The Express.
London, England, 1851-01-08 00:00:00

GERMANY.

BERLIN, Jaw. b.
The tax question will give occasion perhaps to an
earnest—certainly to an interestirg—d. bate. A law
with respect to the raising of taxes, when the budget
has not been revised befcre the beginning of the year,
does not exist in Prossia. The government propose
that in such a case taxes should continue to bo col-
lected according to the grants of the foregoing year.
In conerquetce of the adjournment of the Cambers,
the revision of the budget for 1851 was not possible
'The cabinet conceives itself entitled, notwithstanu-
leg, to raise and to administer taxis. The Deputy
Matzke hits therefore, in the first chamber, made a
motion, that the government be empowered to collect
taxes for the first three months of the current year,
according to the scale of last year, before the expira-
tion of which time it may be anticipated the session
will be concluded. The proposition of M. Matzke
touches a very vital point of constitutional govern-
ment.

The 11eue Prewssize Zeitting writes, "The Cham-
bers must recollect that self-preservation and duty,
which are older than the charter, may command the
repeal of the ordinary laws. The constitution must
be ameliorated promptly and radically, and especially
in that part where the root of the evil lies—in the
law of election. Can this law, copied from a French
constitutional pattern, give us anything else or better
than a French July Chamber ? We must go back
to better foundations if the existence of the Cnamher
is to consist with the existence of the Prussian king- '
dom." A struggle for the maintenance of the con-
stitution will probably constitute the main interest of
the present session.
By an order from the ministry of war of the 2nd
instant, a further reduction of the landwehr is to take
P• lace The landwehr battalions of the first-class, in-
cluding the guard, are hereby reduced to 602 men;
the landwehr companies, with the guard, to
150 men, or to less, as circums.ances may
permit, the chapeau guard, the rifle corps,
with all the chassenr battalions and compensa-
tion companies, already reduced one-third, are
to be reduced one-fifth more, with this limit,
however, that the two first-mm(l battalions
should remain 602, and the list 452 strong. The
landwehr cavalry regiments, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, s•h, and
6th, are to be brought down to 502 men and horses;
and the Ist, 7th, and 8.11 army corps to that of 402
men and horses. The two landwehr Horse Guard
regiments remain untouched.

A Dresden correspondent of the Weser Zeituny
says: Amid the innumerable contradictory plans
and projects which are spoken of your readers shonld
hold fast to the one I have already mentioned,
namely: Austria and Prussia are in common to pos-
sess the executive power; the middle states, however,
will take their place. Thus Bavaria is to have one
vote, the three kingdoms a second, and the Grand
Duchies a third, in a college, which is to
decide all differences between the two great
powers. I send you again this scheme of
Aus-
tria with respect to the executive, because other
organs of the press have not mentioned it, but
have circulated a great many other projects,
which are calculated only to hide the one really
intended to be carried into effect by Austria. But
this Austrian scheme must needs provoke the upposi-
tion of Prussia. It is true it awards to Prussia seem-
ingly a first place in the executive, but in case of
differences between her and Austria, the decision is
to be pronounced by an authority which would be
sure to decide in favour of Austria. The central
states would thereby play a part in Germany which
Prussia has always hitherto disputed with them,
because she is well aware that every increase ot,
their power and importance tends to make 1
them her dangerous rivals, whilst Austria would
not be thereby affected at all. This plan has
besides this disadvantage, that it excludes the
little states, and would thus widen their breach '
with Prussia. Should it be carried into effect, the
small states would surely protest against it. But
they feel confident that the King of Prussia will
never give his consent to it. As for the representa-
tives of the kingdoms, they remain silent and expec-
tant. The proposal of a popular representation in
the Bond is not at all earnestly entertained, for it
proceeds not from good will towards the people,
but from an evil consciousness of past crimes.
M. Von Pforten knew right well that his proposi-
tion would be still-born. No one has ever taken him
for a man likely to become a martyr. On the whole,
it is most strikingly manifest in the most aristocratic
circles, and in the conversations of distinguished per-
sons who have been active in bringing about a re-
action, that belief in the durability of what may
be decided in the conferences is very small indeed.
The Bavarian troops at Cassel are preparing to
leave that city. Their place in the garrison will be
tilled by the Austrian foot and artillery.
The reigning Prince, Peal Alexander Leopold, of
Lippe Detmold, died on New Year's-day, aged 66.