Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-01-25
The Carbonari.

own desire to prove descent from the lem
plars, we find no mention in history until To
close of the fourteenth century; when we rea
"that the necessity of mutual assistance lnduce
the charcoal-burners who inhabited the Vaf
forests of Germany, to unite themselves agalns
robbers and enemies" Isolated from the rest
mankind by the peculiar nature of their toi
which removed them, as it were, from the grea
confederacy of social life, these collers or burn
ers, though born with the same feelings as othe
men, were yet cut off from all the ordinary priv
ileges of humanity. In the same forests wit
the charcoal burners dwelt hordes of robbers
many of whose acts of fearful cruelty we fin
on record; but they and the coliers had moth
ing in common save their local habitation. Not
withstanding this, however, an instance at las
occurred in which the robbers in their insatia
BILE desire for plunder, forgot the cautious polio.
they had hitherto observed towards the burners
and breaking into their enclosures, carried ol
some valueless booty. This Infringement of
tacit agreement of mutual avoidance, aroused tn
bitter anger of the charcoal burners, and ever.
feeling of their perverted and degraded natur
was gathered into one strong and keen desir
for revenge.
1t was on this occasion they formed them
selves into an association, and bound themselve
by an oath, known afterwards as the "faith o
the GOLFERS" to seize every opportunity OF at
tackiDg and destroying the robbers, until no
one should find shelter for his head in all tht
forests of Germany. In short time their re-
peated victories made them aware of their pow
er they felt that their fierce strength as body
was irresistible, and with the conviction came
also the instructive desire, not only to extermi
nate the plunderers, but to emancipate Them
selves from the dshonoring slavery of their con,
dition. They had long pined under the hard,
ships of severe forest laws, the partial repeal o
which they had often vainly petitioned for; now,
they demanded their total abolition, declaring
death the penalty in the event of o REFUSAL
Their demand was granted. Naturally regard.
ing this first triumph over reigning prince as
the first fruit of what was to come If they re-
NAMED united, they determined on framing 9
code of laws, to which all should swear implicit
obedience. They next divided themselves into
tribes, each tribe agreeing to meet at stated pc.
riods at lodge; and they then assumed the title
of the "Osrbonari" Over the whole society
one member presided he was chosen by lot,
and was bound to meet the heads of the tribes i
stated periods in the lodge, which was situated
then in the gloomiest depths OF forest. at
first. these lodges were but assemblages of fero.
cious men, whose lives had been passed in deg
radiation and oppression, and from whose weary
hearts excess of toll and poverty had dried up
the well spring of kindly feelings and affection
ate desires, leaving behind only such fierce pas
sions as incite the lower animals to supply the
necessities of their physical wants and those oil
their offspring, and to rush upon and destroy
whatever threatens them with danger.
In the course of time, however, the character
of the Oarbonari underwent great change
The severe necessity for unremitting labor was
removed by the abolition of the forest laws, and
the men had q release from the chain which
bound them to toll and sickness, and scanty
morsel. The natural consequence was, that the
more they felt removed from physical want, the
more elevated became their moral character.
The laws and constitution OF the order were
remodelled; and although they were then, and
are still, deeply tinged with fanaticism, yet they
are framed with such artful policy, that one car
hardly wonder at the rapid progress the order
made to wealth and power. In less than cen
tury after we read of its first organization IN the
forests, we find that it has spread over Germany
France and the Netherlands, and enrolled among
its members persons of the highest rank. But
in the present century the greatest held OF ths
society has been Middle and Lower Italy.
The form observed on the reception ofa mem
Der was very absurd, though, no doubt, the
Young aspirant considered it deeply impressive.
What the objects of this order were, when il
was first instituted, we have already shown
what they afterwards became, we learn from the
following oration delivered in vendita at Ma
pies, during the usurpation of Murat:
"Know, finally, that the object OF respectable
Carbonarism is to restore to the citizen tina
liberty and those rights which nature bestowed
on us, and which tyranny itself did not deny us
To attain to this object, it is necessary to try
the virtue, and to consolidate the union of cour
ageous and exemplary citizens. This is no tri
fling labor, since the cunning political tyranny
has interposed thick veil between mems eye
and the sublime light of truth. Wretched NOR
tails study those false maxims, which, leading Il
prejudice and superstition, envelop them in dark
ness. and induce them to lead a life OF SLAYER,
and submission to i'll treatment, blind to the ori
gin OF their misfortunes. 0 men! do you no
hear the clank of the chains with which yo1
are bounda They are fastened upon you by to
tyrant."
The alta vendita, in which this oration wa
delivered, was composed of honorary member
and of deputies from each particular vendita.-
1t was declared to be an administrative and leg
islative body, and court of council and OF ap
peal; and it was accordingly divided into dil
ferent sections. 1t was the business of this ven
dita to grant charters of organization to ney
lodges. or to confirm such as were submitted TO
its appreciation. A regular system of correspor
dence was. in 1914, established between it an
all the provinces of the kingdom and it is sal
that the number of Carbonari increased durin
that year with such astonishing rapidity ths
they were counted by tens OF thousands. In
whole population of many towns enrolled them
selves and entire regiments most willingly joined
Magistrates were compelled to enter, in order
obtain anything like obedience to their DEGREES
and all who were unprotected were glad to be
come members, in hopes of support in the VI
cissitudes with which they were threatened
Those who were of q more erterprising turn rt
ioiced at finding themselves exalted into judge
on the great questions of the nation, and imae
i ined themselves the defenders of the injured an
oppressed.
of public feeling; but, neither fearing persona
danger, nor doubling the stability of his thron'
he merely thought it necessary to endeavor
intimidate the Carbonari by employing again'
them an active system of police. AS it is hi
torical fact, however, that Maghelli, native
Genoa, was at the same time director-general
the police, under the usurper, and organizer {
the Papal States, under the Oarbonari, it will
readily believed that he did not divide bis sol
vices, and that Murat was not the master
whose work he put his strength. In 1915, th
French dynasty in Naples was at an end tf
Austrian army was advancing Ferdinand wa
about to reascend the throne. The Oarbonal
brought back the king Chambers Journal.
THE SUsAN's CREw.-The sailors of the fill
buster schooner Susan deserted before the vel
sci got out of the bay; there were none br
landsmen on board, except the captain-and
is traditional at sea, that it is not easy to COZ