Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-05-22
Affairs,

European lAtfolrs.
The organization Of the new kingdom O.
italy and the threatened lisme Dberment oftht
old Austrian chy, are the two prominent
facts of intcresti in European politics, now lock
ed uron with attention in this country. lr
Austria, The crisis in political affairs and the
distress pcrvading the whole country, have re
acted most powerfully on some of the mos
celebrated men connected with Hungarian ant
Austrian politics. The countcr-shock proved
4 fatal one. Two men died by their own hands;
one, Count Stephen :Szcchcnyi. was driven tc
madness; the other, the illustrious ~diplomatis'
and late Minister Of Finance, Baron Won Bruck,
was hurled into the lowest depth Of imperial,
personal and moral disgrace. And this caused
his death.
OF Count Stephen SZcchcnyi, it will he Suili.
cicnt 10 say, that the condemnation Of his init
mate friend, NJ. szcdcnyi, Aulic councillor, ag'
gravated the already troubled state of his mind,
and the idea of suicide which, it appears, he
has entertained ever since The failure Of the
struggle Of 1859 for Hungarian nationality,
was then fatally INDUCED in. He was one Of
the most remarkably men among the Hunga.
| rim mobiles. aud having learned III England how
the aristocracy, though living much apart as a
class of men from the rest Of the nation, yet
take the lead in public affairs, and, politically,
live in the very heart of the nation, blending
their interests with the interests OF all classes,
| nc enlcavorcd TO persuade the nobility OF Hun
! gary 10 act in the same manner, in order TO give
life and strength TO the nation; and he sue
cccdcd, to Il considerable extent, i'll forcing
them out Of the confinement Of their country
seats, and originated that stream of public
opinion which, since the fall Of tho armed men,
| Gcorscy, BEN and koSsutlI, has run against
the throne at Vienna, and now threatens to
wash away its foundation more e!lcctnallv than
the revolutionary fool!
The death Of Baron Won Bruck is a true sign
OF decay; o;c nearer home; the fatal spot which
tells of an ancuriSm. What the confidence
| man was n traitors miserable pcculator-a
swindler more contemplate than George VIII
liam Pullingcr. whose dcfalcationS at the Union
Bank of London hare just startled the iinan-
cial world.
The millions out Of which the Emperor ol
Austria has been dcfrauded, BY the hands oil
the corrupt men in whom he had placed his
confidence, did not assurcdly cause his defeat
in a campaign Of six weeks; but the feelings oil
Indignation aroused thereby, in the heart Of
Francis Joseph, impclled him, We arc afraid, to
seek for Il revenge as much rs for 4 punish
ncnt, on the lccchcs which have preycd OH the
vitals of the country when all its resources
were needed. Let justice be done without
vcrging on cruelty or blindness.
From the latest accounts. it would appear
that the removal of Baron Bruck from office
and his subsequent suicide took place under
the following circumstances On the evening
Of the Goth Of April. the Baron was heard MS
q witness in the process relative to the frauds
OF the late General Eynatten. The cxamina-
ton of the Baron gave rise to further inquiries,
which would probably have led to his being
confronted with other witnesses and accused
parties. Under these circumstances, the En-
peror issued an autograph letter on the 2ed,
in which His Majesty said:
~ temporarily remove you fron Office, ac-
cording to your request, and professionally
transfer the charge OF the Ministry of Finance
10 the Councillor of State, Won Plcncr !"
The effect Of the letter was as quick as it was
decisive. Baron Won Bruck received the Irnpc.
rial autograph in the evening, and on the morn
Ing of the day following, he was found bleed
ing in his bed from wounds around his neck
and wrists. !tappcarS, moreover, that he took
poison, as if afraid Of failing to destroy him.
self with his own hands. IS consequence,
the confidence Of the public in men and things
is feartillly shaken. VI. Hitzinger, the Judge
appointed to take sounding, in the bottomlcss
pit of official corruption, is rot enjoying the
,falpt sHtc Of q s%inecurc. He continues the
work, attended by Il military Judge and an
officer; and Mcssrs. Richter, Rcvoltclla, Mon
dolGo, Pcrugia and Brambclla, have already
passed through his hands. There is a rlImor
ailoat, as nothing mere is heard Of military
delinqncnts, that c~ir;lials are sacrificed in
order that the reputation Of military men llay
remain intact. II such be the case, we can
hardly refrain from Solnc pity for that ~unfortu-
nate Emperor, who was born such after NIL, and
did not sneak into the Throne, through perjury
and violence; who is, in short, an honest tyrant,
and row finds the prop and stay of his anccs-
trail throne, the mighty sword, weakened
with Il streak Of rust, not from blood, but from
filth. It is reported also, that owing to those
circumstances, the liberal party has obtained
some advantage in Vienna. Baron dc Hubrcr
is 10 return to the Ministry. VI. lie Sohmcrling
will also Lave a portfolio.
The appointment of General Bcncdek as
Governor Of Hungary, has been made, appar-
emily, with the view Of inauguratins a new
era in Hungary and re.establishing the affairs
Of provincial and communal administration on
the footing previous TO the war Of 1S4s. The
French government takes that view Of the
question and says, through one Of its organs:
France sees. with satisfaction, An act which
will not only firmly unite the nation to the
government, blt will be to Europe n guarantee
for peace; inasmuch as the internal rcpose Of
the State (.austria) sill be secured"
The wiener Zcitung' has paraded in its col
umns the scmi-oficial appreciation of the French
Government, and much indeed must the pride
Of Austria be lowered, Or she would not plume
herself on the fact, that the French Govern
ment approves Of her internal reforms. These
golden views for Hungary are not. however,
countcnanccd by the personal character Of &c
neral Bencdek. True, he is a Hungarian by
birsh hut, since the age Of ii, he has been