The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-24

we gather from the speeches of Lords DERBY
and PALMERsToN, on the first night of the Parlia-
mentary session. that while England is disposed to
sustain Austria in the pos sson of her Lombardo-
venetian dependencies, as guaranteed to her by
existing treaties, and denies the right of any Power
TO prescribe the mode in which the government of
those dependencies shall be administered she will
cordially cooperate in any movement having for its
OBJECT the withdrawal of the French and Austrian
troops from the States of the Church. and the anne
horatlon of the internal administration of that
portion OF central Italy. Lord DERBY expressed
his conviction that it was neither in Naples nor in
Lombardy that the principal cause for anxiety and
alarm must be looked for: but in the Papal States
at is" said he, 'from the presence of two Foreign
'Armies, not placed there in either case to up
hold the liberties of Italy, but only to maintain
''by their joint efforts an incompetent gov
''ernment, that the real danger of serious
disturbance in Italy is to be apprehended.'
He did not consider that England had any direct
concern in the Italian quarrel nor was he aware
of any question which was then pending between
France and Sardinia on the one hand, and Austria
on the other, which was beyond the reach of the
most ordinary diplomatic intercourse, or which
could in the slightest degree Justify recourse to
the fatal arbitrament of war; He regarded the
attitude assumed by Sardinia as inconsistent alike
with her interests, and with her duty to
society at large. The English government had
earnestly represented to France the duty of alb
staining from rendering any assistance to Sardinia,
in case the latter should precipiatc, unprovoked,
war with AUSTRIA and had received assurances that
so long as Austria confined herself within her own
territorial limits, the Emperor of the French would
not countenance Sardinia in commencing war of
aggression. 1t is evident, however, that in spite of
OF these assurances, there grave doubts enter
tanned as to the possibility of adjusting the
points at ISSUE without a resort to arms
Nor is it certain that England would be able to
maintain the attitude of armed neutl ality, which,
in such contingency, she proposes to assume
The very declaration, so emphatically made by
Lord DERBY, that England ''has no secret engage
"ment with any Powers, which would interfere
with fetter, or hamper her free action" leads
naturally to the inference, that there is possibil
ity of her being compelled, eventually, to take
sides, either with one party or with the other.
The point of difficulty appears to turn upon the
decision to which Austria may come, with respect
to her future occupation of Central Italy, If, fiat
tered by the almost unanimous determination of
the Germanic Confederation to assist her in de-
tending her Italian provinces, she should conclude
to maintain her foothod also, in the Papal States
and turn deaf ear, alike to the friendly remon-
strances of England, and to the more imperative
demands of France, it is not easy to see how hos
tlities can he averted. The danger, however
does not yet appear to be so imminent as some
would suppose to be the case, from
the active preparations that are made
on all sides. Outside of Italy war, at
this time, has no hold upon the popular heart
Even in France, the interests of commerce are
subordinating the passion for military glory;
while the reluctance, that is apparent every
where to countenance any movement which might
have the effect of compromising the peace of Eu-
rope, gives force and directness to the efforts
which are now making 10 bring about an amicable
settlement of existing difficulties.