The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-28

Every now and then there is a quiet lifting of
the fog, in which the Italian question has been
involved since the peace of VHa.Franca, and
things that were magnifed out,of all due proper
ton by the haziness of the atmosphere through
which they were viewed suddenly present them
selves in their natural shape, and with all their
outlines sharply and distinctly defined. Read by
the light of the recent dispatches of THoUvENEL,
Russell and CAvoUR, the programme which NAPo-
LEON Ill marked out for himself when he origin
ally undertook TO relieve Italy from Austrian
domination may now be clearly understood
That programme embraced nothing less than the
complete restoration of Italy to the Italians the
annexation of Lombardy and the minor Duchies
to Sardinia; the formation of an independent
government in Tuscany, and an Italian Confede-
ration which, with the PORE as its nominal head
was to embrace not only the States thus newly
organized, but also Naples and Venice and the
States of the ChGrch. But the policy thus in
dicated it has been only possible to carry out in
part. The treaty of FMa-Franca, while it lib
Grated a considerable portion of Italy from the
Austrian yoke, left NAPOLEON H. fettered with
pledges which he has found himself unable TO
redeem. What his victorious legions left unac-
complished in the minor provinces, and in the
Romagna, the Italians themselves have completed.
The proposed Confederation of States, even if it
were desirable, they have rendered impraccabIe.
Tuscany has no wish to establish an independent
form of government, and has already declared by
her popular vote-which she is at this time about
to re-atfirm-that she prefers to form part of a
strong Italian kingdom under the constitutional
government of VIcToR Emmanuel II. to a separate
existence under any other ruler. Yet Sardinia, as
the chosen representative of Italian independence,
owes profound debt of gratitude to NAPOLEON H.,
and in consideration of the important services thus
rendered TO VICTOR EMMANUEL H., the latter was
to cede to his imperial ally Savoy and Nice
two slips of territory whose chief value consist
in the additional protection which the possession
of their mountain passes would give to the French
frontier. The project is by no means new one
Savoy and Nice constitute the natural boundaries
of France 10 the eastward, and as early as 1892
were incorporated into the Republic-the one as
the Department of the Upper Alps, and the other
rs that of the Maritime Alps. They continued to
be held as portions of the Republic and of the En-
pire from that period until 1914, when VIcToR
EMMANUEL l., who had taken refuge in the Island
Of Sardinia returned and resumed possession of the
dominions of his ancestors, to which, in 1876 the
Congress Of Vienna added the territory of Genoa.
NAPOLEON III. now claims that Sardinia having,
by means of his powerful cooperation been ele-
waited from The condition of petty State to that
of a powerful Italian Kingdom, the security of the
French frontier is proportionably endangered
Whilst weak neighbor held the passes of the
Alps, France had nothing to fear, but now that
Sardinia has acquired Lombardy and is about TO
extend her jurisdiction over Parma, Nodena, and,
perhaps, with certain restrictions, over the Ro-
magma also, it becomes necessary for France to
guard against any future contingencies that may
arise by Strengthening her geographical position
in that direction. This only be done by the
acquisition of Savoy and Nice. Except as bar
riers against invasion, the districts which NAPo-
LEON III. desires to annex are comparatively
worthless. Savoy, which is the largest of the
two, is but eighty-three miles long and sixty
seven broad, 1t consists almost wholly of rocky
and barren mountain ranges, and includes within
It's limits some of the highest points of the Alpine
chain. Its entire population does not much ex-
coed five hundred and sixty thousand, and of this
number the greater part are so poor that many OF
the male inhabitants migrate annually in search
OF a better subsistence elsewhere. Nice though
also mountainous region presents
larger surface than Savoy, which is capa-
BILE Of being used for agricultural purposes,
. and it possesses, besides, the further advant-
age Of a seaport upon the Mediterranean
In length, the district of Nice, which has n
population of about two hundred and thirty
thousand, does not exceed seventy-ive miles,
whilst its mean breadth may be estimated at about
twenty ,hrce miles. The language spoken by the
inhabitants Of both districts is a mixed dialect of
French and Italian, and their social affinities in
cline much more strongly towards their French
than their Piedmontese neighbors.
England looks with by no means a favorable
eye upon this proposed accession of territory on
the part Of France and it is at least doubtful
whether either of the other European Powers
would willingly consent to its transfer. But il
Sardinia consents to the measure, rs she undoubt
eddy will do, provided the result of the popular
vote Of the inhabitants of the districts in question
is favorable to it, NAPOLEON III. will scarcely wal
for the sanction Of Congress-as Lord JOHN Rus
SELL thinks he ought to do--before he enters upor
possession.