On this page

• Text (1)

  Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

  • 

    May 3, 1856/] THE LEADER. 415

• Transcript

  • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

    Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

    The Treaty Of Peace. —?—The Ratification...

    iing . for the benefit of the revolution which all the Govem--merits condemn and wish to prevent . The problem . which 3 * is a matter of urgency to solve , consists , he . conceives , in combining the retreat of the foreign troops with the maintenance of tranquillity , and the solution depends on the organization of an administration which by reviving confidence would render the Government independent of foreign support ; that support never succeeding in maintaining a Government to which the public sentiment is hostile , and there would result from it , hi his opinion , a part which France and Austria would mot wish their armies to perform . For the well-being of the Pontifical States , as also for the interest of the sovereign authority of the Pope , it would , therefore , in

    liis opinion , be advantageous to recommend the secularization of the Government , and the organization of an administrative system in harmony with the spirit of the ; age , and having for its object the happiness of the people . He admits that this reform might perhaps offer in Rome itself , at the present moment , certain difficulties ; but he thinks that it might easily be accomplished in the . Legations . The first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain observes that for the last eight years Bologna lias been in a state of siege , and that the rural districts are harassed by brigands : it may be hoped , he thinks , that by establishing in this part of the Roman States an administrative and judicial system , at once secular and distinct , and that , by organizing there a

    national armed force , security and confidence would rapidly be restored , and the Austrian troops might . shortly withdraw without having to apprehend the ' . return of fresh troubles ; it is at least an experiment -which , in his opinion , ought to be attempted , and this remedy proposed for indisputable " evils ought to be submitted by the Congress to the serious consideration of ithe Pope . As regards the Neapolitan Government , the . first Plenipotentiary of Great Britain is desirous of imita-• . ting the example given him by Count Walewski , by passing over in silence acts which have obtained such grievous notoriety . He is of opinion that it must doubtless be admitted in principle that no Government has j the right to interfere in the internal affairs of other

    • states , but he considers there are cases in which the exception . to this rule becomes equally a right and a vduty . The Neapolitan Government seems to him to bave conferred this right , and to have imposed this duty tupon Europe ; and , as the Governments represented in ? the Congress , are all equally desirous to support the monarchical principle and to repel revolution , it is a duty to lift up the voice against a system which keeps ^ p revolutionary ferment among the masses instead of . seeking to moderate it . 'We do not wish , ' he says , « that peace should be disturbed , and there is no peace ¦ without justice ; we ought , then , to make known to the King of Naples the wish of the Congress for the amelioration of his system of government—a wish which

    cannot remain without effect—aud require of him an amnesty in favour of the persons who have been condemned or who are imprisoned without trial for political offences . ' As regards the observations offered by Count Walewaki on the excesses of the Belgian press , and the ¦^ d angers which result therefrom for the adjoining countries , the Plenipotentiaries of England admit their iin-,-portance ; but , as the representatives of a country in which a free and independent press is , so to say , one of ; the fundamental institutions , they cannot associate ^ themselves to measures of coercion ugainst the press of . another state . The first Plenipotentiary of Great JBritaLn , while deploring the violence in which certain organs of the Belgian press indulge , does not hesitate to . declare that the authors of the execrable doctrines to

    which Count Walewski alludes , the men who preach - assassination as the means of attaining a political object , are undeserving of the protection which guarantees to the press its liberty nnd its independence . In concluding , the Earl of Clarendon observes that , like France , England at the commencement of the war sought by every means to mitigate its effects , and that with this " view she renounced , for the benefit of neutrals ¦ d uring the struggle which has now come to an end , principles which up . to that time she had invariably maintained . He adds , that England is disposed to

    renounce them definitively , provided thut privateering is equally abolished for over ; that privateering is nothing • elae than an organized and legal piracy , and that privateers are one of the greatest scourges of war , and our condition of civilization and humanity requires that an ¦ end should be put to a system which is no longer suitable to the present day . If the whole of the Con-_ gresa were to adopt the proposition of Count Walowski , it should be well understood that it would only be bind-• ing in regard to the powers who may accede to it , and . that it could not bo appealed to by Governments who ¦ may refuse their accession . "

    Iu this discussion Count Orlofl" refused to take ipart , usliis instructions did not provide for any expression of opinion on such subjects . Count kBuol congratulated himself on seeing the Governanoutfl of Franco and England dinposod to put an « end , us speedily as possible , to the occupation of VGroece ; declared that Austria wishes " that all ( the states of Europe should enjoy , under the protection of public law , thoir political independence

    and complete prosperity ; desired to see a proper prevention of the excesses of the press ; and declined to enter into a discussion of the principles of maritime law , as his instructions did not go so far . " Baron Hiibner said that " the reduction of the Austrian army in the Legations sufficiently showed , in . his opinion , that the Imperial Cabinet intends to withdraw its troops as soon as such a measure shall be considered opportune . " Baron Manteuffel spoke in favour of the maritime principles which the Congress was invited to adopt ; expressed the desire of Prussia to see the internal pacification of Greece , but doubted whether the steps proposed to be taken with regard to Naples might not encourage in that country " a spirit of

    opposition and revolutionary movements . " He declined to enter into the question of the Papal States . With respect to the press , " Russia would voluntarily take part in an inquiry into the measures which might be deemed suitable" for curbing its excesses . The Baron also called attention to an affair which had been passed over in silencethe present situation of the principality of Neufchatel , " the only point , perhaps , in Europe where , in contradiction to treaties , and to what has been recognised by all the great Powers , a revolutionary Government , which disregards tb . " rights of the sovereign , holds sway . " He demanded that this question should be included in the number of those to be inquired into .

    " Count Cavour does not mean to question the right of each Plenipotentiary not to take part in the discussion of a question which is not contemplated by his instructions ; it is nevertheless , he thinks , of the utmost importance that the opinion manifested by certain powers , in regard to the occupation of the Roman States , should be recorded in the protocol . The first Plenipotentiary of Sardinia states that the occupation of the Roman States by the Austrian troops assumes every day more of a permanent character ; that it has lasted seven years , and that , nevertheless , no indication appears which would lead to the supposition that it will cease at a more or less early period ; that the causes which gave rise to it are still in existence ; that the state of the country which they occupy is assuredly not improved , and that , in order to be satisfied of this , it is enough to remark that Austria considers herself obliged to

    maintain , in its utmost severity , the state of siege at Bologna , although it dates from the occupation itself . He observes that the presence of the Austrian troops in the Legations and in the Duchy of Parma destroys the balance of power in Italy , and constitutes a real danger for Sardinia . The plenipotentiaries of Sardinia , he says , deem it , therefore , a duty to point out to the attention of Europe a state of things so abnormal as that which results from the indefinite occupation of a great part of Italy by Austrian troops . As regards the question of Naples , Count Cavour shares entirely the opinions expressed by Count Walewski and the Earl of Clarendon , and he conceives that it is in the highest degree important to suggest modifications which , by appeasing passions , would render less difficult the regular progress of affairs in the other states of the peninsula . In reply to some remarks by Baron Hiibner ,

    " Count Cavour says that he is desirous that the French occupation should cease as well as the Austrian , but that he carinpt help considering the one as being far more dangerous than the other for the independent states of Italy . He adds , that a small corps d ' armde , at a great distance from France , is menacing for no one ; whereas it is very alarming to see Austria resting on Ferrara and on Placentia , the fortifications of which she is enlarging , contrary to the spirit , if not to the letter , of the treaties of Vienna , and extending herself along the Adriatic as

    far as Ancona . As for Monaco , Count Cavour . declares that Sardinia is ready to withdraw the fifty men who occupy Meuton , if the Prince is in a condition to return to the country without exposing himself to the most serious dangers . Besides , ho does not consider that Sardinia can bo accused of having contributed to the overthrow of the ancient government , in order to occupy those states , sinco the Prince hus not , been able to maintain his authority in the single town of Monaco , which Sardinia occupied in 1848 in virtue to the treaties . "

    The discussion having ended , Count Walewski observed that its results were" 1 . That no one has contested the necessity of seriously deliberating as to the means for improving the situation of Greece , and that the three protecting courts have recognised tho importance of coming to an understanding among themselves in this respect . " 2 . That tho plenipotentiaries of Austria have acceded to tho wish expressed by tho plenipotentiaries of Franco for the evacuation of tho 1 ' ontiiical States by the French and Austrian troops , as uoou as it can bo effected without prejudice to tho tranquillity of tho country and to tho consolidation of tho authority of tho Holy

    See . , " 3 . That tho greater part of the plenipotentiaries have not questioned tho good eftoot which would result from measures of clemency , opportunely adopted by the

    governments of the Italian Peninsula , and especially ^ by that of the Two Sicilies . " 4 . That all the plenipotentiaries , and even those who considered themselves bound to reserve the principle of the liberty of the press , have not hesitated loudly to condemn the excesses in which the Belgian newspapers indulge with impunity , by Recognising the necessity of remedying the real inconveniences which result from the uncontrolled licence which is so greatly abused in Belgium . "

    THE PUBLIC PROCLAMATION OF PEACE IN LONDON . London made a species of half-holiday on Tuesday morning , in order to see and hear the peace proclaimed . A notification had been previously issued to the effect that carriages were not to pass between St . James ' s Palace and Temple Bar after half-past ten , a . m ., until the procession had performed that part of its journey . Shortly before eleven o ' clock , the foot-pavement of Pall-mall was occupied by a line of spectators . The windows and balconies were thronged with sight-seers ' , chiefly of the fair sex , and it is said that two of the royal children occuj > icd scats at a window of St . James ' s Palace .

    Shortly before twelve o ' clock , the procession , whica had assembled in the Stable-yard , St . James ' s , emerged into the open space iu front of the Palace . The ceremony opened with three blasts of the trumpets , and then Garter King of Arms read aloud her Majesty ' s proclamation of the restoration of peace , at the conclusion of which the crowd gave three cheers , and this was followed by another blast of trumpets . When the high personages who had remained stationary at the gats began to put themselves in motion , and the " procession" was duly exhibited in the eyes of the multitude , the spectacle was not of a kind to cause excitement or even astonishment . Certainly , a herald clad in a tabard i 9 a personage not to be seen every day , and therefore the heralds held the same distinction in this national

    solemnity as the " men in armour" in a civic procession ; but the other elements in the show were not remarkable ( as far as the eye was concerned ) , unless , indeed , we except the series of Westminster beadles , who provoked slight demonstrations of mirth . Nevertheless , the list of the personages who figured on the occasion looks imposing enough , inasmuch as the procession comprized a troop of the 2 nd Life Guards , under the command of Lieutenat-Colonel Ogilvy ; the Beadles of Westminster , walking two and two , with staves ; the High Constable , with his staff ' , on horseback ; the High Bailiff and Deputy-Steward of Westminster ; Knight Marshal ' s men , two and two ; drums ,

    Drum-Major , trumpets , and Sergeant-Trumpeter ; Sir Charles Young , Garter King of Arms , on horsebaek ; three Pursuivants , habited in their tabards—viz ., Mr . J . R . Planchd , Rouge Croix , riding alone , followed by Mr . H . M . Lane , Blue Mantle , and Mr . G . W . Collen , Portcullis , riding abreast and flanked on each side by three Sergeants-at-Arms , three of whom carried each a gold mace ; four Heralds , also habited in tabards , riding two and two abreast—viz ., Mr . W . Courthope , Somerset Herald , Mr . G . Harrison , Windsor Herald , Mr . T . W . King , York Herald , and Mr . A . W . Woods , Lancaster Herald ; Mr . Ii . Laurie , Norroy King of Arms ; followed by another troop of Life Guards , bringing up the rear . wh

    When the party had reached Charing-cross , ere the proclamation was read for the second time by Norroy King of Arms , " looking ' jWards Whitehall , " in conformity with ancient precedent , the specta ' cle really became striking , on account , not of tho personages who came to be seen and heard , but of the throngs who were there to witness them . The Trafalgar-square district was occupied by one of those dense moving masses which seem , only possible on the supposition that an entire capital has turned itself out of doors . A similar throng collected itself at tho eastern end of the Strand to witness the arrival of the procession at Toiiiple-bar . The closing of tho ancient City gates upon the western visitors gave a peculiar zest to this part of

    tho ceremony . One can ' t be on both sides of tho gate at onco , but we believe thut the interchange of civilities between tho intruders from the west and the jealous guardians of the cast is in this fashion : —Junior Pursuivant , after three soundings of tho trumpet , gives three knocks , upon which the . City Marshal asks " Who comes there V" The Pursuivant now explains that he and lna companions are ' officers of arms' como to publish hor Majesty's " Proclamation of Peace . " Tho cautious guardians of tho gate then admit the Pursuivant alone , who presents the Queen ' s warrant to tho Lord Mayor . When this document has been read , and tho Lord Mayor has authorised tho opening of tho gates , the Pursuivant la conducted buck to the gates by tho Cjty Marshal , who courteously tolls him that they are no longer closed ^

    Proclamation was also made at Wood-street , Cheapsido ( where the Cheapsido Cross formerly stood ) , and at the ltoyal Exchange . Tho crowds at both these points were ver . y , large ; but no preparations in the way of platforms , bannors , and seats at extravagant prices , had been made . Nevertheless , the holiday feeling was perfect .

    May 3, 1856/] The Leader. 415

    May 3 , 1856 /] THE LEADER . 415

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), May 3, 1856, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_03051856/page/7/