The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-12
A speck Of Rebellion in Belgium

mig l4toIDiu VI Dclkluhut uao his
hands full Of domestic trouble OF a
serious nature. Antwerp, The second city
Of his kingdom, and its chief seaport, is
in state OF quasi rebellion. II all arises
out of the Kings determination 20 make
the place great fertilization, rather than
great commercial city. II is already
very strongly fortified, some Of the ex-
listing works having been erected nearly
three centuries ago, when the Duke of
Alva was sent from Spain TO subiugate
the Low Countries. The famous citadel
which he constructed, was called by
Brantome " la nonpayeiHe fortress dis
B,or'ae," and Morley says 10 was the most
perfect pentagon in Europe, having one
Of its sides resting on the Scheld, two
turned toward the city, and two toward
the open country" Other works erected
at subsequent periods make line Of for
tihcations nearly three miles long.
But this is not enough to meet the
views of King Leopold, or rather of his
war minister General Baron Chazal,
who, by the way, is Of French birth,
though his family having been ex-
lied during the Restoration, he served
with distinction in the Belgian army,
and In return for this received from the
legislative chambers the''grande natural
ization" 10 the year 1874 General Bar
on Chazal wants % extend the defences
OF Antwerp, and make of il grand for
tress Of the first order. This, say the
citizens of Antwerp, would seriously in
terfere with the commerce of the place
and every one knows that trade is the
main object with the people of that re-
eion, and they were only famous for a
warlike spirit when they were oppressed
by foreign yoke, under which their lib
critics and their right 10 worship accord
ing TO their religion were taken from
them. circumstances Of all kinds, against
the proposed new Notifications, were
made in vain. At last the Communal
Council of Antwerp sought an audience
of the King. Chazal wanted him to
evade this, by making visit TO Italy,
and the rumor Of this spread abroad
caused a great excitement The Ant
werpers became more persistent than
ever, and at last the King allowed thom
to come to see him at his palace at Lack
en-. His reception was fffgid in the ex-
IRENE, and after hearing the address of
the chief burgomaster he drew from his
pocket written answer, in which he
drily recited the necessity for new forti-
tications on account Of ths growth of the
city. Having finished the reading, with
out one word of courtesy, he Quilted the
audience chamber, leaving the deputation
confounded and indignant. The answer,
being telegraphed to Antwerp, caused new
excitement and wrath among the people,
and there were street demonstrations of a
rather violent character. The Commun-
al Council, on their return from Brussels,
held a meeting at which twenty one of
the thirty members resigned their places.
Six months ago, the Senator from Ant
werp resigned his seat, because a petit
ton from his constituents had been re-
jected, and the people have refused to
elect any one TO fill his place. There is
now talk of the resignation Of the repre-
sentatives in the lower Chamber, of the
judges of the Tribunal of Commerce,
and Of the officers of the Civic Guard.
All these events have created quite a
stir in the little kingdom of Belgium. It's
chief commercial city has virtually taken
the first steps towards secession and
dissolution of the Union with the rest of
King Leopold's dominions. The jour-
nails of BrusselPs and other cities express
great indignation at the course Of the
Antwepers, and in the two houses of the
Legislature they have also been sharply
censured. In the Senate, M. f orgeur,
Senator from Liege, expressed especial
indignation at their refusal to fill their
vacant seat, and threatened that il he
could only obtain fifty votes in Antwerp,
he would accept the place, resigning his
seat as Senator from Liege Indeed no
one who entertains proper views concern
ing the right Of the constituted authori-
ties of nation, can approve of the con-
duct of the people of Antwerp. They
are striving TO place municipal rights
above national rights; to make the SUI
preme authority Of the country subservi-
ent to that of single city. 1t is an
imitation on small and feeble scale, of
the State Rights rebellion in this coun-
try, and it must be put down. Happily
for its future, Belgium is not governed by
James Buchanan. King Leopold, while
he is as liberal, enlightened and Just as
monarch as any that reigns in Europe
knows his rights and his duties. The
defence Of Antwerp is essential TO the
safety of his kingdom in case Of future
wars, and is ii absurd TO suppose that
any Qualifications that may be erected
can injuriously affect the commerce of
the port There is no pretence made by
the Antwerpers. that the proposed works
are to be made TO oVerawe them. They
simply do not want their selfish and
mercenary plans TO be interfered with by
any measures for the national safety.--
Leopold did right in giving their depu-
tatiOn a cold reception and refusing their
request. If they presist in their mutinous
conduct he will do right in ordering the
arrest and punishment of the Ieaders In