mava anche con l'atto 12 maggio decorso, in cui, secondando il voto de' Comitati dipartimentali veneti e del Governo lombardo, e cedendo a' vivi sentimenti di stima e di affezione, cementati dalla fratellanza delle sventure ne lunghi anni di comune servaggio, consentiva che le provincie del già regno lombardo-veneto fossero tutte a suo tempo rappresentate da una sola Assemblea costituente, ma sotto condizione che a questa unicamente spettasse decidere sui destini politici dello Stato.

Senonchè, il Governo lombardo, allegando che la guerra d'indipendenza si prolungava oltre le sue previsioni, e adducendo le impazienze manifestate dai suoi amministrati, ed altri motivi che a lui parvero possenti, decretò che, pur pendente la guerra, si votasse il partito della fusione immediata del territorio lombardo col regno di Sardegna, e la votazione si facesse, non in assemblea, ma ricevendo le sottoscrizioni del popolo in apposite liste.

L'esempio fu seguito dai Comitati provvisorii dipartimentali di Padova, di Vicenza, di Treviso e di Rovigo, i quali, di sola loro autorità, decretarono votazioni sullo stesso partito e col metodo stesso.

Ciò facevasi mentre erano già state invase del nemico le provincie di

firmed them also by the Act of May 12 last, in which, seconding the vote of the Venetian Departmental Committees and of the Lombard Government, and yielding to the lively sentiment of esteem and affection, cemented by partnership in the misfortunes of the long years of common servitude, it agreed that the provinces of the former Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom should all, at the proper time, be represented by a single constituent assembly, but under the condition. that it should be the duty of this alone to decide on the political destinies of the State.

However, the Lombard Government, alleging that the war of independence was lasting longer than it had expected and taking into consideration the impatience shown by the people that it was administering and other reasons that seemed to it important, decreed that, even while the war was going on, a vote should be taken on the immediate union of the Lombard territory with the Kingdom of Sardinia, and that the vote should be taken, not in the assembly but by receiving the signatures of the people arranged in appropriate lists.

This example was followed by the Provisional Departmental Committees of Padua, of Vicenza, of Treviso, and of Rovigo, which, solely on their own authority, decreed that votes should be taken on the same matter and by the same method.

This was done when the provinces of Udine and of Belluno had already

been invaded by the enemy and while that of Verona was still occupied by him. Therefore, putting aside any question of right or of convenience, it is a fact that the province of Venice is in danger of remaining isolated for a shorter or longer time.

This fact is so serious that the Provisional Government, although it deplores that, while the soul and mind of every Italian should be directed to a single end, namely, independance, it should have to treat of political arguments, and thus arouse partisanship, create discords and bring about weakness; nevertheless believes that it cannot dispense with inquiring quickly, on questions that call for an immediate solution, what the wishes are of the inhabitants of this province, which is threatened with isolation.

But this Government intends that these wishes should be expressed with knowledge of the reasons, previous inquiry into the facts, previous deliberate expression of opinions, and therefore in an assembly of representatives. Not a constituent assembly that shall definitely fix the fundamental laws of the State, but an assembly elected in the summary manner imposed by the exigencies of the time, which shall deliberate on the conditions of the moment and which, changing or confirming the membership of the Government, shall strengthen it and adjust it to popular opinion.

Therefore the Provisional Government of the Venetian Republic

Io ho oggi la stessa opinione che aveva nel 22 marzo, quando, dinanzi alla porta dell'Arsenale ed in Piazza S. Marco, proclamai la Repubblica. Io la ho e tutti allora l'avevano. Ora tutti non l'hanno. (Agitazione.) Parlo parole di concordia e di amore e prego di non essere interotto. È un fatto che tutti oggi non l'hanno. È pure un fatto che il nemico sta alle nostre porte, che il nemico attende e desidera una discordia in questo paese, inespugnabile finchè siamo d'accordo, espugnabilissimo se qui entra la guerra civile.

Io, astraendo da ogni discussione sulle opinioni mie, e sulle opinioni altrui, domando oggi assistenza, domando oggi un grande sacrificio; e lo domando al partito mio, al generoso partito repubblicano. (Applausi universali.)

All'inimico sulle nostre porte, che aspettasse la nostra discordia, diamo oggi una solenne mentita. Dimentichiamo oggi tutti i partiti; mostriamo che oggi dimentichiamo di essere o realisti o repubblicani, ma che oggi siamo tutti Italiani.

Ai repubblicani dico: nostro è l'avvenire. Tutto quello che si è fatto e che si fa, è provvisorio. Deciderà la Dieta italiana a Roma. (Vive e prolungate acclamazioni universali.)

(Tornato il Manin al suo posto, l'avv. Castelli e molti altri deputati vanno ad abbracciarlo con grande effusione di animo.)

I hold to-day the same opinion which I held on the 22nd of March, when, before the door of the Arsenal and in the Piazza S. Marco I proclaimed the Republic. I hold it now and everyone held it then. At present everybody does not hold it. (Agitation.) I speak words of harmony and of brotherhood and I ask not to be interrupted. It is a fact that not all men hold it. It is, moreover, a fact that the enemy is at our door, that the enemy awaits and desires discord in this country, impregnable so long as we are in agreement, but at the mercy of the enemy should civil war enter here.

Abstaining from all discussion of the opinions of myself and others, I ask, today, assistance, I ask today a great sacrifice, and I ask it of my own party — of the generous republican party. (Universal applause.)

To the enemy at our doors, who are expecting discord in our ranks, we will to-day give the solemn lie. Let us forget today all party issues; let us show that to-day we forget that we are royalists or republicans but that we are now all Italians.

To the republicans I say: "the future is ours. All that which has been done, which is being done, is provisional. The Italian Diet at Rome shall decide." (Unanimous and prolonged cheers.)

(Manin returned to his seat, the lawyer Castelli and many other deputies came and embraced him with great effusion and animation.)