1821.] 



Pohhcal Affairs in March. 



287 



tiou is boDud to preserve and protect with 

 wise and just laws civil liberty, property 

 and other legitimate rights of all the indi- 

 viduals belonging' to it." 



Referring to the 6th and 7th articles of 

 the same constitution, which are thus con- 

 ceived — " that patriotism is one of the 

 principal duties of all the people of the 

 Two Sicilies, and likewise justice and be- 

 nevolence." 



" Every native of the Two Sicilies is 

 bound to be faithful to the constitution, to 

 obey the laws, and to respect the constitu- 

 ted authority." 



" Considering that one of the wisest and 

 jnstest laws for the preservation of liberty, 

 property, and the rights of citizens, is that 

 which informs and directs the public spirit 

 so as to increase the national force, and to 

 diminish that of the enemy ; 



" Considering that the pretext set up by 

 the persecutors of our constitutional go- 

 vernment in the face of notorious facts is, 

 1st. that it has been the result, not of the 

 national will, but of a sect, or of a military 

 faction ; 2d, that it is incapable of prevent- 

 ing anarchy ; 3d, that it is subversive of the 

 throne ; 



" Considering that the principal method 

 adopted by our enemies to justify these 

 pretexts, and to secure the issue of an un- 

 just war against an innocent people, has 

 ^ been to endeavour to divide the sentiments 

 and feelings of the nation, to excite one 

 part of it against the other, and to divert 

 the public spirit into other channels ; and 

 that conduct is not only evident from the 

 events of the 7th and 8th of December, 

 1820, and from the tenour of the last pro- 

 ceedings at Laybach, but from a multitude 

 of particular facts w hich have come to the 

 knowledge of the national government ; 



" The National Parliament of the Two 

 Sicilies declares what follows : — 



" 1st. It is a duty of the greatest im- 

 portance, for the safety of the people, that 

 its forces be concentrated, and consequently 

 let there be concord among all citizens, har- 

 mony between the civil and military au- 

 thorities, an oblivion of all private interests, 

 an abandonment of all private pretensions, 

 and an application of all men's exertions to 

 the public good. 



" 2. It is likewise the duty of all citizens 

 to endeavour to diminish the number of the 

 foreign enemies of the nation, and to con- 

 ciliate new friends or to confirm the old : 

 it behoves them therefore to show in the 

 eyes of the world that their constitution, 

 desired by the great mass of the population, 

 proclaimed simultaneously in all parts of 

 (the kingdom, and sanctioned by the oath of 

 .-. the Monarch, is not only established and 

 • has hitherto proceeded without blame, but 

 that it even now in the midst of war main- 

 tains itself with virtue, with respect towards 

 the throne, with obedience to the laws, 



with reverence towards the constituted 

 authorities, with moderation and peace. 



" 3. It is likewise a roost essential duty 

 of the citizens to obey with loyalty, and 

 execute with promptitude and vigour the 

 orders of the national parliament and those 

 of the government. They will be able, 

 nevertheless, always to avail themselves of 

 the power granted to them by the 360th 

 article of the constitution, by claiming the 

 execution of the same of the King, or of the 

 Parliament. 



4. Finally, the essential duties of every 

 soldier under the national banners are sub- 

 mission to his chief, voluntary obedience, 

 activity in executing all orders, strict ob- 

 servation of rules of military discipline, 

 love to his fellow-citizens, the greatest hu- 

 manity and gentleness towards enemies 

 taken prisoners, and, in short, that civil 

 and quiet demeanor which is the charac- 

 teristic of true courage. 



" 5. It is fit to declare enemies to the 

 country, 



" I. AH those who endeavour to divert 

 the national sentiment, either by promoting 

 systems different from the existing consti- 

 tution, or by exciting discord and ill-will 

 among the citizens. 



" li. All those who shall endeavour to 

 mix up crime under any form or pretext, 

 with the cause of the constitution, or to 

 sully its purity by any manner of means. 



" III. All those who shall attempt to 

 diminish the respect for the royal and legis- 

 lative authority, or shall be wanting in it 

 themselves. 



'♦ IV. All those who shall present any 

 obstacles to the execution of the laws, and 

 the discipline of the army, and in general 

 to public order. 



" 6. Provided always, that if the cases 

 referred to in the preceding article shall 

 reach to actual crime or misdemeanor, the 

 guilty persons shall be punished with all the 

 rigour of the laws; and even if they do 

 not reach to that point, they shall be 

 punished with the contempt and disgrace 

 which always follow those who do not love 

 their country, and who favour even invo- 

 luntary the views of its enemies." 



The Neapolitau army in the field is 

 divided iuto two great commands ; the 

 first is entrusted to Lieutenant-General 

 Pepe, and occupies the Abruzzi. This 

 corps d'armec is composed of 40 bat- 

 talions and some squadrons. Majors 

 General Rulfo, Verdiuois, &c., hold 

 brigades in it. 



The second coi'ps, which is the most 

 considerable, is commanded by Lieu- 

 tenant-General Baron Carascosa. It 

 contains three divisions of Infantry, 

 under the command of General Filan- 

 gieri, Prince of Satriauo, and Lieu- 

 tenant-Generals Barons Arabrosio and 

 Arcovito. 



