Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-05-20
The European War Question and Official Documents
Relative Thereto
THE AUSTRIAN MANIFESTO.

this morning. is posted at the corners Of tn
principal streets Of the city:
To NY PEoPLE-l have ordered my faithful
and gallant army to put stop to the inimica
acts (anteindungc'D which for series of years
/ have been committed by the ncighborirg Stat
of Sardinia against the ndisputable rights 0
my crown, and against the integrity of tn,
realm placed by God under my care, which
acts have lately attained the very hishe,
point, (o.r' Mrem Hohpmks angeiangt
BY so doing have f;ltillcd the painful
/ (schrr.) but unavoidable duty of sovereign
/ Ny conscience being at rest, / can look up I,
an Omnipotcnt God and patiently await Iii,
award. With confidence leave nv dc
c>ion to the impartial judgment of contempo
rancouS and future generations. Of the appro
baton of my faithful subjects am sure. Nor,
than ten years ago the same enemy-volatin;
international law and the usages of war, an,
without any offence being given-cntered tn
l.ombar'lo-V Venetian territory with the intention
Of acquiring possession Of il. Although tn,
enemy was twice totally defeated by INV sal
liant army and at the mercy Of the victor.
behaved generously and proposed reconcilia
ton, reichte die Mndc z~r Te~Ghung1
bii NV SUI Ollc lllCIl Ol III.
territory. | cncroachcd on no right which be
longs to the Crown of Sardinia as one Of thC
members Of the European family Of nationS--
| insisted on no guarantees against the recur
renee of similar events. The hand of pcac,
which |, in all sincerity, extended, and which
was taken, appeared to me to be a sufficient
guarantee The blood which my army shed
for the honor and right Of Austria sacrificed
on the altar of peace, (dem Frioicn brwchte icA
das Biat m'iner .Lmce zWm OWer)
The reward for such unexamplcd forbcar
ance was an immediate continuation of enmtv.
which increased from year to year, and pcriidi
ousagitation against the peace and welfare OF
my Lombardo- Venetian kingdom Well know.
ing what precious boon peace was for my
people and for Europe, patiently bore with
these new hostliticS. Ny patience was not ex.
hauStcd when the more extensive measures
which was forced to take, in consequence OF
the revolutionary agitation on the frontiers Of
my Italian provinces and within the same were
made an excuse for 4 higher degree of ho>tili-
tiy. Willingly accepting the well meant medi.
alton Of friendly Powers for the maintenance of
peace consented to become 4 party to Con-
grc>s Of the five great Powers. The four points
" tilt iAuN vi 'IIcdl
Britain rs the 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,
sincere and durable peace In the consciousness
that no step on the part Of my Government
could even in the most remote degree, lead to
4 disturbance Of the peare, | demanded that
the Power which was the cause of the comp-
cation, and had brought about the danger OF
war, should, as Il preliminary measure, diSarm
Being pressed thereto by friendly Powers, at
length accepted the proposal for general dis.
armament. The mediation failed in consequence
Of the unacccptablcncss OF the conditions on
which Sardinia made her consent dependent
Only one means of maintaining peace remained
addressed myself directly to the Sandman
Government, and summoned it to place its army
on peace footing and to disband the free corps.
As Sardinia did not acccde TO my demand, the
moment for deciding the matter, by an appeal
to arms. has arrived.
| have ordered my army to enter Sardinia.
am aware of tic vast Importance Of the
measure, and if ever my duties as a monarch
weighed heavily on me it is Mt this momeut-
War is the scourgc Of mankind ! see with
sorrow that the lives and property Of thousand,
olmy subjects are imperillcd. and deeply feel
whata severe trial war is for my realm, which,
being occupied with its internal development,
greatly requires the continuance Of peace. But
the heart Of the monarch must he silent at the
command of honor and duty. On the frontiers
is an armed enemy. who, in alliance with the
revolutionary party, openly announces his in
tcnton to obtain possession Of the dependencies
of tpstrin i'm Itnl, 10 him, bn
over France, who, under futile prctcxtS,
(nichtWc I'o,pc0ndr) interfcres in the legally
established relations Of the Italian PcninSu-
Ia, has set his troops in movement. Detach,
mcntS ofthem have already crossed the frontiers
Of Sardinia. The crown which received
without spot or blenish from my forefathcrS,
has already seen trying times. The glorious
history of our country gives evidence that Pro,
, vidcncc, when there is 4 forcshadowing that
the greatest good Of humanity is in danger Of
being ovcrthrown in Europe has frequently
used the sword of Austria in order to dispe
that shadow. We are again on the eve Of such
4 period The overthrow Of the things that be
is not only aimed at BY factions, but by thrones
The original cannot be rendered literally, but
It's sense is, that the present revolutionary
movement is caused by monarchs as well as by
private individuals
The sword which have been forced to draw
is sanctiicd inaSmuch as il is a defence for the
honor and rights Of all peoples and States, and
for all that is held most dear by humanity.
To you, my people, whose devotion to the
hereditary rcigning family may serve as mo.
del for all the nations Of the earth, now ad
dress myself In the conflict which has com
mcnccd you will stand by me with your oft
proved fidelity and devotion. To your sous,
whom have taken into the ranks of the army,
|, their commander, send my martial greeting
(HWeHgruss.) 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, how
ever, that we shall not stand alone in it, The
soil on which we have TO do battle was made
fruitful by the blood lost by our German breth-
rem when they won those bulwarks which they
have maintained up to the present day. There
the crafty enemies Of Germany have generally
begun their game when they have wished to
break her internal power The feeling that
such danger is now imminent prevails in all
parts of Germany, from the hut to the throne
from one frontier to the other. speak aS 4
sovereign member Of the Gcrmanic Confcdcra-
ton when call attention to the common dan
ger, and recall to memory the glorious times
in which Europe had to thank the general and
fcrvcn, enthusiasm Of Germany for its liberia
ton.
For God and Fatherland.
Given at my residence and metropolis OF
Vienna on this 2sth day Of April, 1859.
FRANCIS JOSEPH.
Manifesto Of the Emperor Napoleon.
The following is the communication made by
Nanoleon 70 the Corps Lecislatif Of Franco on