Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-08-27

on ais bare back, alter which an iron weigh
, Of one hundred and five pounds is attaches
to his feet, which is frequently not remove
/ for weeks. Sometimes the victims ar
, placed, in pairs, in narrow and noisom
: cells, where an insufhciency Of air. creep
Ing through a confined opening, stiass, al
it were. the sufferers perpetually, prolong
, ing life only to wear it gradually out, amic
tortures Of thirst, and heat, and slow stran.
! gula,ion. Oiien the feet, corroded by III.
irons. become prey to worms. Will.
breath yet remains in the body; and thu.
the actual horrors Of the grave are begur
before the pangs Of parting. What won.
der that while some have attempted suicide
others have gone mad. What wonder
that some. dying thus by slow tor
ture. or others starving, have cursed ths
hour that saw them born, the minons who
condemned them, and even the Poa,lf vino
permitted the atrociiy.
The article in La Presse enumeraies
many specific instances of the injustice and
cruelty Of the Roman judges. In one of
these cases. tha, of Michael Lucetelli, the
unfortunate prisoner does not even know
his crime, nor can all his imporiunilies
procure the knowledge of either accuser or
accusation, so that he will probably die
withou, having the opportunity SO much
as TO defend himself. In another case.
,ha, Of Siivestra Campetti, the prisoner has
been kept in irons for more than a year,
and by refinement Of cruelty, has been
made to suffer all the agonies Of death, by
being afforded just bread and water
enough to keep him alive. We might
multiply examples Of similar atrocities.
but our heart sickens, our pen refuses to
proceed. l, is sufficient to say that human
Imagination can not conceive more aw.
ful picture Of combined filth, misery, dis
ease, anguish and despair than that proved,
on reliable authority, 10 be actually exist
ing in the prisons of Rome, at this hour.
Over the gates Of those gloomy cells there
might be written, with even more Justice
than Dante wrote over the entrance to his
Internal realm, ,"who enters here, bids fare
well TO hope" |, would seem, indeed. as
If, in the times Of the great Italian poet,
human cruelty had not attained its climax,
and as if even genius could no, imagine the
future reality for while Dante describes
his victims, in that terrific vision, tossing
from ice 10 fame, as the acme of agony,
his soul fell shcri of the awful picture of
living men. On whom the horrors O: the
grave had already begun.
In reading these painful accounts Of hu-
man suffering. we exclaim Involuntary,
"How long, oh, Lord, how long" No
people, even though overpowered, can sub,
nit always 10 such cruelty; day OF
reckoning must come-and, as brutality
begets brutality, wol wo when the peo-
pie, tiger-like, turn on their oppressors
We would not, indeed. countenance re.
vengc ; but men arc human and we fear
that terrible reiribution is preparing for
Naples and Rome. |, is as much fear a.
cruelty, we believe, that dictates these
eno,mIiies; and as the storm grows more
threatening. The rage and terror Of desSo.
lism increases. Thank heaven, the sky
still darkens, the thunder rolls. the light.
nings begin to flash. for in the CONFUSION
that will follow, Italy, perhaps. may re-
gain her freedom. 1t is this assurance .
alone, that enables US 10 hear Of these mis-. !,
cries. Over the groans Of agonzed priso- :
,ers, over the means oflhe starving, over
he so5s Of women sacrificed TO lust. over |
he curses Of men dying in chains, We /
ancy we hear the grow Of the coming {
arlhquake, in which thrones and dun.
icons will 60 down, while nations shall I
cap, letteriess and free, to their feet, clap. a
ing their hands in gratitude 10 Cod f
DHilad. Bulletin. c