The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-11-16

elected All their Clerk of the Honse Of Repre-
.cnuiives. But be may thus, like the donkey
between the two bnnd,os Of hay, delay aud
hesitate which to chnose. until il b too late TO
ecta mou'h'ui from either We suspect chat
this will DO the fate Of Forpey.
The French Emporor's Letter on tho
Settlement OF Italy.
We publish in full this morning the letter
Of Louis Napoleon to Victor Emanuel, q brief
summary Of which has already appeared in
our columns. The authenticity of this docu-
ment is now generally recognized; 40 that it Is
worth examining az an indication OF tho course
which the Emperor means to pursue in Tue aP-
preaching Congress. After careful consi-
Iteration or the views enunoiated In IT, we con-
TESS that we see no reason to alter tho opluion
go constantly expressed by us, that neither in
nor out OF the Congress will Franco do any
thing to abridge or imperil the liberties which
abe has been instrumental in comforting upon
Italy.
The plan Of an Italian Confederation, al
sketohcd out In the Imperial letter, appears TO
surround with every possible guarantee the In
dependence Of the Italian people. Not only Is
each State to have q representative system Of
It's own, but the Lists from which the members
of the Federal Diet are to be selected by the
sovereigns are TO be prepared by tho
different legislatures. In this way the
influence Of the reigning families suspected
10 be In the interest Of Austria would be en-
tirely counseracted. Tho people themselves,
through their representatives, would alone be
responsible for the conservation OF their Ii
berries; for If the principle Of popular election
fails to arm them with power to protect them.
no other means that can be devised can accom-
plish that object.
Such are the main features OF tho plan, and
such infsrentially is the reasoning of the En-
peror. Inasmuch as the former bear close
resemblance to our own political system, we
have, of course, nothing to object to them.
The arguments used in justifcation Of the choice
of the Pope as honorary President Of tho Con
federation, at once, however, betray the weak
point of this fair edifce. They show that 1t
has been created merely to sustain institutions
which, under no notifications, can be rendered
Italian independence. AS long as the preser-
walton of the Pope's rights as a temporal prince
are to be made fundamental condition Of the
federal pact, it must be clear to every one that
germ Of discussion and dissolution Will be
retained which will eventually break up the
whole fabric.
Although the restoration of the exiled princes
rs made the subject Of an emphatic demand in
the Imperial letter, in the mind Of the writer it
is evidently subordinate in Importance to the
point we have just dwelt upon. 1t is put for
ward rather in compliance with engagements
which he cannot in honor depart from than
from desire to impose upon the people Of
Central Italy dynasties that are hateful to them.
IF there be really feature In the plan which
the Emperor can be said to have set his heart
upon, 1t is that by which he seeks to get rid Of
the embarrassment Of the Roman question, to
him the only serious difficulty in oil these COM
plicati0ns-
The views put forward in this scheme of
settlement are, 1t will be seen, the logical
sequence Of the peace treaty. Napoleon, under
the engagements which the latter imposed upon
him, is bound to urge them upon tho Italian
people and upon the Congress. Without en-
tering into that understanding, he could not
have induced Francis Joseph to sign the armis
ticc. They look formidable upon paper; but
there smoothing in them, we contend, to disheart-
en- the friends of Italy. Does not the Emperor
reiterate his assurance that although the rights
of the sovereigns are reserved theindependence
of Central Italy is guaranteed, inasmuch as all
idea of foreign Intervention has been formally
set aside" The inference to which these words
lead is unmistakeable, and Garibaldi and his
fellow patriots will not be slow to take advau-
tage of ii. In diplomacy, as in love, there is
language of double meaning. France cannot
openly say to the people Of Central Italy
''resist," for her pledges to Austria forbid such
course. She tells them, however, that she
will protect them against foreign Intervention;
and in assuring them of this, she affords them
the means of exercising free choice. 1t is
almost certain that when she enters the Con-
gress she will contrive to throw upon others in
the same manner the responsibility of desti-
tuting the Pope. 1t is, no doubt, the conviction
of this which induces his Holiness to prepare
for the worst by arning all the galley slaves
and brigands that can DO pressed into his
service.
The show OF reluctance made by Louis
Napoleon to confirm the annexation of
the Duchies to Piedmont has, like many
other features Of his policy in connection
with this question, been made the subject Of
good deal of Misrepresentation. 1t has been
said that he fears creating too strong ma
uonal power in Italy, because Of its possible flu
ture interference with the interests of France
The details Of his plan, as explained in his re-
cent letter, show how unfounded is this asser-
ton. He proposes not only that the confedera-
&c A. s-1. - III