The Express.
London, England, 1848-03-28 00:00:00

On the 24th the delegates from the common councils
of the seventeen Rhenish cities assembled in Cologne,
and drew tip an address to the King. It is stated
in it that the constitutional monarchy ui, in the gene-
ral opinion of the public, the most salutary form of
government for Germany ; that, nevertheless, much
distrust exists respecting the mode in which, for the
future, the important duties of the government will
be fulfilled, and respecting the interpretation to be
given to the system proclaimed by his Majesty. The
address sets forth the twelve following points as
those which should be at once conceded, even before
the assembling of the Diet.
1. Transformation of the hitherto existing constitution
(on the basis of the representation of the states) into a re-
presentation of the people, freely made by the people from
their body, without any regard to the distinction of condition
or class, with the lowest possible qualification (by taxation),
for the exercise of the franchise, and without any qualifica-
tion of that nature for candidate/ for election.
2. The representation of the people to be connected with
deciding votes by a simple majority, and cu-op ration in the
entire making of laws, and in all questions relatin to na-
tional expenditure.
3 The responsibility of the ministers towards the repre-
sentatives of the people.
4. The equality of all citizens before the law ; protection
of personal freedom ; inviolability of one's home ; personal
freedom and the inviolability of residence can only be
limited in a judicial manner, and upon grounds properly
set forth.
5. Freedom of religious worship, equality of political
rights fur all citizens without distinction of religion, and the
total separation of church and state.
6. Freedom of instruction and of teaching.
7. Unconditional liberty of the press without any " con-
cession" or any " caution" money being necessary, and
without preventive measures. Press ott'ences to be tried
by jury.
8. Unlimited right of petition.
9. The right to hold public meetings and to form
associations.
10. Publicity in courts of justice and oral examination,
trial by jury, and trial by jury for all political offenders.
11. Arming of the people, with their choicr. of their officers.
12. The dismissal and replacing of judges by a judicial

sentence only.
The address goes on to state that if those rights
are guaranteed to the people, they will no longer see
any danger in the kiresent untenable composition of
the Prussian Diet. Those rights conceded, the Diet (it
is added) may deliberate on the new law of election,
in order that the . ..le may have true representa-
tives, from whore ...y the delegates to the German
parliament may be nominated. Should it be found
necessary, however, to convene the German parlia-
ment before the establishing of the true represen-
tation of the people, the delegates to that parliament
(it is suggested) may be chosen by the Diet out of
the entire body of His people. The petitioners, or
more properly the subscribers of the address, require
the immediate dismissal of Count Von Arnim (not
the ex-Parisian ambassador of that came), and of
Count Von Schwerin from the King's councils, the
cessation of all prosecutions for non-payment of '
taxes (chiefly excise ones), and the reduction of im-
posts bearing hard on the working classes.
A committee of 12 has been appointed to present'
the address to the King.
I have had occasion more than once to refer to the
very spirited addresses drawn up by the people of
Konigsberg—a town which has always been one of
the foremost in the cause of constitutional liberty.
The following extracts, taken from an address just
forwarded, will show more forcibly than ever the
nature of the " demands" of the inhabitants :
The French nation has overturned a government which—
heard on the support of a small number of privileged per.
sons—shamefully abused the rights of the people, and
showed a predilection for every attempt of foreign countries
to put down freedom. Inspired by this example of popular
justice, the German races have risen up in all directions,
and now in resolute and manly tones they demand from
their princes those rights which dui ing 33 years of peace
they in vain petitioned for. • • • • We Prussians
have remained behind the majority of our brother in a
political and social point of view. • • • • • •
Our fatherland before all requires the following rights : The
speedy introduction of a true representstion of the people : a
c institution with equal rights for all citizens with respect
to the franchise and eligibility: the "deciding" vote of the
representatives of the people, sad responsibility of ministers:
recognition of the principle that the troops paid by the people
can never be employed against the latter: the dissolution of
the alliance with Russia : the reception of our province into
the Germanic Confederation, and the representation of that
confederation in a German parliament.
Accounts from Breslau of the 21st state that a
popular " committee of surety" had been appointed.
At a large public meeting at Coblentz on the 23rd, it
was resolved that it was strictly necessary that suffi-
cient guarantees should be given to the people that
the Prince of Prussia should never succeed to the
throne.
Amongst the signs of the times the following facts
are worth mentioning. The inhabitants of Cobleatz
have insisted upon the withdrawal of the words
" Prinz von Preussen" from the paddle-boxes of the
handsome steamer which plies between that city
and Cologne. The name has been replaced by the
old German colours. People now call it the German
Cocarde—nomen ex re cot:damn. In numerous Ger-
man papers patriotic poems are published, with the
notification that their appearance hitherto was pre-
vented by the censorship.
Another public meeting was held on the 23th at
Cologne, in order to appoint delegates to the meeting
at Frankfort, the chief object of which is to make
arrangements for a German parliament. The reserve
corps of the Rhine army have sent an address to
the Minister of It ar, stating that they will not take
arms against their fellow-citizens, but to support
the rights of the latter. The people of Cologne are
averse to a republic—that fact is certain ; on the
other hand, they do not appear to place much confi-
dence in the King's promises. Hence the numerous
addresses to him demanding the speedy realisation of
the promises. It must be added, however, that some
of the delegates from the Cobleatz districts are open

republicans.
The Elberfekl Gazette of this day states that it
has learned with surprise that a number of Germans
in Paris, under the leadership of Herwegh, the well-
known poet, have resolved to enter Germany, in order
to" republicaniae" it. The above journal considers
the attempt or intention as foolish in the extreme.
AUSTRIA.—We have dates from Vienna of the
22nd. All was then quiet. The following procla-
mation has been published:
We, Ferdinand 1., by the grace of God Emperor of
Austria, King of Hungary, Bohemia, &c., considering the
urgent necessity of bringing back public affairs to a system.
atic course, and of enabling the authorities of the govern-
ment to meet the immense requirements of the present and
of the future, we command by these presents that all the
authorities do maintain all the existing laws and regulations,
in so far asthey have not been legally rescinded by us, as in
the case of the law of the censorship, by our patent of the
15th of this monthexpect,
thafrom the loyal end sound
common sense of our subjeesubjects,t they will not only obey
the same, but that each man, in his own sphere of action,
will energetically support the public officers in the discharge
of their functions.—Given at our imperial and residentiary
city of Vienna, March 19, 1848, in the 14th year of our
reign, FERDINAND.—Signed by the Ministers.
BAVARIA.—Our intelligence from Munich reaches
to the evening of the 22nd. On that day King
Maximilian 11. opened the Diet with the usual cere-
monial. A few minutes before the arrival of the
King, his Queen, Marie, appeared at a tribune above
the throne, accompanied by the Princess Luitpold.
The following is the speech of the King :
My beloved and faithful states of the realm,—l have
mounted the throne according to the will of my well-beloved
father, a prince endowed with all the virtues of a sove-
reign, and who, during his reign of 2:3 years, has accom-
plished much, the memory of which lives not in stone or
earth, but in our hearts. I have protlaimed the basis of my
government in my proclamation of yesterday. I will truly
and conscientiously perform the promises then made,
and lam proud to call myself a constitutional king. In
order that the remembrance of the late disturbances
may vanish, I have determined to grant an amnesty for all
political °foxes. 1 have made preparations for presenting
the following projects of law without delay to the states of
the kingdom :—Non.responsibility of ministers; freedom of
I the press; elections for members of the Chamber of Depu-
ties; the immediate completion of the representation of the
palatinate ; relief of burdens on land, and the consideration
of a new code. The following will alto be laid before you :
—the bases of a legislation on the organisation of courts of
law, on the process in civil and criminal causes, and on the
criminal law, to which will be joined the drawing up of a
new set of police regulations • the law lately discussed at
Leipeig on a system of universal exchange, and a law on the
ganisation of the upper religious authorities of the Jews; and
also, I intend to lay before you the much wanted legislatiotod
the administration of justice, public and oral, and b oaf
further a law on the pensions to servants of the state idol
their posterity, and their extension to these holsleng like
highest offices of the state. Lastly, a law for improehig
the situation of the Jews. I intend, as soon as possible, to
abolish lotteries, as soon as the situation of the revenue teM
permit. At all events lathe next budget that pardon date
revenue will be supplied as fax as is necessaryby another.
I intend to grant the
the
arming of the people,
and a reorganisation of the Landwehr. Let us try these
projects of law with peace and steadiness. The progress of
the time, and the great interests of the fatherland, reqdire
the intimate union of all German &reset I have also
made immediate arrangements for the representation of the
people at the confederacy. We hare entered a new era of
our political life. The spirit of Europe is upon us. Not
only Bavaria but Germany looks on, contemplating the deli-
berations which are aboutto takeplace. May they show manly