ITALY. THE ROMAN CONSTITUTION.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 231, 16 August 1848, Page 3

ITALY. THE ROMAN CONSTITUTION.

We hgre received a supplement of La Lega llaliana, of thtt 18th March, which contains a formal proclamation of the new Roman Fundamental Constitution by his Holiness Pope Pius IX. The College of Cardinals (chosen by the Pope) U to be constituted a Senate inseparable from the same, and two deliberative councils for the formation of the laws are to be established, consisting of the High Council and the Council of Deputies. The judicial tribunals are to be independent of the Government, and no extraordinary commission courts are to be in future established. The National Guard is to be considered an institution of the state. The Pope convokei and prorogues the legislative chambers, and dissolves the council of deputies, being required to convoke a new chamber within three months, which will be the ordinary duration of the annual session. The sessions are to be public. The members of the senate are to be appointed by the Pope for life, and their number is not unlimited. The qualification of a senator is tlie age of thirty years, and the plenary exercise of civil nnd political rights, illhegenate will be chosen par preference, from the

prelates, ecclesiastics, ministers, judges, councillors of itate, con&iitorial lawyers, and the possessors of an income of 4000 scudi per annum. The Pope will appoint the president and vice-pre-sidents. The second council will bo elective, on the numerical basis of one deputy to erery 30,000 souls. The electors are to consist of the gonfalon* cri (mayors), priors, and elders of the cities and communes ; the posiesBori of a capital of 300 scudi ; the payers of direct taxes to the amount of 12 scudi per annum ; ths members of the colleges, of their faculties, and the titular professors of the universities ; the members of the council of discipline, the advocates and attorneys practising in the collegiate tribunal*, the laureaict ai honorem in the itate universities ; the members of the chambers of commerce, tlia heads of factoriei and industrial establishments, and the heads of scientific societies and public institutions assessed for certain amounti. The qualification of a deputy U the possession of a capital of 3000 scudi, or the payment of taxes to the amount of 100 scudi per annum, and the member! of colleges and professori of universities, &c, will bo eligible ex offlcio. The profession of the Catholtc religion is indispensable as a qualification for the exercise of civil and political rights. A distinct electoral law will regulate the elections of the deputies. The'persons of the members of both councils arc sacred, as far as their votes and speeches are concerned, but it appears that the privileges of freedom from arrest on civil and criminal process arc limited to the actual sefg'on and a month before and after. All laws and new taxes must be sanctioned by theie two councils, and assented to by the Pope ; but the councils arc not to be allowed to propose laws which may affect ecclesiastical or mixed ufFairi which may be opposed to the canons and disciplines of the Church, or which may tend to vary or modify the present statutes. They are also forbidden to discuss the " religious diplomatic relations" of the Holy See to foreign countries. The discussion of financial matters exclusively appertains to the Council of Deputies. The sum or civil list appropriated to the endowment of the Pope and the College of Cardinals, and to ecclesiastical purposes generally, as well as to the expenses of the corps diplomatique, the Pontifical Guards, the maintenance of the Apostolical palaces and museums, and various other purposes, is fixed at 600,000 scudt per annum, including a reset ye fund for contingencies. The canons, tributes, and duel, amounting to the annual sum of r3, 000 scudi, are to remain at the entire disposal of the Pope. The ministers are responsible for their actions, and have a right to speak in both councils, whether members or not. The session of the chambers will be suspended by the death of the reigning Pontiff, but the new Pope must convene ihem a month after his election. The ministers are to be confirmed and replaced by the Sacred College. The rights of temporal sovereignty exercisad by a defunct Pontiff are vested in the Sacred College during the interrugnum. There will also be a council of state, composed of ten councillor, and a body of auditors not exceeding twenty-four. This council will be required to draw up piujects of laws, and to give its advice on administrative affairs in cases of emergency. Ministerial functions may aUo be conferred upon it by a specia law. The present statue will be enforced on the opening of the new councils, which will take place about the first Monday in June. The functions of the present Council ol State will cease twenty days previous to the opening of the councils; but will, nevertheless, continue to examine such administrative measures as may be presented to it for consideration. All the legiUutive enactments not contrary to the decrees ot the present statute remain in force. The proclamation is dated the 14th of March, and if authenticated by the sign-manual of bis Holiness.