The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-11-03
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
Petition I'm Behalf of Jefferson DaVis---
tsSEas &. dfaTiBaI iii and Hundreds of Dis
tingui@hed Giti Eens the Petitioners.


From Washington we are informed
that on Saturday afternoon an Italian
Committee, composed Of Prot. Achille
Magni, Mr.. Henry Fardella, who lately
distinguished himself as General in
the Union army, and Mr.. Theodore
Manara, who fought for the independ-
ence of Italy, AL residents of New
York, gained an introduction to Presi-
dent johnson in order to present TO his
EXcelIency the following petition, sent
to Prof. Achille Magni by the Commit
tee in Milan. This gentleman, after
introducing his honorable colleagues,
then explained to the President theob-
ject of their interview:
If5'. PreSide,at--the pu bic opinion in
Italy, such as it may be represented by
the former Ministers Of the Govern
ment, B. Ricagoli and Glinghetti, by
the present Premier, General A. La
MarmGra, by number Of Senators, by
one hundred and sixty-one Represent
atiVes, and by the most distinguished
men and associations of that country,
is in favor of supporting the humane
idea Of our great statesman, Ce,are Be
caria, ie.., to have capital punishment
abolished.
IN this en- ,rprise toward progress
and Christian civilization, the Italians
have already gained the appreciation
and support Of the greatest and most
liberal-minded men in Europe, 81 ch us
Victor Hugo, Louis Blanc, Micl .elet,
Jules Fayre, Holtsend0rtf, Nittersney-
er, Il. Golden, John Bright, and the
like. The Executive Committee es-
tablishcd in Milan III order to carry in
to practice this idea, among Othermeas-
urc5, thought also OF sending your Ex-
ce.lenCy & petition, signed by hu ldreds
Of thrir distinguished citizens, hy Phi
Iosopher Tomageo, and by General G.
GaribaIci, begging that III the name Of
humanity, without offending tie sus-
ceptib.lit., OF anybody, they luie:ht ne
permitted 10 Dcseeeh youto join i-ltheir
views, and mainly in behalf Of Jefior-
son Davis. itere the President, with
an accent Of surprise, interrupted the
speaker, saying: "lhey plead for JEFF
fers0n Dayis?" Yes, continued Prof.
Megni, they delegated us 10 present
your ExceIlency their original petition,
and hope Ihat by vouchsafing their sup
plication you would crown this g'ori
Gus country with the laurel Of peace,
give to all nations Of the world an I'M
parallellcl example CT nagnaninity
aud wisdom, which will shine to al ta
/, ire generations and bring blessing up-
on you forever.
.PRoF. ACHILLE MAGNI =
Gt'N. HENRY FARpELLA,
Nh. THEODORE MANARA,
Aftorw ard thefollowing petition was
handed L His ENoellency, and the said
gentlemen, took leave:
MILAN, July q, 1865.
Central Executive Committee for The
National VI 0nUment to the First Sup
porter of the Abolition Of Capital
Punishment, Cesare BecCaria, Piazza
BOrrome0, NO. ..
To His E.rceHa.cy, -4ndreW Johnson,
PresideHQfthe L. States Of AH,erjca:
y nation still far from that fullne5S of
life and power to which she is entitled,
nay, even under The necessity ofappeal-
ing to the universal brotherhood in or
der to overcome the last obstacles to her
revival, has ina special degree tAe right
Of speaking in the name Of humanity
without offending anybody's pride
Therefore, we hope that you, i'll reeeiv-
ing our supplication, will forget that
we are citizens Of a foreign matt on, and
will remember only that we are men
and your own brethren.
Thedeath of President Lincoln plung
ell us into mourning, but the execution
OF Davis would make us blush. We
cannot comprehend through VIII ii ne
cessity the justice of great and yicter-
i0rs people could initiate the vengeance
of an assassin detested even byyourvan-
1uishedas Infamous. WecannotunG er-
stand why the American Union sfo,lld
be less sure either of its greatness or its
integrity, if to 50 much blood shed dur
ing the war this one drop more, cody
spilled in peace, should not he added.
Davis, from his scaffold, would say:
"Then l make YOU tremble."
Battling gforfreedom and justice against
the institutions and prejudices of old
Europe, wehave up to the present stren-
uously advocated that where freedom
reigns thence violence is banished
interchangeable are sovereignthere the
hangman is not their minister. To the
timid and ilicredulous we have. until
now pointed out the example of your
States ; butifacontrary example should
henceforth support him who founds Or
deron terror, if that beneficial influence
which has fostered liberty in Europe,
should no longer be shed from America,
the fatal contagion of legal violence
may perhaps begin TO extend from Eu-
rope to your shores. .......-..
It has been said that republics are
more ineyorable than tyrants, that ty-
rants may practice clemency from fear,
ambition ora sudden impulse of natural
lN,A 1.n