The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-07-12

AT lovers perjuries, they say, JoyE laughs
ana Independently of what JovE may be said 10
90 the world in general is disposed to extend a
large amount of charity to offences of that kind
Where also, assurances that certain acts shall or
shall not be performed, have been extorted under
compulsion, even though the compact was con-
hrmed by the soemnity of an oath, pledges so ex-
acted have not usually been regarded as binding
upon the conscience. But all history is full of ex-
ampies Illustrative of the manner in which this
rule OF morals-undeniably proper as it may be
under certain circumstances-has been used as a
cover for retreat in of danger, and as an ar
gument Tor compliance with the terms agreed
upon, when the opportunity occurred for violating
lhem Instances nnumerable might be cited but
we need go no further back than the European
Revolution of 1859. When the thrones of the
Continental Powers all placed in Jeopardy by
popular instructions, imperial and petty despots
were alike eager to grant the reforms which were
ueDi'nueo OF them and to adopt systems of
CONSTITUTIONAL Government that would have re-
S'fcled their authority within due bounds. But
When the storm passed over and they again felt
themselves secure in their seats they all refused to
recognize the sanctity of the obligations they had
assumed, abjured their oaihs and re-assered TO the
full, their ancient prerogatives The various acts
by which the Prussian Constitution of ls4s has
become almost dead letter; the arrogant refusal
of Austria TO carry out the pledges which she gave
in her extremity, not TO victorious Hungary alone
but to the Tyrolese and to the other inhabitants of
the other provinces of that loosely compacted En-
pire; the revocation of the organic acts which had
been accepted as binding upon them by the Italian
Arch Dukes; the reactionary spirit displayed by the
Papa authorities notwithstanding the originally
liberal enden cies of Pho Nono-all these are cases
in point, and lead US to doubt whether any condi-
tons can be imposed upon an absolute ruler by
people who have successfully rebeed against his
authority, with probability of their being sub
sequently observed. OF all the Italian Princes
Victor EMANUEL is the only sovereign who has
been true TO that liberal form of government
which was granted TO his subjects in the days of
his adversely and il is TO this mauly determine
ton to abide faithfully by the provisions of the
the Sandman Constitution, and in no case to
overstep its limits, that has made him not only
one of the most popular of sovereigns with his
own Immediate Subjects but has drawn towards
nun .he hearts of all the people Of Italy.
i.h these facts before US, is it possible for us
10 peiieVe that the young tyrant of Naples-whose
a'rooies nave excelled even those ascribed to his
'a'hei-.e'!y intends to abide by his recent grants
OF constitutional and representative institutions
and to identify himself with that sn;r;t 81 NO
gress whcn mas made Sardinia what she has he
come, and which is destined evsnt,or,, - it,
all the inhabitants of that peninsula in one COM
mon bond of brotherhood? Can ,ha 80 mi.
sanctioned that atrocious ac-the bo,,h, .a.,o,.
of Palermo, and who has ordered The corornor
of Messina to lay that town in ruins if !, should
be found impossible TO hold possession IF II
against the Garibaldians, be relied mon 10 CO.
operate in perfecting the plan of administrative
reform which, with the assistance of the liberated
provinces, has been SO nobly undertaken by Victor
EMANUEL? With what we know of the love for
absoutism-of the dynastic pride, the intense
selhshness, the reckless disregard for popular
rights, the narrow bigotry and the supercilious-
ness which have characterized the Bourbons for
many generations, it would be asking too much
to expect that we should entertain any very pro-
found confidence in the vows and protestations of
one who has shown himself even more despotic-
if that were possible-than was his father. and