visions there were a Ministry
which was responsible, and two Houses of Parliament, one of which was
elective, and the other composed of members who should hold their
appointment during their lifetime. To the Council of State belonged the
framing of laws to be afterwards submitted to the votes of the two
Chambers.

In all constitutional monarchies, the assent of the sovereign is
necessary, in order to give the force of law to measures voted by
Parliament. So, under the constitution promulgated at Rome by Pius IX.,
the College of Cardinals were constituted a permanent council, whose
office it was to sanction finally the decisions of the Legislative
Chambers. Such, in substance, was the statute by which the Pontifical
States became undeniably constitutional. A few days later the Ministry was
named. Three-fourths of their number were laymen. Cardinal Antonelli was
appointed President or First Minister. And thus the constitution was no
sooner framed than it came into operation, so anxious was Pius IX. to
advance the interests and meet the wants and wishes of his people.

Now, one would say, gratitude only could await the Pontiff. But no! at the
moment when, of all others, he was entitled to rely on the devotedness of
his people, a new and great difficulty arose.

By the diplomacy of 1815, at the close of the great European War, certain
portions of Italy had been left subject to German rule. By war only, some
Italians imagined, could this evil be removed. This was an extravagant
idea. War could only raise up new enemies to the cause of Italy and that
regeneration which appeared to be so near at hand. Diplomacy would have
served them better. What it had done at one time, under pressure of the
most trying circumstances, it would have been ready to achieve when
circumstances were changed, and imperatively demanded a new order of
things.

In the new emergencies that had arisen, the learning and ability of
statesmen ought, at least, in the first instance, to have been appealed
to. As between individuals, it is reasonable that all peaceful means of
adjusting a quarrel should be employed, so, in the greater affairs of
nations, all the arts of statesmanship ought to be had recourse to before
resort is had to bayonets and blood. How successful such a course would
have proved, and how beneficial to the cause of Italian liberty, is more
than sufficiently shown by the great result which diplomacy obtained, when
Austria, insisting on