaken it, as
a whole, to absolute imbecility. True, every one
Of the Governments have redoubled their precau-
tions against popular effort. Bat, in the mean
while, popular discomfort is twice as general as
Immediately prior to the occurrence Of the series
Of revolutionary attempts Of is4s and is4s The
peoples have evidently made up their minds to be
free and feel sure that they will attain their end
when old jealousies are renewed at Frankfort, to
have their old effect Of stimulating the rival Gov
ernments, each to stimulate the subjects Of the
other to disturb the quiet and security or rather
immunity Of their masters.
The insurrection In Portugal, headed by the
Duke Saldanha, Is a matter literally of no inter-
est to the Eberslst. He was q distinguished
leader In two or three previous efforts Of Portu-
guese noblemeu against their parent Government.
The question there In issue is, simply, shall the
despot over portion Of the Portuguese people, be
more or less the absolute slave Of the despot over
the whole7 Poor Portugal is stepped In that con-
dition Of popular brutality naturally resulting
from the long-oontinued asoendency Of priest
craft
Count dc Thomar, renowned a. " Costa Gu
bral, commands the Government forces, which
have been weakened by the desertion of several
regiments, TO Saldanha. On the 18th of April
the Duke left Lisbon for Cintra, and marched on
Ssntaren, where he proposed to concentrate his
insurgent forces. The King and Terceira start
ed immediately after up the Tagus, with $500
men, aiming to beat him In the rase for the for
tress. At the time of the Nisgaras departure
from Liverpool, 1t was not known which had
reached there nrst- Much curiosity existed in
diplomatic circles In London TO know this fact az
the possession of thst fortress on the part Of Sal
dsnha could hardly fail 10 make him very formi. |
dAbls to the King and his party. cstohisx the |
spirit Of the ase, Ssldanha 10 making professions
Of liberalism, 10 the amusement Of the vsll-Iu-
formed Of the western portion Of tire continent
He fights to secure immunity to rob sad murder |
more extsndvely for the benefit Of his own pure,