The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 24, 1863.

THE PROJECT OF FEDERAL REFORM.

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The following is rather a full analysis of the
draught of the Austrian project of Federal improve-
ment :

REFORM OF THE GERMAN BUND.

Art. I—The objects of the German Confederation are—
The maintenance of the security and power of Germany in
respect to foreign countries; the maintenance of public
order at home, and the furtherance of the interests of the
German nation, &c.

Art. 2—A new Directory, to be formed for the manage-
ment of the affairs of the Confederation. A Federal Council
to be formed of the plenipotentiaries of the Governments.
An assembly of Federal Delegates to be convGked periodi-
cally. A assembly of princes to meet at stated periods, A
Federal court of justice to be established.

Art. 3.—The Directory of the Bund to be formed of the
Emperor of Austria, the King of Prussia, the King of
Bavaria, and two persons to be elected by the Sovereigns
who supply troops to the Bth, 9th, and 10th Federal corps
d'armee. The two elected members of the Directory to re-
main in office for three or for six years.
Art, 4.—The Federal Council to be composed of the 17
"votes" of the " Engerer Rath." As Austria and Prussia
will have three votes each, the number of votes in the Fede-
ral Council will be 21.

Art s.—Austria to preside in the Directory and in
the Federal Council. Should Austria be prevented doing
so, Prussia is to take her place. The President is to have
no other attribute or privilege than the formal direction
of affairs. The resolutions of the Directory and of the
Federal Council to be carried by a similar majority of
votes. The elected members of the Directory and the
members of the Federal Council are bound to obey the in-
structions of their Governments. The Military Commis-
sion to be subject to the Directory Commissions for inter-
nal affairs, ustice, finances, and commercial matters, to be
formed.

Art. 6. The executive power of the Bund to be in the
hands or the Directory., In some cases, which are to be
specified, the Directory is bound to consult the Federal
Council, and to follow its opinions.
Art. 7—ln as far as foreign Powers are concerned, the
Directory is the representative of the Band. The Directory
to appoint the diplomatic agents of the Confederation.
Art. B—The Directory has to care for the external
(aussere) security of Germany. Should there be any danger
of an attack on the Confederation, or any part of the Federal
territory., the Directory to take the necessary steps for the
defence of the same. No declaration of war can be Made
without the consent of two-thirds of the members (votes) of
the Federal Council. Sould the non-Federal possession of
a Federal State be in danger of being attacked, " a majority
of the votes of the Federal Council will have to decide
whether the Bund shall interfere."

Art. 9—As a rule, the several Governments have to care
for the maintenance of peace and order, but the Directory
has to see that the internal peace of Germany is not dis-
turbed. Should there be serious disturbances, the Direc-
tory has to take proper measures for quelling them.
Art. 10—The Directory has to see that peace and concord
prevail between the different members of the Bund. Serious
disputes to be referred to the Bundes-Gericht (Federal
Court of Justice).

Art. —ln virtue of resolutions taken by the Federal
Council, the Directory to have the right to make proposi-
tions in matters of legislation.

Art. 12—The Directory has to see that the resolutions of
the Bund are properly carried out, and, if necessary, by
means of an adequate number of troops.

Art. 13—The Directory to have the management of all
the military matters cf the Confederation.

Art. 14.—The Directory to have the management of
Fedet al financial matters.

Art. 15.—The Directory to convoke, open, prologue,
dissolve, and close the Assembly of Federal Delegates.
This Directory to represent the Federal Government vis-a-
vis the Assembly of Deputies.

OF THE ASSEMBLY OF DELEGATES.
Art. 16—The representative bodies in the different Fede-
ral States to send delegates to the Frankfort Assembly.
The number of delegates to be 300. Austria to send 75
"from the States belonging to the German Bund," PruFsia
75, Bavaria 27; S4xony, Hanover, Wurtemberg, 15 each;
Baden 12, Hesse Cassel 9, He-se-Darmstadt 9, Holstein
and Lauenburg 5, Luxembourg and Limburg 4, Brunswick
3, the two Mecklenburgs 6, Nassau 4, Saxe-Weimar 3,
Saxe-Meiningen, Saxe •Coburg-Gotha, and Saxe-Alten-
burg, 2 each; Oldenburg 3, and each of the other States
and free cities 1 each. In States in which there are two
Chambers, " the Upper House will elect one-third." and
the Lower House two-thirds, of the delegates.
Art. 17—The delegates to be elected in accordance with
the laws in force in the countries they are to represent.
The delegates to receive a daily allowance and their travel-
ling expenses from the Bund.
Art. 18—The Assembly of Delegates to meet once in
three years, in the month of May. The Assembly can be
prorogued by the Directory for a period not exceeding two
months, and it can adjourn for eight days. Should the
Assembly be dissolved, the Directory has immediately to
issue orders for new elections.
Art. 19—The Chamber of Delegates to nlect its Presi-
dent, Vice-Presidents, and Secretaries. Its sittings to be
public. A house is formed when two-thirds of the dele-
gates are present. As a rule, bills may be passed by a
simple majority of votes.
Art. 20—The Chamber of Delegates has " a right to
pass resolutions" on the following subjects :-1. On alte-
rations in the Constitution of the Build. 2. On the present
or future organic institutions of the Bund. 3. On the
Budget of the Bund. 4. On matters connected with the
public press, the right of association, the right of domicile,
and sundry other matters of inferior importance.

Art. 21—In matters which concern the separate States
rather than the Bund the German Chamber of Delegates
has only the right to deliberate and mediate.
Art. 22—In all Federal matters the Chamber of Dele-
gates has a right to make representations and complaints.