The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-16 00:00:00

most absolute immunity for any expressions used at
debate, is so absolutely essential, that a national
assembly which did not possess these rights could
never properly discharge the functions of a Parlia-
ment. This is so obvious, and has been so univer-
sally recognised, that we do not believe there exists
in the world a single instance of Parliamentary go-
vernment in which the members of the national
assembly are not privileged to use whatever lan-
guage they may think proper in discussing those
matters which come under their notice in their
public capacity, without being made amenable for
their conduct to any other tribunal thanthe assembly
of which they are members. Such, at all events,
was the view taken by the framers of the Prussian
Constitution ; and according to its terms it is esPe-
cially providedthat the members of neither Chamber
can be called to account for their votes, or the.
opinions to which they may give expression, or the
language they may employ. A rule so wholesome
as this, one would naturally imagine that the mem-
bers of either Chamber would be the last to wish t.°
see abrogated, and that, if an attempt to rescind it
were made at all, it would be strenuously re-
sisted. But, however strange it may sound, the
Upper Chamber of the Prussian Parliament has
just affirmed by a large majority a proposal to
make members of both Houses liable to punish-
ment, on citation before the public tribunals,
for calumnies uttered, or other actionable ex-
pressions employed, in the course of debate-
Count Bismark, who, with several members et
the Cabinet, was present, offered to the proposal
what we cannot help thinking was a feigned oppo-
sition, and the Upper House no doubt felt that it
was performing a duty well pleasing to both the
Sovereign and his Ministers when it thus gracefulll•
offered to lay its liberties at their feet. There can
be no doubt that this extraordinary step has been
taken in consequence of the recent dispute occa-
sioned between Count Bismark and Herr Virchowt
by some rather strong language employed by the
latter in the heat of debate and of the failure of.
the Prime Minister to obtain personal satisfaction
from the Deputy. Herr Virchow very properly
refused to accept Count Bismark's challenge, an°.
insisted on his right, as a representative of the
people, to speak in their name without being wade
personally amenable for the language which he
chose to employ. Failing to obtain redress, the
Minister has probably found some trusty supporters
in the Upper Chamber who, by way of expressing
their sympathy, have formally declared that the
i
plebeian deputy deserves to be cited before a Cllll
tribunal, and severely punished for calumniating s°
great and so good a man as Herr von Bismark-
The occasion, however, which has called forth 80
loyal a demonstration on the part of the tiger
House, furnishes perhaps the most conclusive are•• ,
meat which could be offered against the adoption
of its views. If it would be in the power of the
Crown Prosecutor to indict every member of b.'
Opposition who called in question the accuracy er
the truthfulness of Ministerial statements, 'tier
leaders of the Liberal party would be constaptv
engaged- in defending themselves against vexatiott#
prosecutions. But the suggestion of the "Heen-
haus" is so manifestly absurd that it is simply
puerile to discuss it. That it should ever have bees
adopted by a number of educated gentlemen in•
country which at all events claims to possess a 0.011
stitutional government is sufficiently surprisinfi
The truth, however, is that it is intended as a sligi_%
upon the Lower Chamber ; and considered in tr
light it bodes ill for the long continuance of _Parlia-
mentary government in Prussia, at least in its Pre,
sent form. The antagonism between the two Chani
bers is no less great than that between the Govern,
~.,
ment and the Lower House • and it is needless "-
say that the deputies will not' give way. We gin Lila
.
not be surprised if at no distant period the Prusste
people should, through their representatives, t 3"%
upon themselves the duty of remodelling the ta°'
anomalous of European constitutions. •