The Express.
London, England, 1863-11-18 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 18, 1863.

LATEST iNTELLIGOCE.

THE SCHLE,SWIG 110LSTZfitQIIESTION
NEW PHASE OF THE CCOFFLICT.

Toe death of the Kiug of Denmark suggests to
the Nord the following remarks ou the probable
effort of that event on the Holstein question :

The oonfliot between Denmark and 131;renany bee just
entered a most critical phase ; an extreme state of excite-
ment exists on both sides, ►nd the recent discussion of the
Rimed of Copenhagen upon the common constitution of
Jutland and Schleswig has provided them with new
aliment The incorporation of Schleswig, the con.
esqueDoe of that common constitution, meeta with
an energeticsl opposition in certain part, of that
duchy, as well as in the German etates. Is it not to be
feared that in premium of this state of things the duchies
may renew their attempt of 1848, and try, as at the death
of Charles VIII., to free themselves completely from the
Danish yoke, in order to form an independent state of
Schleewig•Holstein! Let us add that the Germanic Con-
federation has not yet adhered to the order of succession
established by the treaty of London of 18.53, and that in
almost the whole of Germany public opinion was only
waiting the opportanity furnished by the death of Frederick
VII. to declare openly in favour of the pretensions of
Schleswig•Holatein, to re-establish the former state bearing
that name. Will the German governments be able to re-
sat safficieatly the current of public opinion, so as to ref use
all support to the possible pretendons of the duchies, sad
even to combat them, in cam of need, as they did in 1848?
As may be MAO, the affairs of the &whim of the Elbe are
menaced with serious complications which would be ineou-
Mutably subjects of international intervention, and which
reader opportune the prompt acuembliag of a congress,
which alone (ea give a pacific solution to the conflict.

The Times, commenting upon the procealing of
the Duke of Saxe Coburg, says :
The peasant King of Denmark is in the line of sacciesion
to the duchies. There is no violation of their rights. It
is Denmark proper that has submitted to • &sop la its own
order of sumessioc, and if anybody had a right to complain
it would be the partisans of the female descendante of the
royal home. Nor can it be admitted that the federal
government, or any sovereign of the federation, has a right
to attack any state merely, for changing the person of its
rabic, so long as the new ruler fulfils his federal
oNigationa if King Christian, as 'Duke of Holstein, pays
his quota yearly, and sends his 3,900 men to the defence of
Germany when atteeked, that is all that the Diet has •
right to demand. Europe eau never allow that the German
sovereigns should be able to oonstitate themselves judges
of each other's legitimacy and use form to overthrow all
whom they do pot approve. This would be establishing in
Northern Europe the reign of violence which brought
rain upon the Austrian rule of holy. King Christian
ham been matte King of Dermas* and Duke of
Soldeswig mid Holstein by one of the most solemn instru-
ments ever framed ; the five great powers have sanctioned
the principle that the duchies shanld remain united to
Denmark, two of them powers being the leading monarchies
of Germany. Sarsly this title is as valid as that by which
any crown in Europe is wont. It would be the extreme of
weakness and folly for the at►tes of Europe which are
parties to this treaty to yield in say way to assumptioos
so hold and m astounded me those likely to be advanced by
the Gerona Dist.