The End of the Beginning
Part 2: Roman Politics
Verona, Guardia Nuova - 10 May 1848, Late Morning
Cavour was not surprised when the moment of mirth did not last long.
"Tell me your take of the situation in Rome, Camillo. I have to admit that I am not fully up-to-date, although I have certainly read the dispatches of our ambassador there."
"Gen. Ferrari has moved with commendable caution, and apparently without stepping on too many toes. The order in Rome has been quickly restored, and the city is apparently quiet. Three regiments of the National Guard were sent to cover a potential Neapolitan invasion, should the king there feel rambunctious: I don't think that's the case, but it is a reasonable precaution to take. The Parliament, in joint session, has confirmed the appointment of Ferrari as a dictator, has petitioned him to call new elections for a Constitutional Convention and to apply to join the Confederation. As the last act, they voted for the dissolution of the Chambers. The government also resigned in the hands of the dictator, but most of the ministers will stay on as caretakers. I understand that the Prince of Canino has been instrumental in these developments, but neither the role of the Pope nor the future form of government have been discussed, as he had originally proposed. Speaking frankly, I am quite relieved: I was afraid that Carlo Luciano Bonaparte might refuse to stop where he did, and we all know how these Bonaparte are-or wish they were - but luckily he did stop.. A vote of parliament in favor of the end of Temporal Power and the proclamation of a republic in Rome would have been quite premature: it is much more reasonable to defer the final step to a legitimate and freely elected assembly. Time is on our side now, so it's better to leave the first move to Pio IX, while the dictator shows restrain and respect for the legality. Free elections and a constitutional convention should leave no doubt about the future of Rome.
The dictator immediately responded to the parliamentary petitions by calling new elections for the first Sunday in June, on the basis of a universal male franchise. Ferrari is showing a very good perception of politics, or, as I believe, he has a good advisor. He also appointed a triumvirate, the Giunta di Governo, to oversee the day-to-day operations until a new government may be democratically installed, and decreed that a delegation would be sent immediately to Verona. The triumvirate originally included Prince Tommaso Corsini, Senator of Rome, Count Francesco Camerata, Senator of Ancona, and Count Gaetano Zucchini, Senator of Bologna. Prince Corsini is a very good choice, according to my friend Mamiani, and while pretty old is still very active: a moderate, but with good relation with the democrats and a personal friendship with Ciceruacchio. There is not much to say about Count Camerata, his appointment was an obvious bone thrown to the people of the Marche. Count Zucchini declined the offer, and this news came back to Rome together with a copy of the deliberations of the assembly at Imola, declaring the separation of the former Legations from the main body of the Papal States. Ferrari replaced Zucchini with signor Francesco Guardabassi, from Perugia. The latter is a former member of the Carboneria and a friend of Mazzini, but his record as Commander of the Civic guard of Perugia in 1833 tells that he's a honorable and sensible fellow, highly regarded in Perugia. I hear he's been active in modernizing agriculture in his estates, and that he is a fine wine-maker, too.
Finally, Ferrari openly declared that the people of the Legations were entitled to freely choose their form of government, and to go their own separate way, if they so choose: he would never countenance forcing the Legations to remain in union with Rome. "
"I judged Ferrari to be an upright and honest man, and a good military man, but was not anticipating he would also be such an adroit politician. I agree that there must be someone advising him on the political side: any idea who might be? And who will be sent to Verona?"
"My friend Count Mamiani, Prince Aldobrandini, the former minister for war, Pietro Sterbini, of Campo dei Fiori fame: a moderate, a liberal and a democrat. A reasonable mix. You will be surprised by the additional two roving members personally chosen by Ferrari: Count Pellegrino Rossi, the former French ambassador to Rome and a close friend of Guizot; and our very own Savonarola reborn, Vincenzo Gioberti, the same who went overnight from neo-Guelf champion to a wild-eyed revolutionary preacher.
I was not expecting at all that Count Rossi would be back in politics so soon. I was informed that, after the fall of the Orleans, he retired to private life, but now I am quite convinced he may have been advising Ferrari during the first critical weeks of the dictatorship.
I met Rossi in Paris 10 years ago: a very intelligent man, well versed in constitutional law and in diplomacy, a bit self-centered though. Given his long relation with Guizot and his personal friendship with the Pope, I would describe him as a conservative and a pious Catholic; however, I have seen the events of this 1848 easily change the political beliefs of many persons, myself included, so I will reserve my judgment for now. For what is worth, his son Odoardo enrolled in the Sardinian army and fought at the bridge of Goito. Luckily, he is now posted at the fortress of Peschiera, and can come to Verona upon short notice."
"I'd also like to know what is the Pope planning right now, Camillo: it might be advisable to start an informal negotiation."
"Marquis Pareto sent us some rumors from Rome, which were apparently leaked from the Office of the Cardinal Legate. The Pope arrived in Gaeta, and immediately sent a letter to King Ferdinand: the gist was that he had been forced to leave Rome by unruly mobs and Jacobins. Gaeta was only the first step of his voyage since he didn't want to create any disturbances in the kingdom of Naples. King Ferdinand was in Gaeta two days later, and the result is that the Pope is apparently going to stay.
The Pope has apparently issued a brief, condemning the "sacrilegious and unjustified violence" which forced him to leave Rome, appointing a Commission to govern the city and praying God to forgive those who "raised their impious hands against the Vicar of Christ". Nothing else, I am afraid, aside from a tidbit Pareto added: Cardinal Antonelli has been spotted moving in Rome, but dressed as a layman, not a cardinal. It may be nothing, or it may be Antonelli's way to keep open a door: to which purpose, I don't know yet. My recommendation is to do nothing at this stage."
"You mentioned that you do not anticipate any rash action from the other Ferdinand." Camillo was ready to answer the implicit question, but he could not but smile seeing that even his Prince was using the nickname the Bourbon King had recently earned.
"There have been disturbances in Naples on 4 May: it was the feast day of San Gennaro, but the traditional miracle of the liquefaction of the blood of the saint didn't happen. This is considered a bad omen in Naples, in particular among the poorest classes, the "lazzaroni". To add insult to injury, the equally traditional distribution of food to the poor was canceled, same as the distribution of food for Easter was canceled this year. The lazzaroni rioted, although it was not a true insurrection.
However, the Neapolitan Parliament is going to be inaugurated on 15 May, and there is already a lot of tension around. The king has not yet released the program for the inauguration, and wild tales are already spreading: there is fear that the king will delay the inauguration, or even cancel the Constitution. The truth is probably less dramatic, but it is true that the deputies elected to the Lower House have all intentions to legislate changes to the Constitution, obviously not in a way the king would approve. A constitutional crisis is very likely to flare out on the day of the inauguration, and the king is not going to send his regiments to sort out the Roman troubles of the Pope. Proving once again that he deserve to be called 'the other Ferdinand'.
You wouldn't be caught with your pants down, would you? I can bet you would have had the plans for a Case Tiber already prepared." he quipped.
There was a thin, sharp smile on the lips of Prince Ferdinando, but his dark eyes were unreadable.
