The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-09-21
come down.

CONDITION OF TIE ROMAN STATEs.--The gov
eminent Of the Roman States continues to be
singularly oppressive and but for the presence
of the French and Austrians would be speedily
overthrown. Whatever hopes of its ameliora-
ton have been entertained by the more liberal
European Powers. are melting away with every
days experience, A sulen desperation sits
upon the brow of the Italian peasant, madness
produced by oppression obscures the intellect Of
be most gifted, treacherv enters into the compo-
iticn Of every domestic circle, and misery every
where prevails, under the present system.
4 correspondence is now taking place between
an Italian patriot of the name OF Farini and
Mr.. Gladstone. on the present condition OF
Italy, One Of bis letters on the Roman States
presents most appalling picture Of its judicial
system, and the consequences which flow from II.
The Holy Office watches and Furnishes in cases
Of conscience, having a supreme congregation.
inquisitors. wears and iamiliags. II gives no
reason for IFS arrests and judges and Furnishes Sc
crct1y. There are also police tribunals and tri-
hunals Of the bishops, Furnishing violators Of the
church edicts with temporal penalties Of various
degrees from fine up to death. One Of these.
recently issued, resembles, in many particulars,
the bloody code Of Kansas, which Furnishes as
iclon n man who may utter a sentiment on
pure question Of morals. In the Roman States.
en- alleged false maxim or "heretical bias.
phemy" subjects the unfortunate accused to The
severest punishments. The lay officials attached
to the Holy Office have an entire immunity from
I,v, Ssin oc In
quisitor; and these may carry concealed wea-
pons. even where IL has been made n capital
crime. In the administration OF civil justice
there are again an Ecclesiastical Tribunal and
Tribunals Special and Exceptional 10 decide ques-
tons relative to personal rights and rights OF pro-
perry. Indeed these hundreds Of special tribunals
are continually seeking and Furnishing their vic
Tins. We may imagine the condition Of people
thus chafed. harassed and crushed down by laws
not made by themselves. and from which there is
no appeal. The state Of the country Is shocking
under these circumstances. Driven to despera-
ton by the unparalleled cruelty Of the laws, the
people outlaw themselves, revenging their wrong.
by bloody satisfaction, and preferring the wild
liberty Of the campagna TO the espionage AMI
chains Of the capital. In the Romagna. where
the hated Austrians are posted their protection
Is more odious to the people than the laws they
protect. The robbers are more than usually &C
tive, and the Iandholders pay them subsidies for
their forbcarance. All this wretchedness il the
result Of the enforcement OF barbarous DEGREES
and edcts issued by the ecclesiastical authorities
for The maintenance Of law and order We natu
rally sympathize with those who suffer by such
acts, and we might see almost parallel Gaze at
home where law and order is the watchword
Of brutal rufliansm, and where United States
troops arc playing the part Of Austrians, and en-.
forcing the penalties Of bloody code.
The Roman prisons are filed. When "cvcry
bush Is an officer" few can hide themselves
Between 1852 and 1854, inclusive, 5S.523 per
sons were imprisoned in the Roman States for
real or pretended offences. But there is no pub
lie security following even this severity In the
commune Of Bologna, though there were in the
month Of August Of last year Gs3 prisoners in
Fort Urbano there we're during the first six
months of the year 500 successful robberies. 50
violent assaults 20 burglaries, and small offences
innumerablc In public life everything is in the
hands Of the ecclesiastics; the laymcn have but
small influence. Society is thoroughly disorQa-
nized and the country Is reduced to the extremity
Of despair.
A BLuSpER. rarson Beecher calls upon the
people 10 pray at the next election lie IL an