The Express.
London, England, 1858-10-19 00:00:00

PRUSSIA.

(VROII OCR. Owe COPAIIISrONDIDIT.)
BERLIN, Ocr. 16.
One of the most satisfactory consequences of the
recent dismissal of the late Minister of the Interior
is the formation of associations for conducting the
approaching parliamentary elections in a constitu-
tional manner, which are springing up everywhere
throughout the Prussian dominions, and which Herr
von Westphalen never tolerated. The citizens of Bres-
lau were the first in the field, and the programme of
their principles, with here and there a slight modifica-
tion, has formed the groundwork of those of the other
electoral districts. In their address to the voters
they acknowledge themselves firm adherents of the
monarchical system, as the most beneficial to the
interests of Prussia at home and abroad, and the one
under which the kingdom has been raised to its pre-
sent high position as one of the five Great Powers of
Europe. They recognise the existence of the constitu-
ben as the chief bulwark of its liberty and progress,
and whilst they in the most decided manner depre-
cate an 7 attempt to go backwards, they are fully
determined to support the rational development of
parliamentary reform, as found to be from time to
time required by the practical exigencies of a mode-
rate spirit of constitutional progress. The chief
reforms, required at the present time, are summed up
as follows:

L A guarantee for the freedom of elections, and
perfectimpartiality in conducting them.
2. l'he division of the country into fixed electoral
districts by means of a general law on the subject.
3. A remodelling of the duties and attributes of
the provinces and circles, u well u a reform of the
communal and civic institutions with a view to
more liberal self-administration.

4. Abolition of the still existing ancient feudal
right of landed proprietors to exercise the powers of
the police and civil oottrts on their own estates

(Patiimonial-Geriehtsbarkeit).
6. Abolition of the existing exemptions from pay-
ment of the land tax.

6. The passing of a law relative to the respon-
sibility of mummers.
7. Revision of the laws relative to the public
journals, fur the better protection and liberty of the
press.
8. A law for the uniform regulation of public
education, in conformity with the words contained
in the 20th Article of the Constitution, that " know-
ledge and the acquirement of it are free."
9. The fulfilment of the promise contained in the
12th Article of the Constitution—" the enjoyment of
•

civil rights and appointmswts to office are sot atm ted
by religious tenets."
10. Revision of the legislative enactments relative
to the impartiality ofjustioe, the admission of every-
,ione to seek redress for supposed wrongs in the civil
tribunals, and, above all, the abolition of the preroga-
tive of the executive to compel the omission or com-
mission of an act sanctioned by the courts of justice.
A great agitation has already commenced in this
city far the purpose of ensuring the return of more
liberal members at the approaching general elections
than those who represented Berlin in the old parlia-
ment. A constitutional committee is being formed,

and amongst the list of candidates It is proposed to
place the advocate Herr Schwark, es unward for his
dignified constitutional conduct in resisting so effec-
tually the execution of the decrees lately levelled
against the press, and by which he his justly ob-
tained some local celebrity. An attempt wu since
made to bring him before the Court of Civil Delin-
quencies fur his daring to resist the authority of the
late Minister of the Interior, but the accusation woe
quashed by the Minister of Justice, who RIM the Er-
csuity of turning over a new leaf, and deferring to
the public opinion sounequivocally and unanimously
expressed b all the organs of the press, with the
single exception of the Ifreua-Zeitung, which con-
tinues to growl over the new situation of affairs in
isolated solitude.