Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-08-11
THE PEACE CONFERENCE.


mine the articles Of peace, agreed upon by the
Emperors at Villafranca. These terms have met
with the widest opposition from all quarters, and
the convention at Zurich Unnecessarily be stormy
and perhaps fruitless. The war between France
and Austria, however, is at an end, and hence
forth the Emperors are allied and sworn friends.
Certainly, the events at Vllafrauca betoken moth
ing more conclusively.
This new and grandest feat of the third Napo-
leon-this exercising of peace in the very midst
of war and its bloodiest carnage-this naughty
and self-reliant though unacknowledged contempt
of the world, its opinion and its power-this as-
sumption of authority, by an untitled Emperor,
SOLITARY and alone" over the progress and the
destiny of Europe-this most triumphant career
of consummate gencralship and mastery diploma
cy, welding the mightiest army Of modern times
as with touch, marching in direct line, un-
swerving, unbroken, without a blunder, over the
ruins Of as brave, powerful, perfectly disciplined
and appointed and apparently invincible an enemy
as the world ever saw this diplomacy, calming
the wbirHind, lulling all the furious elements in
their mid career, at the command of his own un-
iaded power, and most suspiciously, at the point
beyond which the very highest aim of human en-
deavor dare not presume to venture; these events,
these mighty achievements, this magnificent exhi-
bition Of character, have astounded the world, and
constituted chapter of history which, in mod
ern ages, defanty and successfully challenge COM
parison. 1t is in vain to style Napoleon, "the
Little!" But little more, the verdict will be
reversed, and the first Napoleon may consent to
be styled "the Uncle of my Nephew!"'
1t is useless to comment upon the present con-
dition of affairs in. Europe. The two Emperors
stand alone-with their own and all other powers
violently and unnaturally opposed to the terms
they have made. Even the people for whom all
this blood has been shed and this vast treasure
expended, with singular ingratitude, turn upon
their deliverer and seek to sting the bosom in
which they have been warmed into life. But they
"bite hle." Italy, indebted to Napoleon for the
liberty by which splendid destiny may now be
achieved, will reach the "sober second thought ;"
the full meaning of this peace will be understood
by the Italians and by their benefactors, Europe
will be the better for this deep ''troubng of the
waters" England and Russia will take counsel of
prudence; and Napoleon, the man who never
makes blunder, will vindicate the consummate
wisdom Of this, his last, highest, and, to ~tRo
world, almost ineIplicable achievement.
We annex the address of the Emperor to the
bodies of the State" in Paris, together with the
items by the last steamer:-
Gentlemen: Finding myself again in the midst
of you who during my absence have been shown
so much devotion to the Empress and to my son,
I feel first of the desire to thank you, and then
to explain to you the motives of my conduct.
When, after successful campaign of two months,
the French and Sandman armies pitched their
camp before the walls Of Verona, the struggle
was evidently on the point of undergoing change
in a military as well as political point of view.
I was fatally obliged to- attack in front an enemy
intrenched behind great fortresses, protected a.
gainst any diversion on his aanks by the neutral
ity of the territories which surrounded him; and
in commencing the long and sterile war Of sieges
either to dispute our success or to aggravate our
reverses.
Nevertheless, the difficulty of the enterprise
would neither have shaken my resolution nor stop
ped the enthusiasm of my army had not the means
been out of proportion with the results to be e1-
pected. 1t was necessary to resolve boldly to
break through the barriers raised by neutral ter
rtories, and then to accept the struggle on the
Rhine as well as on the Adige. 1t came to this {:
to accept everywhere the support of revolution.
More precious blood must have been shed, and
enough has been shed already; in q word, to sue
ceed it was necessary to stake what no Sovereign
ought to stake, unless the independence of his
country is in danger.
IT, then, stopped short, it was not from weari-
ness or exhaustion, nor from abandonment of the
noble cause wished to serve, but because a
louder voice, spoke within my heart-'The inte-
rests of France
Do you imagine it cost me nothing to put a
break upon the ardor Of my soldiers, who, excited
by victory, wished to adyance2
Do you suppose that it cost me- nothing publicly
in the face of Europe to curtail from my program
me the territory which extends from the Mincio to
the Adriatic?
Do you imagine that it cost me nothing to be-
hold noble illusions destroyed in honest hearts,
patriotic hopes extinguished?
To serve Italian Independence waged war a.
gainst the grain Of Europe. As soon as the des-
TIMES of my country were imperiled concluded
peace.
And can it now be said that CUR efforts and So
criices are pure loss? No. AS I said in my
farewell address to my soldiers, we have right
to be proud of this short campaign. In four COM
bats and two battles powerful army, inferior to
none in organization and bravery has been defeat
ed. The King of Piedmont, once styled the Guar
dian of the Alps, has seen his country delivered
from invasion, and the frontier line of his State
extended from the Ticino to the Mincio. The idea
of Italian nationality is admitted by its warmest
opponents. All the Sovereigns the Italian pen
insula understand at last the imperious necessity
of salutary reforms.
Thus, after having given new proof of the
military power of France, the peace which have
just concluded will be fruitful of happy results ;
the future will reveal them daily more and more
for the happiness of Italy, the influence of France
and the peace of Europe.
England insists on o general disarmament as
the condition of her taking part in the Peace Con-
gress
1t is reported that Count Walewsk has submit
ted the following plan for the Confederation of It.
aly: That it shall consist of seven States, the
Presidency of which is to be given nominally to
the Pope, bus in reality to the Kings of Sardinia
and Naples alternately. The strong places to be
garrisoned by the Federal troops are Gotta, Man
tua and Piacenza. The votes in the Federal Diet
to be distributed as follows: Parma l /; Modena
l ; The Pope 2; Tuscany 2; Sardinia 8 !; Naples 8.
1t was rumored that Louis Napoleon intends
visiting London.
The London News intimstes that the programme
of an Italian Confederation will not be pressed.
The French land and naval forces have begun
to leave Italy.
Austria refuses to meet the Sandman represen-
fot in conference