The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-08-16

sui of the Pontifca States, and written to shield
the POPE from the censure generally heaped
pom him on account of his action at Perugia.
His conduct in authorizing the capture of the re-
VOTED city by the Swiss, has been fercely stigma
tzed Infamous half the world over, and the
pamphlet in question undertakes to Tighten his
responsibility by showing that the people of Pc
rugia brought upon themselves the fearful punish
ment they received. This is certainly true, and,
far we admit the validity of the defence. We
do not see, we confess how the case of those who
denounce the whole political machinery of the
Papal States one monstrous system of evils
and abuses is particularly strengthened by laying
so much stress the atrocities perpetrated by its
soldiers. The slaughter of the rebeous citizens,
and the ruin wrought upon their dwelling place.
were, to a beleagured and conquered town, but
the inevitable and natural consequences of its situa
ton. Such things follow ALWAYS in the wake of
battle; and to paint the scenes of that mas
sacre in ensanguined colors, and to publish in all
their narrowing details, the incidents that marked
its progress, may serve to infane the Imagination
but can in no way effect the question of the excel
lence or worhessness of the Papal Government
The people of Perugia when they took up arms,
were bound to calculate the chances of defeat, and
misfortune would bring upon them. They
doubtless did have a distinct perception of the
possibility of what afterwards befell them, and
they CALAMITY determined to defy it. They had
ALSO every right to suppose the POPE would not
remain quiet spectator of the revolution which
closed upon him the gates of one of his fairest
cities Those who participated in that movement
had every reason to expect that Plus the Ninth,
would uphold his authority with the military
power at his command. When they rose in insur-
rection, therefore, they challenged him to the
combat, and prepared themselves to abide its
issue
We do not say the PORE did what was right in
reducing his subjects to submission with bayonet
and SABRE but simply that he did what any other
ruler would have DONE and that it is irrational to
magnify the occurrences at Perugia into an I'M
heard Of abuse of power and unparalleled act of
brutality. Deplorabe as the events were, they are
such as have been too familiar to the world for it
to be astonished at them now. Neither is it fair
from the measures taken to recover possession of
Peruga, to infer an unusual degree of cruelty and
wickedness to be characteristic of the present
Pope. 1t matters little it is true to the wretcbed
inhabitants of the sacked city, whether his brutal
disposition, or only his mistaken idea of their du-
ties and his own prerogatives have made them so
to suffer But impartial history, we think, can
not hesitate to impue the disasters of which we
speak to the last named cause.
Looking upon man chiefly as a being whose
spiritual wants are to be primarily considered the
POPE is an i'll judge of the physical conditions ne
cessary to his security and happiness. Imbued
fba cDirif Of cioStio
has, through the vicissitudes of centuries, been
ever prone to hold fast to traditionarv policy and
opinion, he is not likely to accept as legitimate
changes the new phases in which societies and ma
tons have presented themselves within the last
few generations. Firm in the conviction that his |
peope'are entrusted by Heaven, body and SOUL |
to his paternal keeping and direction, and con-
scious perhaps of the rectiude of his intentions,
he cannot but think it a fragrant violation of every
religious and social duty for them to resist his
sway. Blind to the progressive tendencies of the
age in which we live, he denounces with Jealous |
fervor those who proclaim that 'tGoD hath made |
imam free, regardeth his political and religious
"opinions, thus denying the authorities establish
led by COP upon earth, and to whom obedience |
land respect are due, forgetting at the same time
1.-THE Immortality of the soul, which, when it pass
''eth from this ranstory world 10 the eternal one
shall have to answer unto the all-powerfu and
''inexorabe JUDGE for those religious opinions"
In the eyes of such man what could palliate
the revolt of Perugia? To such a mind what al
tentative could present itself? save that which
should reduce the rebels to obedience TO the lawful
power of the State and chasen them for their |
folly and their sin. And this is the view of the |
writer of the pamphlet we have mentioned, and
onits rrefragabiity he bases his vnd cation of the
PoPE. He attributes it solely to the "depravity
''of human souls''-''that there are people who !
call it not infamy but honor and glory to rebel
against their prince, and to incline and sus-
tain under specious titles, rebellion pr
1t is needless for us to say that we acquiesce in
such doctrine. We belive that ssGop hath
''made man free regardeth his political and
religious opinions" We deny that rev.
olutions their origin to the sdepravity of hui
imam souls We maintain that the people of
Perugia had an indisputable right to rise in revolt
we rejoice that they struck one gallant blow for
treedom-we greve that they found defeat instead
of triumph. Misgoverned, as we'll because of the
absurdiy of the political system under which they
live, as of the ineffciency of those by whom it is
administered, they were entitled to seek remedy
Tor these evils. Hopeless of achieving anything
through complaint remonstrance, they were
justified in struggling for reform through insur-
rection. And not in vain have these men fought
and fallen. For with their blood has been written
in unfading letters, protest against despotism
that will not be forgotten. Their attempt was
feeble and futile, but it one of a series of as
saults land like each successive shot against strong
fortress, it will have aided to produce the grand
result And when the strongholds of arbitrary
power shall begin TO topple on their foundations,
the blow struck at Perugia will be remembered
Captain EDWARD W. a. ScHENLEY after having |
turned up a member of The British House of
Commons. has been snmmariIH tnrned ont IL |