The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-05-19
war In EuroPe-VVFho's;lO Blame


the impending war, and the relations OF the
com batunts, it is important that we have
cIearconception of the origin of the contro.
versy. This understanding is the more es.
sential, since the American public betray
propensity to accept the partial statements
of the French journals, and to be precipitate
in condemnation OF the Austrian govern.
ment. "A review of the controversy, from
its incipiency to the present moment, pre-
pared by competent and unprejudiced OBJ.
server, exhibits the following TGets
The aggression was commenced by the
Emperor Of the French on the lst Of Janu.
ary, and even long before that time the pre-
liminary intrigues necessary fer the purpose
had been consummated with Sardinia and
Russia. 't .E
Austria has not refused single require
ment that could properly have been present.
ed to her. Lord Cowley uscertained the
professed views of the Emperor of the
French. Austria at once agreed to them
Russia disturbed this arrangement by putting
in the suggestion for a congress. Austria
again assented. She asked, it is true, that
the disarmament Of Sardinia should be made
preliminary condition ; but when this was
objected to, she waived it Immediately, and
substituted the logical and most proper stip-
ulation that the disarmament should be
general.
"If peace was desired, here it was for all
parties. But Sardinia would not disarm.--
AS price for her consent she must be ad.
mitted as principle to the congress. This
was no part of the proposition of Russia,
and introduced, therefore, an entirely new
element. Why should Sardinia, which is
the least Italian of all the Italian powers,
be admitted when the Pope and King of Ma
pies were excluded? Of course Austria
would not listen to anything so anomalous.
The English government, in their efforts at
I pactication, then proposed as Fl nal attempt,
that all the independent Italian powers, in
cluding Sardinia, should be invited to join.
This, however, in no way, mended the mat
ter. Such suggestion was alike inconsis-
tent and impertinent. England and France
have long ago broken off diplomatic relations
with the King of Naples, and are not in a
condition to ask him to join them in diplo
macy; and, apart from that consideration,
the question was, by what right independent
| princes were summoned to confer with other
powers on the management of the internal
affairs of their own States. Would France
allow herself to be called beforeH council ot
mona rchs to answer a "cry of anguish" from
the nationaIties in Algiers Or would
England hold herself bound to appear when
ever other European powers insist upon
modification in the administration o Ireland
AS reasonably might the Emperor Napo con
as sovereign of French Guiana. propose 10
Queen Victoria, as sovereign of Canada
that the Governor Of the State of Louisiana
should be invited to attend conference to
put an end to slavery, on the ground that the
Emperor conceives it to be the duty OF
France to correct everything in the world
that does not meet her sublime views OF the
rights Of the human race. ..
1t was known that both the Pope and
King of Naples would take this ground, and
how it could have been supposed that Aus
tria would fail to see the real nature of the
proposition, is point which passes Compre.
hension.
The Pope refused instantly to have his
functions, as an Independent Prince thus
discussed, and it is surprising to see that
through the temporising imbecility conse,
quent upon non-recognition of clear anC
dignifed principles, the English government
could put themselves in position that woult
place them logically in the wrong in cues
ton with such potentate. So long as the
Pontlf claims to be ruler, he could, ir
dignity, make no other answer. While be
leaned upon the support of French and Aus
TRAN bayonets, not only those powers bu
all others were entitled to remonstrate bu
the moment he consented to allow that sup.
port to be Withdrawn, all right on the par
OF his brother monarchs to dictate to hiIr
or meddle with his affairs entirely ceased.
The course of the cabinet at Vienna
therefore, has been in every way ratona
and consistent. They have not only from
the first consented to disarm. but have made
concessions, which, considering the insult
ing display of force On the part of France
and Sardinia, are such as in the case of
tirst-rate military power could have beef
prompted only by an earnest desire to SHOW
. every forbearance short of incurring abso
lutte humiliation. With as much legal righ
to make treaties with Naples and Tuscany
: as France has with Sardinia, she yet con
sented that these treaties should be brough
under discussion, and when her interference
in the Roman States was alleged as the mail
grievance against her, she, without hesita
e tion, stated her readiness to withdraw stimuli
8 taneously with France.
! In her present ground of attack upon Sar
dinia, she is moreover justified, even to tn
most minute technicalities Sardinia
bound by compact to surrender all deserters
4 instead of which she encourages and enroll
them. Such conduct could, iu any case, b
met only by a categorical summons fc
q its discontinuance. With regard to the er
e rollment of other volunteers, what Power
k there in the world that would allow sue
>. gatherings on its frontiers ? The aggregt
tion of regular armies is different thin,
,, because these, in case of an adjustment b.
II ing arrived at, can be withdrawn at con
mand; but the revolutionary bands are CO
, ected, no such security is to be found.
y the United States were engaged in threa
ening controversy with Mexico, how lon
le would they permit free corps of Englis
s. French, Germans and Italians, to be sun
!, moned to the borders of Texas by inhan
matory appeals, and to be enrolled and drill
'e ed almost under the shadow of the Amer
g. can flag. .... .... a..
p, Austria is nh aggressor to the extent Of
# man who, seeing himself about TO be wa
:, layed and attacked by couple of untag
10 nists. has the wit, after giving fair warnin
Sc to rush upon the foremost and knock hi
ne down before the other is at his side.
r. course, the one that may thus unexpected
be punished will proclaim that he has be,
assaulted just at the moment when he W
I'd using every effort for pacifcation, and W