The Express.
London, England, 1849-02-08 00:00:00

GERMANY.

FRANKFORT.—On the 3rd instant the National
Assembly voted (after an animated debate), by a ma-
jority of 242 to 208, the seventh section of the bill for
guaranteeing the constitution; that section runs as
follows:
In case of war or et an insurrection, the provisions of the
bill of fundamental rights respecting imprisonment, domi-
ciliary visits, and the right of holding public meetings, may
be set aside, for a limited time, by the government of the
empire, or of any single state, but only on the fol-
lowing conditions: let. The order to that effect
must, in cash case, proceed from the entire cabinet of the
empire or of the single state. 2nd. The ministry of the
empire must obtain the sanction of the imperial diet, and
the cabinet of the 'operate state that of its ligelative assem-
bly, if they be sitting at the time ; should such not be the cm,
they must be convored on the expiration of a f ortnight, in
order that the measures taken may be submitted to their
approbation, otherwise those measures cannot be continued.
Further provisions will be contained in a law for the empire.
With ripped to the proclamation of a state of siege in a
&Mei, the existing legal enaounents remain in force.
The following clause was added to the foregoing
one by the decision of a majority of 222 to 206.
If, pending urgent clinger, in case of war or insurrection,
the usual efficiency of the magisterial power, or of the tri-
bunal', is paralysed, the entire ministry of the empire or of
any "operate state may, betides taking the maims allowed
in the 7th section, proclaim martial law for a determined
district, with the understanding that the provisions
of the 9th and 43rd sections of the bill of funda-
mental rights respecting the exceptions to the ad-
missibility of capital punishment and of the com-
petency of military tribunals come into force. For the
proclaiming as well as the continuing of martial law, the
sanoticn of the imperial or local diet is necessary. If it be
not assembled, it must be convoked simultaneously with the
proclaiming of menial law. Further provisions respecting
martial law are reserved for imperial legislation. Until a
law on that subject b 3 published, the existing regulaticns
remain in force
_ .

A motion brought forward by Herr Von &Inner-
Hog (the Austrian plenipotentiary), having in view
the conferring greater powers on the military autho-
rities with respect to martial law, was negatived by a
majority of 336 to 66. The paucity of the supporters
of the motion gave rise to loud ironical cheers.
BAVARIA.—The address in answer to the speech
from the throne was presented to the king on the Ist
inst. by a deputation from the chambers. It ex-
presses the hope that the constitution of Germany
will, by excluding all separate interests, promote the
unity of that nation, but at the same time guarantee
the independence of the various states.
HESSE-CASSEL. Whilst the governments of
nearly all the German states are occupied with the
amelioration of the institutions of their respective
countries, that of Hem-Cassel (which still delights in
a legislative assembly of castes) devotes its attention
to the improvement of the whiskers and monstachios
of the officers of the army. It is prescribed that these
ornaments of the human face shall be conjoined in a
way that will render their form something like a
printed W (w), the extreme point of the chin being
left bare, and the hair on the upper lip extending
round the corners of the mouth, and forming branch
lines to the whiskers.

BADEN.—Dates from Calends) to Jan. 29, state
that the government has laid before the Chambers the
project of law for an extraordinary income tax to
cover the deficit of five millions. Though their num-
bers are not given, it appears from the context that it
is proposed to impose 12 krentsers on 100 florins, or
five per cent. This money may be called an extraor-
dinary measure, and is oily justified by the fact that
the government proposes a reduction of the state ex-
penditure to the amount of 490,000 florins, of which
100,000 florins are of the civil list.
HAMBURG.—Our correspondent writes, under
date Feb. 3 :

Our neighbouring town of Altona, excited by the fear
that the negotiations carried on in London will not lead to
pleas, but that the war will break out again in the sprint,
is taking preparatory steps to meet that eventuality with
energy and vigour. An address, bearing 700 signatures,
dated 27th nit, was sent to Frankfort. It begins by com-
plaining of the want of attention paid by the central govern-
ment to the German navy, having done nothing for it
except taking off the hands of Hamburg speculators a few
old vessels. But Even this infantine beginning was neg-
lected. In-tend of exercising and drilling sailors and marines
on board of them, the latter, for the sake of misplaced eco-
nomy, were paid off to a man. This inertness encourages
the enemy, though small in numbers, to defy forty-five
millions of Germans, to send military end armed
peasants across the border during the armistice, and
kill peaceable and harmless inhabitants. The high
National Assembly (the address goes on to siy),
is in the same situation as we are ; we are lett without pro-
tection to our commerce, and they cannot protect their own
flag, which is insulted by the Danes with impunity, their
FalOrl in London mobbing together and tearing down from
the masts of German vessels lying in the West India Docks
the national colours, those very colours fixed upon by the
H. N. A., and spitting upon them, and nobody taking mea-
sures to avenge such a gross insult. To show that the naval
commerce of the duchies is worth protecting, the signers of
the address observe that they possess 2,650 sea trading
vessels, of 28 to 40 (?) lasts measurement, and 13,000 well-
disciplined sailors. They (the petitioners) request the Cen-
tral Power eventually to grant letters of marque, so that
they may retaliate upon the enemy, and have some of his
property to set off agsnat theirs taken by him. Against
H. Heekscher's opinion on letters of marque (given
by him in a debate on the subject) they quote
that of his teacher, Dr. Men* Pohl; (an authority
on the subject), by which they intend to prove
the totality of such a ateasure, which M. Heokacher opposed
at the time, as being contrary to the spirit of civilised nations.
Yesterday, placards, signed by fourteen highly respectable
inhabitants—merchants, physicians, lawyers, end tradesmen
at Altana, Galled • meeting for this morning, to take into
c3noideration the defeat:reins state of the place, and preprire
against emergencies. An advertisement to the same effect
was put in a morning paper, fixing twelve o'clock for the
opening. The market-place was crowded to emotes Icing
before the hour appointed ; and after several speaken were
heard, it war. resolved, by acclamation, that a " kineistions be
organised and drillel, and other steps taken to prepare for
dsiouts," No doubt the example set by Alcoa, being the