The daily union., 1852-05-15

At the period OF his accession to the throne the prisons
were filled with political ohenders-with those who had
consPiied ~ iayor Of liberty Thousands were IN exile
our country. BY the proclamation OF amnesty, the
doors the prisons thrown wide open and those who
were langushng in exile invited TO return TO their
own homes, where security would greet them upon their
own hearths. These men, the victims OF arbitrary pow
er returning their land became preachers OF the
gospel of liberty to their countrymen But their alb
ssnoe instead Of proftng. had been hurul arbitrary
rule, by prompting the inquiry 10 the authority by
which men were banished for opinions sake On their
return, everywhere objects OF universal interest," they
Were received as vctors received coming fresh from
fields OF battle with demonstrations OF grateful enthusi
asm The principles OF political liberty, long iermenung
IN the minds OF the people, about TO be put prac
tce and the Pope regarded everywhere the patron
OIL liberal institutions, and the future head OF united
Italian government Throughout the whole OF the PENN
sua were felt the indications OF coming change. The
great deeps of society were heaving with agitation
does the sea sometimes at the approach of storm
Mems minds were laboring with new IDEAS in chan
nels of thought All at once, II moved by sud-
den and impulses the people seemed to have dis
covered thatrghts which were theirs by birth had been
denied them.
In this state of things operated upon by the OF
discomfort to which have referred, the Sicillans de-
manded Of their King fulfment of his promises and
redress of grievances Refusing both they rose IN insur
lie for freedom. Troops from Naples, and the
city OF Palermo was besieged This was in December,
ls47 The mountaineers Of Calabra hearing that the
war had begun, FASTENED down from their hills joined
their brethren and fought by their side The enthusiasm
for freedom pervaded all classes Women mingled in
the ranks, exhorng their sons husbands and brothers
TO Tight bravey whilst the priests stood by TO adminis-
ter consolation and bless the dying Ihe hame spread
The Neapolans rose and demanded political privileges.
tial law Naples declared in state OF siege The
guns OF st. Elmo trained upon the city, Batteries
OF flying artillery and squadrons of cavalry occupied the
Streets and the King declared that rather than concede
jot or title TO the demands OF the people, he would
make the city heap of ruins. This the 9th Of
January, 1S4s During the whole OF the 2sth the peo
nj nar pntohp Hint IN fha
morning OF the 29th the dismissal OF the ministry and
constitutional form of government based on the prnci-
pies o. mat oi Belgium, a were W RTosa,ne-d na - :. i,
Grand Duke OF Tuscany granted constitutions TO their
respective subjects, securing them the important prvi
sges Gi ~ ,na puaa
gagged in getting rid OF the legacy of abuses bequeahed
to him by his predecessor submitted to his subjects the
representatives convoked by him from different parts of
the Papal States 1t liberal in its concession OF
privileges and such might have been anticipated at the
hands OF ruler aiming TO elevate the condition of his
subjects The people ocked from all parts of his domn-
ions to swear allegiance to it. But whilst the
everywhere received il with demonstrations OF enhus
astc satisfaction, the Austrian party in Rome predicted
as the results OF it not only temporal anarchy, but the
overthrow OF the spiritual power OF the papacy. Thus,
from the period OF the adoption OF the constitution
ward until the flight of the Pope in the November fol-
lowing there two parties arrayed against each other
in spirit Of bitter hostility But Notwithstanding the civil
dissensions prevailing in the PaPal States growing out
OF the constitution. its promulgaton the signal for
rising IN those parts oil Italy hitherto least disturbed by
popular dissensions and connections. The Austrian
provinces OF Italy, lying between the foot OF The Alps
Venice to the borders Of Sardinia embracing Venice,
Lombardy, and virtually the Duchies of Parma and
Modena, weary of foreign domination prepared to cast
II OIL Venice revolted and drove out the Austrian
troops; Padna Vcenza, and Milan followed her exam
pie, and in few days the whole of the Lombardo yene
tan Kingdom was up in 10 assert the independence
OF Italy The enthusiasm universal il pervaded all
classes and conditions Of socetynobe and peasant old
men and young boys and women, priests and aymen-
all were in arms and everywhere the Austrian troops
he best disciplined soldiers In Europe, were flying before
this popular militia Milan was besieged by an immense
army under Radetzky During Eve days and nights his
cause of Italian liberty and independence which they
had sworn TO defend the courage OF its defenders flag
ged not moment The King OF Sardinia marching
TO their deverance and their compatros Of Venice and
Lombardy were fockng TO join his standard. Emula-
tng each other in patriotic sacrifices and privaions, men
and women labored together upon the barricades by
which the advance OF the enemy was 10 be mpeded,
should he attempt 10 carry the city by storm. Where
these temporary breastworks deficient they were
strengthened by piling up household furniture against
them; and for this purpose beds, bedding SOFAS and
every kind OF article adapted TO the purpose, prof
fered with the aacry inspired by patriotic ardor See
ing the determination of the city 10 endure every exem
ity rather than surrender and OF the approach oil
Charles Albert and the rising OF the people Of Lombardy
In his rear Radenky was al length compelled retreat
Al this moment Austrian power in Italy verging TO
its fall Its rule had been of unnitiga,ed rgor and
being foreign one, on that account the hate
ful TO those whom II exercised Unchanged in
its principles standing alone in the exercise OF arbitrary
authority Italy, like the last fortress which holds out
in conquered land, il the objec, OF attack all
sides At home the Meternich ministry had fallen Vi
emma in insurrection Hungary in state Of open
and successful revolt and Radetzky, the last prop OF
Austrian power south oil the Alps pressed not only by
the nsueconary forces OF the Austrian provinces OF
Italy, but likewise by and formidable Sar
dinan army, led by the king himself, forced TO
treat and in danger Of being compelled to Italy
But the ambition OF Charles Albert, more intent on an
han he Of
rule and the evils OF arbitrary government did not choose
to take advantage OF circumstances which were NOT yet
ripe for his schemes OF personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The moment OF favorable opportunity thus permitted
10 escape The tide which leads 10 the fortune of nations
well OF individuals not taken al its food Dis
sension began to manifest itself in the patriot ranks
Rome scene OF discord which opposing factions
mutually charged each other with treason 10 the country
hostility 10 the church. Charles Albert. wait
OF through their Efforts should offer him the
throne Of united Italy, permitted Radeky 10 restore the
confidence OF his troops, recover lost ground and again
the offensive and, finally, all that liberty had
gained in Upper Italy lost on the plains OF Novara
where the army of Charles and his few republican al
lies, who stood by him to the last because they hated
Austrian tyranny more than they feared his ambition,
were overtaken by disastrous defeat Austria having
thus recovered dominion in alya dominion which was
amhonsetto work TO gather together the fragments OF
arbitrary power and reconstruct them Her army
and her policy were both put at the command of the
mics OF liberal institutions in Italy The King of Naples
and the Duke oil Tuscany began 10 withdraw by one
the privileges which, few months before, they had
ceded TO their subjects The example which Rome af-
forded 70 NE neghoorng Kingdoms in the latter months