Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-22
The Neapolitan Exiles.


tysix of his tellow-prisoners, who have un-
dergone the extremity of human suffering
in the dungeons of Montcsarchio during ten
long wears, will be cast "a cxlles on the
shores of the United States, by order ot the
infamous tyrant who fills the throne OF the
Two Sicilies.
We might well deny the right claimed "t
transporting his prisoners to this country aS
if it were his penal colony; and we assured
" would deny that right if its concession
could be tortured into a favor granted 10
King Bomba. But. in our satisfaction to
welcome to liberty the distinguished martyrs
| in the cause of freedom, whom more than
pagan tyranny has condemned to decade
! Of anguish, we shall forget the insolence OF
the process b. which they have been sent
among us.
Carlo Prrio. Settrmbrni, and their fell
low-sufercrs. are entitled To the warm sym
pathy of every man who values the blessings
Of liberty, aimires political honesty, and
compassiunateS unmcrted suffering.
They are guilty of no crime. In that
year of royal perlurieS and general c"nIui-
sion. ISIS. when Ferdinand, their sovereign
swore to preserve and defend the constitution
which he had just sanctioned. when ne sent
his troops under the command OF the braIe
Pepe to aid the Lombards i'll cOnquerlng their
| Independence, and when he dcludcd his sub
iects into the belief that he was devoted to
constitutional liberty. PGrio and his compa-
Mons were members Of the Neapolltan Par
| lament summoned by order OF their KING.
They took part in no political plots, counsel,
| led no Instruction, she'd no blood, BETRAYED
no trust. They were firm i'll their devotion
To liberty. and believed that Ferdinand
shared their convictions. They only found
that his liberal protcstationS were false when
they saw the army which he sent in March
to aid the Lombarls. recalled in May to
butcher his own people in Calabria. when
they saw Messina bombarded. the Parla-
mcnt violently broken up, and themselves
plunged in chains and darkness, III dun
geons far below the level Of the sea, shut out
from home and kindred, and subjected to
cruclties and privations which rival IN
atrocity the most brutal excuses OF pagan
oppression. They trusted in the solemn oath
Of their sovereign. and he has repaid their
confidence by wrcaking upon them VEN
gcance worthy of demon.
The English papers need not 10 bespeak
for these noble victims of kingly treachery
the generous sympathies of the American
people. Our sympathies have been theirs
ever since they first fell into the clutches OF
their sccptred torturer, and we have often
wondered how civilized Europe could suffer
the commission of such atrocities rs they
suffered. and not put forth her strength to
avenge humanity outraged in their persons.
They NAV count with certainty on sincere
welcome in this country, and that every
kindness will be extended to them which can
sooth the sufferings of exile and separation
from family and friends. The sympathy
which exists in the States for the patriots Of
the western world" needs, we trust, no new
manifestation to enable Europe to judge Of
its extent or sincerity Our doors are al
WAYS open to the afflicted Of every nation;
and If, rs the London Times remarks, some
out of the many who have sought and found
protection and a hearty welcome from US,
have been undeserving of the honor, we
would rather err on the side of generosity
than run the risk of refusing our sympathies
TO one who was really mcritorious.
The programme of the Neapoltan govern
ment, according to which the ''clemency" OF
the pious Bomba is to be carried out, Is to
convey the eighty-six martyrs on board gov
eminent steamers. fitted up as prison ships,
from San Stcfano to Cadiz, where each man
will receive twelve colcnnate, and be placed
on board Spanish merchant vessels, which
will set sail ut once for New York. On ar
irving at that port they will each receive fifty
ducats, or $40. One Of these wretched
men. named Daco, recently lost his wife,
and before embarkng in the prison ship
which was to convey him from Montesarchlo
to Cadiz, was permitted, as special favor,
to see his daughters, aged, respectively. 10
and Is years, for the first time in seven long
years The mingled JOY and grief Of the
meeting to say "a sad farewell is said to
have been beyond description.
Such is the clemency of Ferdnand-that
strange combination of the superstitious hi
got and ferocious tyrant. He lives in constant
fear of the vengeance of his people, alarmed
lest every hand extended towards him bear
dagger to take his life--lest every bit ne eats
and drop he drinks contain poison. He is
constantly fleeing from the terrors OF his
guilty conscience, and yet he does not pos
scss the courage to confess his guilt and
change his course His Punishment of
PGrio and his companions, which he calls
IAN amnesty" was wrung from his fears
not prompted by any nobler feeling; and,
while it sets these unfortunate men free, is
an act Of rs iawless despotism as their orr
gnal condemnation. - Union.