by Pierangelo Gentile (Università degli Studi di Torino)
A few days after announcing the Unification, on 23 March the Count established a new government, the first of unified Italy including representatives from the north, centre and south: Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister for the Navy, Camillo Benso conte di Cavour; minister of the Interior, Marco Minghetti; minister of Justice, Giovanni Battista Cassinis; minister of War, Manfredo Fanti; minister of Finance, Pietro Bastogi; minister of Agriculture, Industry and Trade, Giuseppe Natoli; minister of Public Works, Ubaldino Peruzzi; minister of Education, Francesco De Sanctis; minister without portfolio, Vincenzo Niutta. Before the Count met his destiny, there was time for further glory, as on the occasion of the solemn speech held on 25 March, when he laid out the path for his successors and proclaimed Rome the capital. But there was also a time for bitterness, because of the all-out attack carried out by Garibaldi in the House on 18 April, blaming the minister for using the army the previous year in order to provoke civil war, and because of the myriad problems dogging the country such as brigandage, exhausted financial resources, the relationship between the State and the Church and the unresolved territorial issues in Lazio and Veneto.
A few days after announcing the Unification, on 23 March the Count established a new government, the first of unified Italy including representatives from the north, centre and south: Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister for the Navy, Camillo Benso conte di Cavour; minister of the Interior, Marco Minghetti; minister of Justice, Giovanni Battista Cassinis; minister of War, Manfredo Fanti; minister of Finance, Pietro Bastogi; minister of Agriculture, Industry and Trade, Giuseppe Natoli; minister of Public Works, Ubaldino Peruzzi; minister of Education, Francesco De Sanctis; minister without portfolio, Vincenzo Niutta. Before the Count met his destiny, there was time for further glory, as on the occasion of the solemn speech held on 25 March, when he laid out the path for his successors and proclaimed Rome the capital. But there was also a time for bitterness, because of the all-out attack carried out by Garibaldi in the House on 18 April, blaming the minister for using the army the previous year in order to provoke civil war, and because of the myriad problems dogging the country such as brigandage, exhausted financial resources, the relationship between the State and the Church and the unresolved territorial issues in Lazio and Veneto.
The funeral took place on 7 June under torrential rain. The king offered his family crypt in Superga, a chapel dedicated to monarchs, but Cavour had arranged things differently: he wanted to be buried in Santena, next to his nephew fallen in Goito. Artom’s account betrays how moved he was by the last journey of the statesman of European standing who had changed the destiny of Italy: «That grim pilgrimage will never leave my mind. For the first time I saw the majestic trees, the gardens, the castle he had often told me about […]. Although all the inhabitants of nearby villages had rushed to Santena, the funeral convoy was humble and modest; but deep pain lingered on the entire cortège, and on everyone’s face. When we reached the cellar housing the family tombs it became obvious the niche dug into the wall in the place Cavour himself had chosen was too small; it was necessary to dig further. The sound of the mallet striking echoed in my heart: it was like I could feel the tragedy that had raged against Italy for so many centuries, ravaging with ungodly fury and demolishing the splendid building almost finished by the great Italian!».
But there was no time to be lost in grief, especially for Italy. That is what Cavour would have wanted. Minghetti took the initiative, sending a cable to Paris in the hours following his death which showed a clear head: «The count passed away this morning at 7. His last moments were very calm: he always spoke about the future of Italy with great faith […]. I gathered the Council and I think we will put forward Ricasoli as the man most suited to put the ministry back together. Reassure France and Europe that Cavour’s policy will live on, and that the government will not seek a deal with the revolution. This is the aim at the moment».
Before oblivion, the entire country honored the Count of Cavour. The fact remains that the most beautiful words of parting were spoken by an adversary, Giuseppe Ferrari, in the House on 26 June 1861: «No, in this venue you will not hear from me one sole word against the Count of Cavour, who accomplished his work, who defeated us, and whose death in victory could be wished upon the best of our friends. The Earth could have revolved around the Sun a thousand times, the Count would still have defeated us. I consider it an honour in my life to have fought against him with a clash of just a few words, impossible to forget. But he prevailed on us, defeated us. Whatever you do now, march on Rome, invade Venice, it will be the Count of Cavour leading, preceding, advising and enlightening you; and whatever calamity may arise, he will always be dead and always immortal like Alexander».