The Express.
London, England, 1848-04-14 00:00:00

GERMANY.

NEW ELECTIONS IN PRUSSIA FOR THE
CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY AT FRANK-
FORT. DISSOLUTION OF THE DIET.—
STATE OF PRUSSIAN POLAND.
PRUSSIA.—We have received the German jour-
nals, and our usual corresyondence. The Berlin journals
are of the 11th, and the following is the letter of our
correspondent:
BERLIN, Aran, 10.
Your readers are already aware that the Diet had elected
the Prussian delegates to the forthcoming constituent assem-
bly in Frankfort, and that this step had given considerable
umbrage to the country at large. You may judge then of
the surprise of the numerous persons in the public tribunes
of the Diet to-day—for it is probable the members of
Cho Diet were already in the secret—when the
president of the council announced that all the elections
were null and void, and fur the good hut all sufficient reason
that the Germanic Dint had resolved, on second thoughts,
that the delegates to the constituent assembly on the Ist
proximo should be elected in a direct manner, and by uni-
versal suffrage; that is to say, that there shall tie a delegate
for every 50,000 inhabitants; that every German of age,
who is an elector in his own country, shall be an elector,
and alto eligible for the constituent assembly; and that even
political refugees, if they return to their country, shall have
the same rights. In announcing this important decision
Herr Camphausen stated that his Majesty considered the
elections so null, and that as othtr countries had made their
submission to the Diet, Prussia of course could not hold
aloof. Prussia must, in fact, lend a helping hand to the
effecting of German unity, and it must do so in an efficacious

way.
The question that the elections be cancelled was then put,
and resolved affirmatively by an overpowering majority. VIENNA, APRIL 6.
The 'het then proceeded to the discussion of the project of 1 can only partially state whet is going on here, because
law relating to the financial question, and of the report of all would be too much for a letter. One would think that
the committee, an analysis of which report I forwarded the Viennese had been practising for years to play their part
yesterday, in anticipation of the Berlin journals, In the well when opportunity offered. Public opinion is all-power-
first part of the report the committee recommended the ful, and yet it is moderate. The Archduke Louis. who had
house to vote a bill authorising government to raise fifteen for years been president of t!e council of state, would not
millions et thalers, in order to be prepared for any hostilities join in the move onwards. A couple of hand-bills posted
that might arise. That first part was brought under discus. about the town sufficed to procure his resignation, as also
lion. One speaker exereseed his readiness to vote the sum the dissolution of the council of state, which had become
required, but observed that government had not pointed out superfluous with responsible ministers. The resignation
the way in which that amount could be raised. If a loan of Kolowrat, Inzaghi, and ethers, was the result
were held in view, it could not be contracted at present of this decision. The army bulletins are now made
without a great loss to the state ; and as for incrinuang the public. The new Minister of Instruction, Id. Soma-
taxes or imposing new ones, the people expected a diadem- raga, declared that with freedom of the press freedom of
don of existing imposts. Three ways, however, were open ; public instruction was also established, and that the anther-
• voluntary subscription, with the King at the head of sity was to be remodelled on that footing.
the list ; a voluntary loan ; and a forced loan. The masons applied to government for higher wages, but
Herr Hansemann, the hliniater of Finance, observed that as their numbers increased and became turbulent the na-
he would not enter then lute an examination of the plans tional guard interfered, took the ringleaders into custony,
proposed by the hen. member. He (Herr Hansemaun) and dispersed the remainder. The tailors wanted to do the
would just remark that the King's name ought to be kept same; and having assembled, passed resolutions, which
out of the debates. The minister requested the chamber to they took to a master tailor. The resolutions related to their
allow the report to be read entire. This being agreed to, treatment, food, and pay. The master replied, " These are
the second part was read and brought under discusaion. As excellent resolutions, you are capital fellows; but take me
dated yesterday, the committee further agreed to recommend with you • it is worth nobody's while to be a master just
the additional grant or guarantee of 25 millions of dialers, now The men smoked the jest, and went off quietly to
in order to be employed in a way advantageous to trade, work. Happily we have no Louis Blanc here.
oornmerce, and agriculture. To get rid of the most restless, volunteers for Italy have
Herr Bismazk suggested that it would be better to refer been enlisted, but eo many gave in their names that the
the question of the grants to the future Diet of Prussia. He government was puzzled. Several panne have gone off, and
condemned the abolition of the duty on the elaughtering of a fresh body of about a thousand are now defiling under my
cattle and the grinding of corn (in other words, the munici• window, with the new banner of the empire. The Poles
pal or octroi duties on meat and flea r), and declared that he presented a petition to the Emperor to-day, containing, be.
should vote against the bill, so far as a lean was concerned. sides the points universally demanded, the demand to be
Another member (Ilerr,Schauss) proposed a forced loan restored as a nation, enjoying the protection of Austria.
(zwanysanledw) of eight millions of' thalers, instead of the They were promised a epudy answer. The deputation then
25 millions asked for, and suggested that each province proceeded to the university, where a meeting was held in the
should have one million advanced to it for establishing great hall. Prince George Lthowinski addressed the meet-
national pawnbroking institutions, or similar ones. Herr ing, and preeentiag the Polish flag said, he deposited it in
Hansemaun in reply r. marked, that if the Diet would vote the hands of the youth of Austria. The universal cry,
the proposition of the committee, there would be no im• "We take it with hand and heart," bunt from all assembled.
mediate necessity for a loan, or for increasing the taxes. The The flag was fixed in the balcony of the building betide the
proposition of the committee, or section, was finally adopted. Germanic flag, and soon after a wreath was thrown over the
l'erhaps it will be well to give in full the propositions such two as a symbol of unity. It was afterwards decided not to
as they were voted (as already stated) by the Diet. The pass by the Polytechnic school, which is a numerous body,
committee proposed, lst. That the sum of 15 millions of and a procession was formed to go thither, in which a Ger-
thalers be raised by extraordinary means, for the internal man carried the Polish flag, and a-Pole the Germanic banner.
and external protection of the country ; and 2d. That for Count Stadion had provisionally agreed to a number of mo-
the restoration of credit in the interior, and for the uphold- dente coact:oone in Galicia,so that the joy is now universal,
ing of trade, commerce, and agriculture, the government be and the countenance of every Pole we meet is radinnt with
authorised to guarantee the sum of 25 millions of thalera, on satisfaction. If their demands are granted, they will prefer
the condition that means should be taken to prevent as much remaining under Austria's sceptre to being left to themselves,
as possible any losses to the state from such guarantee. which would throw them into anarchy.
The Diet was then declared dissolved. The Hungarians have also replied, when 60,000 men were
I'rotet after protest hail arisen against the mode by which demanded, on the concessions which they demanded being
the delegates to the constituent assembly of Frankfort have granted, that they would not only send that number, but
been elected, and against many of the delegates themselves ; 100,000 men. In two months this army is to be raised and
and not only had the municipal authorities, the town equipped, and placed at she disposal of the Emperor.
council, and the university protested against the elections, No less than ten different cockades may be teen worn by
but the popular leaders, and the great majority of the per- those who serve in the national guard and furnish guards of
sons attending the public meetings, appeared resolved to take honour to the deputations as they arrive. The university '
the matter into their own hands, and to choose their own de- has the lead, the people following where its mem-
legates to the constituent assembly of Frankfort. There ben direct. May this deed prosper! Vienna is
will be a popular meeting convoked here in a day or two, for now a more delightful residence than ever, and
the purpose of choosing the delegates, and thus matters will the Austrians are proud of its position. The police have
be brought to an issue. laid aside their uniforms, and have become tame and civil,
The thoroughly democratical portion of the liberals urge confining themselves to their proper duties. The military
the electors to put the two following questions to the cudi- mount guard at the palace and at sonic of the gates. They
dates for the next Prussian diet Will you favour or oppose are well looked on, because they did not behave savagely
the formation of a House of Lords ? Will you concede or during the conflict. The name of one bombardier is in
refs eto the King the right of a veto on the decisions of the everyliody's mouth. When an august personage gave orders
legislature ? It in unnecessary to state the responses which to fire, he stepped forward and askew if they were to fire in
would be acceptable to the political party alluded to. the air t The answer was, " No, into the crowd, wi:h ball."
At a large popular meeting held yesterday in as open field He called out that cannon balls were not meant to be used
about a quarter of a mile from the &bid:maser gate, it was against an unarmed people ,• , and as the command was re-
resolved that each trade elect ono hundred representative. peated, the bombard.er, who had the command of the guns
to negotiate with the governmentrespecting the interests (which the august personage had not), threw himself in
of their fellow-workmen. One of the orators spoke warmly front, and said that as long uhe could give an order they
in favour of higher protective duties Inc native manufactures, should not fire : when he was dead others might do asthey
in order to exclude English goods. Free trade, he observed, liked. In this way it happened that although the military
was all very well for a rich and powerful country like Great was drawn out, yet but 17 were killed in the course of several
Britain, that could compete with the entire world, but it charges. The number of killed in all was 31, but the other
would never do for a country like Germany, where menu- 14 lest their lives in attempting to pillage houses in the
factures were comparatively in their infancy. Hie remarks suburbs. The names and physicians' report have been
were loudly cheered. A public meeting is announced for published.
this evening, "in order to elect as delegates to the Frank- The following is the addrees presented by the de-
fort National Assembly such men as may be considered potation of Poles from Galicia, headed by Prince
worthy and possessing the confidence of the people." It is
expected that this meeting will be more numerously attended Bi Labowinski, to the Emperor of Austria :
thee up previous one in Berlin. of re,—A series of extraordinary events has shaken the old edifice
, European politics to its foundation. The system Out was di, long
It appears by a correspondence which has taken place be- eupported by bayonets and by the greatest exertion of diplomatic
tweets the leading merchants and manufacturers of this capi- power has fallen with a sudden crash.
who The awakened Coll.ciouar*FA
tal and the Minister of Finance, that the latter has agreed of nations
are Impoten hu attained
Those a powerde si against which
be decreesover and evbyen
to advance to the former 150,000 dealers, in order to enable armies t. re not to whelmed
weeny
torrent newt with all them adept their policy to the new clecum-
them to continue to give employment. The money has been and must penevenngly and openly follow the path of pro.
paid into the Bank of Prussia, and a committee of six has Unsteady councils and passive expectation am bring but ruin
been appointed by the applicants in order to superintend the =dr train.
distribution of the above sum. The municipal authorities That part of Poland which the unhappy partition of our country
and the attorney-general have issued proclamations respect- brought under your Majesty's sceptre, is now in a position of peril,
ing the attempts to create disturbances during the past week. which
ibY giow.rinencted uhtres"frojihmmiehreancoLw,TaltiiZhrrot of the
The latter states that the authorities are resolved to act with 'throne'to declare our anxiety. Lad to beg for the speedy adoption of
severity against all promoters of disorder, that several per. meseures, now grown inevitable, to meet the storm and the danger
$Ol3ll of that description have been arrested, that others will whiit threaten the throne with the nations that surround it, and even
be shortly in custody, and that they will be brought as soon the civilisation of this part of the world. Our position paints to m
as possible to trial. as the foremost in the conflict, and the sympathy whin we have
There are in the so-called Luareth 45 persons who were
non that we are again mit upon to form the barrier against the
earned from the rest of Bonze is the result of that correct apprebess
wounded during the late revolution in this cety. Measures progress of the barbarism and slavery with which Europe is Ulnas
have been taken by the civic authorities to expel from the teasel. Your sWe:sty's ancestors learnt by sad txperience that the
capital all foreign operatives who have no employment. The destruction of our can:ow:Asa might imong—apokiticalerror. But we
town council, and, as we should say in Englaad, the com• acknowledge gratefully that at the of Vienna, in 1515, the
missionen of woods and forests, have resolved, at the request
of
the workmen employed by them on works of national or desireViehhatot)irruireet pPoroffleadhiedasa ccna
wide and m"detteadenis w"lrt nalien.a° teetiwiftedasata
eirwecninmstausea.
wiy noforwwrehicadhef,eesay....
communal utility, to allow the latter 21 silbergroechen pernormal that this .the tdtimate aim
day, over and above their usual wages, 121 egr, on the ready to seam.. Lie .nil property, The wee alone „eke. to set
ground that they, generally, live at a great distance from nation in movement end to inspire it with the heart to endure every
the scene of their labours. The workmen have also ob- needle'. Enconreged by the patent of March 15, 1548, which pro-
tained the following concessions :—They will be allowed to Liaoe to ereereiea
_anel._thethea_neldensl clis!Mea_seeties open
select elders from amongst their body for the purpose of ralomereir.°'-d...,lLtnlfirk„.T=t,....
wemr_rxlaTrtyLY
maintaining tranquillity in their order ; their attendance in motnety Item; t',.""nniiity' tn"rpatio"rnlentior
tae civic guard will, whenever they so choose, be dispensed for the sake of your throne, for that of your people, we beseech
with ; they will be allowed, at option, to work half a day or your Majesty sot to delay the word that is to pronounce our freedom.
three quarters of a dal. and the dismissal of all workmen Thatword the already been *then in heaven; do you pronounce,
on earth. At the sound of this word millions at hands in all countries
not belonging to the district. grupwill their arms. The treaty of Vienna has bees annihilated.
As anticipated in a recent despatch, Major• General Von War enema inevitable. we do not fear war, but wish to be prepared
Willisen has gone to Posen with full powers to promote or for it in time. For centuries we have shod oar blood for others ; we
develop the national reorganisation of the grand duchy. are ready to bleed again for others, but also for ourselves. The call
The proclamation which he has issued proves that those of re-establialied Poland will an the heart of every Poleo
to beat
Berlin journals that asserted that he was chiefly sent on his of ardour for at cause,
.7111?•thstalteeathold It
hest.
ther
mission to keep down the Polish " element" were ill-in- 1„` de."`WrcThaiinalinte7 eT,Tpre of the common enemy, we
formed. His proclamation, which is very favourable to the ;con the protection of you Majesty,
on/we desire to remain reitn,e,
Poles, and which fully and unequivocally promises them tea- the bond that shcireles the people of Austria. But this bond can no.y
tionality in language in judicial tribunals, and ultimately in be durable while s openly respects the general libertiee of all in the