The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-03-02
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 2, 1859.

The Italian question still continues to be the
chief topic of discussion in European journals. 1t
is not strange that this should be so when we re-
feet how vast are the interests that are affected by
its solution. With no reliable data until recently
from which anything like plausible conclusions
might be drawn, all the opinions that were adj
vanced were necessarily conjectural, and even to
this day the points in dispute are rather imperfect
" guessed at than accurately understood. One
thing, however, was approximations differences
had arisen between France and Sardinia on the
one hand, and Austria on the other. Each of the
three nations was actively arming, and the occur
renee of single outbreak in Austrian Italy might
at any moment precipitate war. The march of
large bodies of troops in the direction of the from
tiers the concentration of warlike stores at available
points; the fitting out of war steamers and the
immense energy displayed on all sides in strength
ening Notifications, in garrsonng outposts, and
in providing for all the contingencies of desper-
ate struggle-all these things indicated that the
danger was imminent though no one ventured to
guess where, or by whom, the first blow would be
struck But whatever may have been the original
intentions of the parties to the QUARREL it is evil
dent, at length, that no appeal to arms will be
sanctioned until all the resources of diplomacy
have been exhausted. If we refuse to accept as
lust the sarcasm of TALLEYRAND, that Language
twas invented for the purpose of concealing
t'thought" and take for granted that the Earl of
DERBY NAPOLEON ILL.,, Count DE MoRNY, VICTOR
EMANUEL, and Count CAvoUR, in speaking of the
Italian question: expressed themselves frankly and
truthfully-and we see no reason to doubt that
Al co. NO hat
the cause for alarm has been greatly exaggerated,
and that the warlike movements which have been
so frequently chronicled and commented upon by
the journalists, to be looked upon rather in the
light of precautionary measures than as positive
proofs of impending hostlities. Referring then the
question of peace war to the only parties capa-
BILE of speaking with authority upon the subject,
what are their answers Lord DERBY declares it
to be his conviction, that 'there is nothing in the
''present state of European affairs which may not
''be settled by diplomacy" and expresses his be-
lief that 'the Emperor of the French would
''not support Sardinia either by moral or
''mtary assistance, so long as Austria
t'confned herself within her limits" -Four
days later, NAPOLEON III publicly stated to the
members of the Corps Legisd4 that ''the disturbed
"condition of Italy and her abnormal position, were
''not sufficient motives to give rise to belief in
"war," and closed his speech by expressnga hope
that peace would not be disturbed. Count DE
MoRNY subsequently quoted with emphasis the most
pacific portions of the Emperor's speech, and after
intimating that the "greater number of interna-
"tional difficulties removed by diplomacy, or
''solved by pacific arbitrament," he added, with
significance that ELECTED the heartiest applause
from mis- auditors, that rapidity of communca-
ton, and publicity, have created new European
'power, with which all governments are forced to
account-that power is public opiniou.'' The
speech of VICToR EMANUEL to the Sandman Cham
bers was similar in every respect to that which
was delivered before the Corps Legislatf by Ma
poLEoN III and is said to have been submitted to
the latter for revision. Still more recently, Count
CAvoUR while presenting for the action of the Sar
dinian deputies the project for loan, took occasion
to state that the policy of Sardinia chad always
''been of a national, and never of a revolutionary
character" and that although it was defiant under
rienace, it would not strike the first blow. Here,
then, we have the express declaration of NAPOLEON
ILL., that he will not support any hostile movement
on the part of Sardinia $50 long as Austria con-
rance of Sardinia that she will not become the ag-
gressor. She will fight, if Austria provokes her to
do so, but not otherwise. What, then, will Aus
tria' do? Is she so eager for war that she will
throw down tho saso of hattie, and order hel
sluadrons to cross the Ticino? By no means
All Austria demands is to be let alone. She ha
caused it 10 be semiotcially stated in the columns
of the Austrian Gazette, that "she never had any
"intcntion of making Sardinia, and doe
''not wish for any conflict" Who doubtsit? VIVA
would she gain by war? She well knows tina
war in Italy would lead to insurreconar,
movements in Poland and Hungary, and tina
under no circumstances could she hope to bette
her condition by provoking a contest with til
combined forces of France and Sardinia. So far
then, as it remained with her TO decide which al
tentative she would accept-peace or war-he
answer has already been given. She elects t
stand on the defensive. She claims the right t
govern her Lombardo-Venitian dependencies q
she thinks proper, and denies the authority of an
other power TO interfere. In assuming this pos
ton, she has the sentiment of Europe in her favor
but with respect to her occupation of the Papt
States, the question rests upon a very dferer
basis. 1t is charged that the mal-admnstratio
of the Papal Government is due to the inhuent
exerted upon it by Austria, and to her refusal
cooperate with France in promoting those reform
which would allay the popular disaffection, b
providing a remedy for existing evils The poll
that is now pressed upon her, is that she sha
withdraw her troops from that territory, and lea7
the Italians free to manage their affairs for then
selves. If she accedes to this demand, IL
settlement of all minor points which still renal
unadjusted will be comparatively easy.