Italy.
No. 28, 28 June 1848
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.
* Genoa, 19 June. A communication in the “Echo des Alpes Maritimes”
has caused great joy here. The news runs: “A Sardinian vessel arriving
from Montevideo reports that a frigate of 36 guns sailed from the port
of Montevideo on the same day, having on board General Garibaldi with
the Italian Legion.” The frigate is expected in the coming days and the
reception of the warriors hurrying back to their homeland from South
America will be solemn and enthusiastic. Garibaldi will hasten with
his legion into the struggle against the Austrians as quickly as possible.
* Turin, 19 June. At the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on the 17th
inst., a member interpellates the ministry as to whether or not there is
in the headquarters a general who is responsible to the ministry for all
actions and for the entire conduct of the war. The prime minister requests
the speaker to defer the interpellation to the next sitting, at which the
minister of war, who has just returned from headquarters, will be present.
Costa de Beauregard brings up the sad situation of many
thousands of workers in Chambéry and demands their immediate
employment at state expense. Thereupon Valerio’s legislative proposal
is read out, by which all officials politically compromised from 1821 to
1831 are to be compensated as far as possible for their losses of every
kind. After him, Boarelli moves for the abolition of
corporal punishment in the army.
* – Despite all patriotic enthusiasm, the Turin philistinism becomes
quite recalcitrant at the prospect of the possibility that Milan might
become the capital of the new kingdom instead of Turin; the
house owners lament in advance that they would then lose at least 50 per
cent of their rent or be compelled to go entirely to ruin. In similar
fashion speak shopkeepers and court purveyors of every kind. Their
private interest naturally outweighs the subordinate consideration of
whether, in the interest of the whole, Milan or Turin is preferable as the
capital. Fortunately, the decision will not depend on the Turinese.
The commander of the Italian squadron in the Adriatic Gulf has been
sent the order to bombard Triest. At the same time, 2 steamers with
troops on board have hurriedly departed Genoa to reinforce him and to
make possible a landing of troops on
the Istrian coast.
* Naples, 14 June. The news that Nunziante has been beaten and
captured by the insurgents is gaining ever more credence. It
is added that he has been given into the custody of the inhabitants of
Messina. Apart from the 6 provinces: the 3 Calabrias, the two Apulias
and Basilicata, which are in full insurrection, movements are now also
beginning in the Abruzzi; there the Romeos and his brave
comrades are at work.
– Yesterday’s news from Calabria about the victories of the insurgents
was soon followed by other news from the vicinity to the effect that
Salerno has risen and beaten back the royal troops.
The Bourbon, in his fear, then promised the constitution of 1820,
the surrender of the forts to the National Guard, as the latter had been
composed before 14 May, and the reconstitution of the Chamber of
Deputies.
He was answered: “It is too late!” Many believe that Ferdinand has
fled. In Reggio a kind
of Sicilian Vespers is said to have been carried out on the royal officials.
The draft for the reform of the principal articles of the Sicilian
constitution reads as follows:
The sole exclusive religion is the Roman Catholic Apostolic one.
The king is obliged to profess this religion; should he adopt
a different one, he is ipso facto deprived of the throne.
The King of Sicily may wear no other crown than the Sicilian one.
The sovereignty of the nation rests on three separate powers, the
legislative, the executive and the judicial. The legisla-
tive power rests exclusively with Parliament.
Parliament consists of two chambers, the Chamber of Peers and the
Chamber of Representatives.
The Chamber of Peers numbers 120 members; the number of
Representatives is to be determined by the electoral law.
Peers by right are: The diocesan bishops, the judge of the
Apostolic Legation, the Abbot of St. Lucia, the Archimandrite of
Messina; the remaining peers, 100 in number, are eligible upon the
nomination of the nation.
The Representatives are elected by the people. The term of the
elective peerage is 12 years. After the expiry of 4 years the
Representatives are newly elected. The peers are not entitled to have
themselves represented by proxies.
Parliament meets annually on 12 January in Palermo. The
king attends the solemn opening. The king may, in case of necessity,
convene Parliament on an extraordinary basis. Each session lasts 3
months; it can be extended; the king may suspend it for 1 month;
he may dissolve Parliament in order to have new elections of
Representatives held. The members of the dissolved chamber may be
re-elected; in the event of dissolution, the king is
obliged to convene the electors within 6 months. Should he fail to do
so, the electors assemble of their own accord after 19 days and
proceed to the elections. After the expiry of the electoral deadlines,
Parliament is assembled by right.
The right to propose laws is vested in both chambers.
Each chamber has the right to give or refuse its assent to the laws
presented by the other or to propose
amendments.
The king equally has the initiative for laws; he exercises this
through his ministers. The law on the granting of taxes must
originate from the Representatives. The Chamber of Peers may only
give or refuse its assent, without being permitted to make amendments.
The laws drawn up by Parliament are, after their
proclamation, executed by the king. The king may defer the
proclamation of a law until Parliament, in its next discussion, takes
it into consideration anew. If Parliament persists, the
law must of necessity be promulgated. No article of the constitution
may be altered except upon a declaration by Parliament
proposing the reform to be undertaken. Parliament is
thereupon dissolved and only reconvenes after a new election of the
Representatives. Resolutions on parliamentary reforms must
be adopted by two-thirds of the votes cast in each chamber.
The National Guard is an essential constitutional institution; it
is to be organised by a special law. Speech and the press are free.
The abuses of this freedom are to be punished according to a special
law.