The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-07-23
SOUTHERN PRESS
WASHINGTON CITY.
WEDNESDAY, JULY %, ls5l.



COLUMBUS, the discoverer of America, w.
not an Anglo-Saxon, but an Italian. His natl,
land had been, for centuries, the centre of all til
commercial movement of western Europe; an
its mariners were consequently the most scier
tifc, and the most skilful in the art of navig,
ton, of those Of any people ip the world.
In speaking of his native land, we do not a
Jude merely to Genoa, but to Italy. He was 9
that people who had conquered and civilize
EuroPe-of that people which at this day, d
yided and politically oppressed. have an inau
ence over the destinies of mankind, that is tn
source of division in every nation--of that PEG
pie which has such faith in its long-tried ca
pacity, that il believes it will yet take the lea,
in Europe.
Whether under new circumstances this cal
ever recur, is another question. Whatever I'll,
capacity Of the nation, other nations now full,
partake oft. The spirit of Roman laws, usages
and knowledge is to be found in every countr,
she conquered. And the blood of the Italian
which had been shed in thousand battle-felds
can be traced among every kind Of population,
from Gibraltar to the Grampian Hills.
Every people that has succeeded in drawing
toward II the trade with the East, has become
rich. The EgyUims, the Tyriaus, and other
Syrian commercial people, the CartIlagenians,
and finally the Romans, profited immensely BY
il. On the decay Of Rome, Venice and Genoa,
but particularly the former, among the many
maritime republics of Italy, obtained the lions
share of this profitable trade.
The position of Italy was highly favorable to
commerce, and she became, by reason of her
greater independence as republican country,
governing itself for its own advantage, the great
mart of Europe.
Neither Spain, nor France, nor England, had
any marine worth speaking Of Yet the Greek
colonies in the South of France had carried on
a considerable trade with the East, almost before
Rome came into being, and in the conquest of
Gaul by julius CESAR, the greatest opposition
he met with was from the maritime nations in
habting the west and north west coast of France,
nations which had learned the naval art from
Greeks and Ph9nicians
While Spain and Portugal strove with each
other in the passion for discovering new worlds,
and new ways to the East, Italy began to decline
a second time, through the effect of various in
fuences, among which the most important were,
the doubling of the Cape of Good Hope, and
abstraction of portion of the trade from the
old overland route; and the gradual loss Of
selfgovernment, through the intigues of her
enriched citizens with foreign powers and spirit
nal authorities
Iii remarkable circumstance in the history
of the European world, this succumbing of
1taly-after giving birth by her example of re-
publican Independence and prosperity, to revo-
luton ALL, over Europe-this subsection, to the
very system, she had been so instrumental in
shaking everywhere else. The very moment
other nations, her children in knowledge, began
TO comprehend her, at that moment her own
strength failed. The shafts despotism had
levelled at her for centuries at length took ef.
feet, and her luxuriant fields trodden for ages
by the Gsul, the German and the Spaniard,
no longer yielded their abundance TO a free
man, but to serf
Now Italy, in this great time of her pros
perity, like Greece, formed a congeres of in.
dependent republics. Ii cannot be said that
any weakness resulted from this Their perfect
independence Of each other in so far as their
local government was concerned, was the great
source Of their strength, energy and commercial
activity. And there can scarcely be doubt but
If Italy had acknowledged one authority, one
government, situated at Rome or Naples or
Milan, she never could have become the great.
free and industrious nation that she was. There
would have been no Venice of any note; no
Genoa Of any fame. She would have been
subjected to the Taltry, timid influences which
centre about Notwithstanding, restraining
and embarrassing the natural activity of man In
their meddlesome laundering with things which
but to touch is to cripple All European nations
are strongly under the influence Of foreign in
reference working at their capitals. And when
commercial Italy came under that guidance,
her day Of prosperity quickly passed.
The republics Of Italy were frequently in.
volved in war with each other-so also were
those Of Greece. In those old times, both honor
and interest had different meanings. On the
most trivial points il was considered necessary
and glorious tdo6ght-as a matter Of interest,
il was thought advantageous to destroy neigh
Dor, and take possession Of his goods. Modern
civilization and experience has discovered the
absurdity and the fallscy Of these views, car
ried out as they were. And no one thinks Of
fighting, but when il becomes necessary to de-
fend his rights, and guaranteed independence,
unjustly menaccd.
With the second decay Of Italy, and The loss
of commercial Independence, sprung up the
prosperity Of Spain and Portugal Their CON-
merce increased 10 gigantic extent, and their
ships visited every continent and traversed
every sea. But the prosperity was Of short dur
ation--A fools influence at Madrid or Lisbon