The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-25
fFor the Richmond Dispatch
To the Italians OF America.
UsrvERsIrr OF VIRGINIA, May


UsfvERsIrT OF VIRGINIA, May Ii, 1881.
read in the DafIy Dispatch. of the 4th in
slant, an article about the proposed formation
of a GaribaIdi Legion in New York, intended
to fight against the rights and people OF the
South AS the name of the legion is that of
the modern Italian hero, and l am native
Italian, although now a naturalized Ameri-
can and a resident in the State OF Virginia,
feel the deepest interest for all that regards
both my native and my adopted country; and
| hope. therefore, that should the inten lion of
forming such legion be tr'e, no ltailan may
enlist under its banner. Inc Italians OF
this time are naturally bound to respect,
and eyerywhe 10 sustain, the principle
which Italy has assumed in fighting the bat
ties of her Independence; the principle which,
being now acknowledged by the CIVILIZED
world in Europe, has led to the deliVerance OF
that lately oppressed land the principle that
only despots and tyrants have dared TO op-
pose in short, the principle that every na-
tion has n natural right OF choosing her own
government. Would it not, then, be proper
for every Italian, before undertaking TO wage
a war In favor of one party ana against an
othS4@@ which neither does nor ever did intend
to do him any HARM TO examine what impor-
tant or right tfui motive leads him to that
war? Would it not be reasonable to consider
which OF the two parties is wrong auo which
is right? And, finally, would IL not be his
duty to ascertain whether, by declaring
against one of the partie he comes, uncon-
seious to himself. 10 declare against that prin-
ciple that has freed his own country from the
most ignomlnious bondage7
Italy has been for long time under the rule
of tyrants, who constan tly refused to let her
have any share in her own government; who
have compelled her to blindly submit to their
own authority, which alone they claimed to
be the lawful one who treated as rebels any
of their subjects who demanded q more just
government: who treated as guilty OF high
treason those who dared to resist their ty-
ranny, and who revenged with bomb and she'll
upon Il whole nation, wheu she, tired of being
fptprmiuah
and to inaugurate a new Government. The
names of those soyereigns will live eternallY
branded with the con tempt of all future gem
eratIons. hing Bomba, and his worthy son
and successor, King Bombetta, will be trans
mitted to our most remote poeterity as names
of horror to mankind.
Why should then, the Italians enlist to
fight against the South, as long as 1t has not
declared war against any nation, or any party
and has only placed itself on the defensive p
The South has no wish to invade the territory
of others; il only wishes to defend it's own
from the aggression of those who have left no
exertion untried to deprive it OF its vital in :
stitution, and of any share in the Govern
ment; of those who have not even scrupled
| to divert the ministers of the Gospel from
| their religious aEocations, and from the
| standard of peace that Christ, whom they
profess to worship, pointed out to them
| of those who have called upon the same II in
| is ters to Gisdgure religion and TO polIute 1t
| with the spirit of their own political party
| and to train the minds of the present genera
| tion not against sin-for Christ never preached
| that slavery was sin-but against an instltu-
| ton that they alone fanatiCally define AS a sin
| Has not This very war taken place for a long
| time between Italy and her tyrants? Is not
| the principle on which Italy has struggled
| entirely the same as that which the South
| has adopted in America If so, why should
| we blame the South, while we glory In the
| attitude of Italy !--and why should our sym
| pathies be entirely with Italy in Europe, aud
| against the South in America
Lf,t Nor h lsa h M "a xyiF1O
| taken the forts that belonged To the United
| States. Here, however, we ought to consider
| that these forts originally belonged to tbs
! South, and that they were yielded TO the Gov
| ernment of the United States while these
| United States would exist, not only physi
| cally, but morally while the Government
| would be not that of one section, but OF tbs
| whole Union while the States would b,
| equally respected as sovereigns, and treated
| with perfect impartality according to tht
| friendly spirit of the Constitution. But wher
| q part OF the States, carried away by an eyi
| dent spirit of enmity against the other, shou lc
| undertake to oyerpoWer il, and by means o
| unjust exertions, should succeed in acquiring
| the Government and III imposing, therefore
! its laws upon the other part, so that the lat
ter, for its interest, for its institutions, for it
| existence, for the honor Of its own people, L
| compelled to withdraw from the Union, shal
| it not then have n right to retake what wa
| always its ownY Should this right be denied
| Italy should have allowed her tyrant IS TO re
tain her forts, and to go with their system
| of oppression but no Italian, except traitors
| would have left the forts in the power of tn
| Oppressors of his land.
Finally, the North main tains that the Sta te
| had renounced the right ever to Withdraw
| from the Union; burt also the despots OF Ital,
said that their beloved subjects had no righ
to withdraw from the oppression of thei
| kings. We Italians do not believe in tha
doctrine the civilized world has discarde
| that maxim as remnant of barbarism, ant
with that maxim Italy could not now b
what she is.
And now, my respected countrymen, do yo
think that iaribald, under the circumstance
already stated, would employ his swor
against the South, And if not, would he no
consider the giving his name 10 the leg ion al
ready men toned an insult to himself! Bu
why do proceed with my reasoning, when
know that no Italian-no true Italan-wil
| enlist in that legion