Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-18
Manifesto of the Emperor Of Austria.


"Imperial .Nanittsto-To my People"
Il have ordered my faithful and gallant
army to put stop 10 the inlmicai acts an
trin,iungen) which for 4 series OF years have
been committed by the neighborlng state OF
Sardinia against the indisputable rights OF
my Crown, and against the integrity OF the
realm placed by God under my care, which
acts have lately attained the very highest
point iauT Hrcm hohcnpunke 0dye!dm4 J.
BY so doing | have fulfilled the painful
(schwerel but unavoidable duty OF s"Ver'
egn. NV conscience being at rest, / can
look up to an Omnipotent God and patiently
await his award. With confidence leave
my decision to the impartial Judgment OF co.
temporaneous and future generations, VI
the appreciation OF my faithful subjects am
sure. More than ten years ago the same
enemy-violating international law and the
usages of war, and without any offence beng
given-entered the LombardO-\ enetlan ter
ritory with the intention of acquiring posses
sion oft. Although the enemy was twice
totally defeated by my gallant army, and at
the mercy of the victor, | behaved generous
", and proposed reconciliation (re'cM d"
hand 2W cersohnmg) did not appropriate
to myself one inch of his Territory; l en-
croached on no right which belongs t" the
Crown of Sardinia; as one OF the members Oh
the European family of nations. | INSISTED
on no guarantees against the recurrence Of
similar events. The hand Of peace which
in all sincerity extended, and which was
taken, appeared to me to he Il sufficient guar
antee. The blood which my army shed for
the honor and the right Of Austria, ! sacriii-
ced on the altar Of peace dean .ttieds" drdchtf
lett dls bhH meiHSi dTHise znm "gfrr.
The reward for such unexampled i"rhrar'
ance was an immediate continuation OF en-
mity which increased from year I" year, and
perfdious agitation against the peace and
welfare of my Lombardo Venetian Kingdom
Well knowing what precious boon peace
was for my people and for Europe, patient
ly bore with these new hostillties. My pa
thence was not exhausted when the more ex-
tensiye measures which | was forced to take
in consequence of the revolutionary aglta-
ton on the frontiers of my Italian provinces
and within the same, were made an excuse
for higher degree of hostility. Willingly
accepting the well-meant mediatons ottriend-
ly Powers for the maintainance Of peace,
consented to become party TO the Congress
of the FIVE great Powers. The four points
proposed by the Royal Government of Great
Britain as a basis for the deliberations Of the
Congress were forwarded to my Cabinet. and
accepted them. with the conditions which
were calculated to bring about true, sin
cere and durable peace. In the conscious
ness that no step OH the part OF my Govern
ment could, even in the most remote degree.
lead to disturbance of the peace, demand.
cd that the Power which was the cause of the
complication and had brought about the dan
ger of war; should, as preliminary measure,
disarm Being pressed thereto by friendly
Powers, at length accepted the proposal for
a disarmament. The mediation failed in
consequence Of the unacceptableness OF the
conditions on which Sardinia made her con-
sent dependent. Onl " one means of main
tanning peace remained. addressed myself
directly to the Sandman Government, and
summoned it to place its army on peace
footing and to dsarm the free corps. As
Sardinia did not accede to my demand the
moment for deciding the matter by an APP
peal to arms has arrived.
81 have ordered my army to enter Sar-
DINA.
81 am aware of the vast Importance OF the
measure, and if ever my duties AS Monarch
weighed heavily on me it is at this moment.
War is the scourge of mankind. | see
with sorrow that the lives and property OF
thousands of my subjects are imperllled and
deeply feel what a severe trial war Is for my
realm, which being occupied with its inter
nal development, greatly requires the cor,
tnuance of peace. But the heart OF the
Monarch must be silent ut the command OF
honor and duty. On the frontiers Is an
armed enemy, who, in alliance with the
revolutionary party, openly announces his
intention to take possession of the Deepen
denotes of Austria in Italy. To support
him, the ruler over Fance, -who under flu
tile pretexts, (nichtige rorwdnde) intertsres
in the legally established relations of the
Italian Peninsula-has set his troops IN
movement Detachments of them have al
ready crossed the frontiers of Sardinia
The crown which received without spot or
blemish from my forefathers has already
seen trying times The glorious history of
our country gives evidence that Providence,
when there is foreshadowing that the great.
est good of humanity ~ in danger OF being
overthrown in Europe, has frequently used
the sword of Austria i'll order To dlspcl
that shadow. We are again on the eve OF
such period The overthrow of the things
that he is not only aimed at by factions, but
by Thrones The sword which have been
forced to draw is sancti6ed, inasmuch as 1t
is a defence for the honor and rights OF all
peoples and States, and for all that is held
most dear by humanity.
- n The original cannot be rendered liter
ally, but its sense is, that the present revolu-
tonary movement is caused by monarchs as
well as by private individuals.
ITO you, my people, whose devotion to the
hereditary reigning family serves model for
all the nations of the earth, | now address
mysolf In the conflict which has commenc-
ed you will stand by me with your ort-proyed
fidelity and devotion. 10 your sons, whom
have taken into the ranks of the army, |,
their commander, send my martial greeting.
(,cafen gr,lsS.) With pride YOU may regard
them, for the eagle of Austria will, with their
support, soar high.
Our struggle is just one, and we begin
it with courage and confidence. We hope,
however, that We shall not stand alone in it.
The soil on which We have had to do battle
was made fruitful by the blood lost 10y our
German brethren when they won those bull
warks which they have maintained mp to the
present day. There the crafty enemies Of Ger
many have generally begun their game when
they have wished to break her internal power
Tbo faalin ~ tbot snch a dancer is now imml-