The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-03-18

Tine WOmom QuedthOh-D34erOue Agtt0-
tlon by the French Ciergy-spceeh OF
Prince Napoleon
The controversy between the French clergy
and the Imperial government in regard to the
Pope has resolved itself into an open war;
II Is evident, from the bitterness of the
Bishop of Orleans, reply to M Laguerroniere,
and the gross personal insult offered to
the Emperor by the Bishop of Polo
tiers, that the ecclesiastical power has deter
mined on measuring Its strength with him. The
conviction of this fact has induced the govern
ment to lay aside the reserve with which it has
dealt with this question. 1t feels that to crush
out the danger which threatens 1t at home from
the hostility of the clergy, it will have to put
an end to the uncertainty that prevails as to its
intentions In reference TO it. To leave it unset
tied for six months longer would be, in the
present excited state of the public mind, owing
to clerical influence, to compromise the secu-
rity of the Imperial throne ITSELF
We may Judge how critical the government
deems its position from the declarations of
Prince Napoleon and Count Pietr in the Senate
on the address in reply to the Emperor's
speech Both plainly intimated that the tempo
raj power of the Pope was forfeited, and that
France should confne herself to the preservation
of his spiritual power. How this is to be done
is to be inferred from the Princes concluding
remarks. As Italy united, he says, will soon
demand Rome as her capital, and as the Pope
cannot become subject to another sovereign,
the only way of reeonciling the difficulty and
maintaining his independence is by securing to
the Pontiff the right side of the city, with a
Papal garrison sad a Papal budget, guaran-
teed by the Powers. This, we have no doubt,
is the plan decided upon by the French govern
ment. 1t is merely a modification of the orr
ginal project of the Emperor in the pamphlet
published by him previous to the italian cam.
paign, altered to suit the changed condition
of things since that period. If it gives the
Poniff divided occupancy of the Eternal
City, be has his own obstinacy and the evil adj
vice of the Antonelli clique to thank for it.
There are other reasons why the Emperor
should be DESTROYS to bring this question to an
immediate settlement. 1t is we'll known that
his domestic peace has been destroyed by the
efforts used by the clergy to control his views
in regard to it through his wife. 10
such an extent has her mind been
worked upon by their arguments, that
she has been driven half crazy, so that
she is alternately projecting pilgrimages to
the holy places or abandoning herself
to the influence of the spiritualists The details
given by our Paris correspondent in regard to
her movements are exceedingly curious, and ex-
plain the cause of some of her recent freaks, as
well as of her unaccountable trip to Scotland.
Thus situated, it is not to be wondered at that
the Emperor should lose all patience with the
the Pontif, and decide upon making no further
efforts to conciliate the prejudices of the ultra
montana party.
The decision to which he has come, followed,
as it probably will be, by the immediate en-
trance of Piedmontese army into Rome, will
aggravate to the most violent pitch the hostility
towards him Of the French clergy. 1t is not I'M
likely that to defeat their intrigues, as well as
to neutralize the effect of the discreditable ex-
posures that are about to be made in the
Mires' case, he will resort to the favorite expe-
dent of French rulers in such cases--that
of engaging the attention of his peo-
pie in another war. He will not want for
an opportunity. Although the prudence of
the Italians will postpone for q time any effort
for the recovery of Venice, Austria cannot
continue to maintain purely defensive atti-
tude. Inactivity in her present circumstances
Is far more costly to her than war, and she will
avail herself of the first chance to provoke it.
The entrance of Piedmontese army into
Rome will soon afford IL to her, If we are to
place faith in her recent declarations. 1t is
satisfactory, however, to tho friends of freedom
to be assured that no mere religious pretext
will be permitted by France to furnish an OK.
cuse for the invasion of regenerated Italy.
OPENING OF THE BRITISH RED RIVER TERRI
roar.-It appears by the last news from Eng
land that bill is in preparation in Parliament
with reference to opening out the territory in
British America lying between the Red river
and the Pacific for colonization. The British
government are thus about to develope fine