The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-08-11


| eagerness which merits my gratitude--wbich
augments, if possible, the profound affection
| which feel for them-and which was adapted
to inspire the assurance that the just cause in
| defence of which my brave armies went forth
| with enthusiasm to the contest, would be VIC
torious. e4 s1f g 5 Hfp seHi8i p. r
Unhappily, the result has not corresponded
with the general effort and the fortune of war
has not been favorable to us. ae
The valiant army of Austria has in this in.
stance again given proofs of its tried heroism
and its incompatible perseverance,, so brilliant
that it has commanded the admiration of all,
even OF its enemies. experience legitimate
pride in being the chief Of such an army, and
the country ought to feel indebted to it for hav-
ing maintained vigorously in all its purity, the
honor of the Austrian flag
1t is not less perfectly established that our
enemies in spite of the greatest efforts, in spite
of the superior forces which they had for long
period been preparing for the conflict, have
been able, even by making the greatest sacri-
fees, to obtain only acknowledgements decisive
victory; while the Austrian army, still animated
by the same ardor, and full of the same cour-
age, maintained a position, the possession of
which left perhaps a possibility of recovering
from the enemy all the advantages that he had
gained. But for this purpose it would have
been necessary to make new sacrifices, which
certainly would not have been less bloody than
those which have been made already and which
have deeply afflicted my heart.
| Under these conditions, It was my duty as a
sovereign to take into seriGns consideration the
propositions of peace which had been made to
me. The consequences Of this continuance of
the war would have been so much the heavier,
because | should have been obliged to demand
from the faithful people of my dominions new
sacrifices Of blood and of money, much more
considerable even than these which had been
made up to that time; and notwthstand-
ing success would have remained doubtful
since have been So bitterly deceived in my
well-founded hopes that this contest not having
been entered into for the defence of the right'
of Austria only, should not be left alone ia it.
| In spite of the ardent sympathy, worthy of
acknowledgment. which the justice of our cause
| has inspired for the most part in the Govern
| ments and peoples of Germany, our natural al
lies, most ancient allies, have obstnatey refused
to recognise the great importance of the grand
question of the day. Consequently, Austria
would have been obliged all alone to face the
events which were beisg prepared for and
which every day might have rendered more
! grave.
/ The honor of Austria coming intact out of
! this wsr-thanks to the heroic efforts of her val
liant ARMY have resolved, yielding to politi-
cal considerations, to make sacrifice for the
re-establishment of peace and to accept the
preliminaries which ought to lead to its conclu-
sion; for have acquired the conviction that
should obtain, in any event, conditions less pn.
favorable in coming to direct understanding
with the Emperor of the French, without the
blending Of any third party whatsoever, than in
causing to participate in the negotiations the
three great Powers which have taken no part
in the struggle. Unhappily, have been I'M
able to escape the separation from the rest of
the Empire Of the greater part of Lomhardy.
/ On the other hand, it must be agreeable to
my heart to see the blessings of peace assured
afresh to my beloved people; and these bless
ings are doubly precious to me, because they
will give me the necessary leisure for bestowing
henceforth, without distraction, all my attention
and solictude on the fruitful task that pro-
pose to mplish-that is to say, to found in
durable manner the internal well-being and
the external power of Austria, by'the happy de-
velopment Of her moral and material forces,
and BIZ amelorations cpnformahle to the spirit
Of the time in legislation and administration.
As in these days of serious trials and saorfces,
my people have shnwn themselves faithful to
my person, so now, by the confidence with which
they respond to me, they will aid in accomplish
ing works Of peace, and in attaining the reali-
cation of my benevolent intentions.
AS chief of the army, | have already ex
pressed to it, in special order of the day, my
Acknowledgements of its bravery. Today, re-
new the expression of these sentiments. While
speak to my people, | thank those of their
children who have fought for God, their Empe-
ror, and their country. l thank them for the
heroism of which they have given proof, and
shall always remember with grief those of our
brave companions in arms who have not, alas,
returned from the combat.
francis JosERH.
Luxembourg, lilly Is, 1859.
4 The Excitement az FIOregce-Within a few
minutes of the publication Of the news of peace
from every street and piazza of Florence the
population poured FORTH and sons thousands
we're soon gathered together under the walls
of the Palazzo Vecchio, the official residence
of the members of the Government, The ut
most evaporation animated the whole assem-
bly,. The crowd was composed of hundreds OF
people, each listening with violent gesticula
lions to its own orator Presently rush was
made to the office of the 1Nomtore. Ali the
copies Of the journal that remained undistribu
ted were seized and burned before the Palazzo
Vecchio. The French banners that hung side
by side with the i-colOr of Sardinia in all the
cafes, were TORN down apd trampled under foot
; During the evening the Ministry issued an
address to the people, as fe9ws:
6Tuscaps: The news of events which dim
our brightest hopes distress the hearts of all
The Government participates your consterna
ton but We must not abandon ourselves to
this feeling. We must wait till news arrive.
with respect to these facts, the particulars Of
which are not known up TO the present mo
ment. 1t is our duty to unite resolutey, and
show by our hrmness that we are worthy to be
citizens of land Independent and fvea A.
long as we display fhiS iiFfaaess we shall moi
hafe l9af al our hoPes. Tuscany will never
, eQnseHt to be again placed under the yoke and
subjected to the influence of Austria, contrary
to its own wishes aud rights"
At Milan there was also great Indignation
on account of the terms of the Treaty,
The aew Sardisiaa Minister IN place Q,
Cougt CapoUr.-CouAt Arese is a man against
whom Austria could have naught TO urge. She
might herself have appointed him to Tuscany
or to MOdena, if either of the Grand Dukes
had failed her. Arese has been, during a long
life, the intimate friend of Louis Napoleon, lie
was with him in America in his young days
of adventure, H. was with him throughout
all this campaign and in order that he might
have a proper pretext for being constantly in
the company Of the Emperor, he held the Off
eial position of saFdinian Commissioner with
the French army. Arese, moreover, is a LON.
bard, and not Piedmontese. He has no EN-.
barrassing antecedents of constitutional char
acter. He doubtless understands the most
effective means of dealing with those Italian
patriots who are now cutting aud pelting the
news-venders, for crying through the streets OF
the Lombard cities the conditions of this glo
rious peace,
|