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

•„ - .
most absolute immunity for any expressions used 11
debate, is so absolutely essential, that a nations;
assembly which did not possess these rights could
never properly discharge the functions of a Parba:
ment. This is so obvious, and has been so
sally. recognised, that we do not believe there exists
in the world a single instance of Parliamentary gej
nation
vernment in which the members of the
assembly are not privileged to use whatever lap,
guage they may think proper in discussing those
matters which come under their notice in then' for
public. capacity, without being made amenable p,
their conduct. to any other tribunal than the assembly
of which they are members. Such, at all evell.ll',
was the view taken by the framers of the Prussian
Constitution ; and according to its terms it is esPeer
ci▪
ally provided that the members of neither Charabthe
univ.er
can.
.be called to account for their votes, or :he
opinions to which they may give expressio, e
language they may employ. A rule so wholesanni,
as this, one would naturally imagine that the In. e to
hers of either Chamber would be the last to wish
see abrogated, and that, if an attempt to rescind e.
were made at all, it would be strenuously file
si▪
sted. But, however strange it may sound, jos
.Upper Chamber of the Prussian Parliament to
just affirmed by a large majority a proposal
h,
make members of both Houses liable to Punisis
ment, on citation before the public tribe
for calumnies uttered, or other actionable ete)',
pressions employed, yin the course of deba of
Count Bismark, who, with several members 40,1
the Cabinet, was present, offered to the pr°P°'
what we cannot help thinking was a feigned opP%
si▪ tion, and the Upper House no doubt felt that
was performing a duty well pleasing to b
o
t
h;
Sovereign and his Ministers when it thus ganef can
offered to lay its liberties at their feet. There c'es
be no doubt that this extraordinary step has bees,
.taken in consequence of the recent dispute °,c„,c,
sioned between Count Bismark and Herr VireP-the
by some rather strong language employed by
of
latter in the heat of debate and of the failure•
the Prime Minister to obtain personal satisfaction
from the Deputy. Herr Virchow very proper
refused m
to accept Count Bisark's challenge, ',1,0
insisted on his right, as a representative of
people, to speak in their name without being In
personally amenable for the language which
the
chose.. to employ. Failing to obtain redress, 1,5
.Minister has probably found some trusty support.e
in the Upper Chamber who, by way of expressinife
their sympathy, have formally declared that .;ii
plebeian deputy deserves to be cited before a else
tribunal, and severely punished for calumniatogri;,
great and so good a man as Herr von Bisnl'se
The occasion, however, which has called forth
er
loyal a demonstration on the part of the VPPs,
House, furnishes perhaps the most conclusive argo
ment which could be offered against the adoptlthe
of its views. If it would be in the power of the
Crown Prosecutor to indict every member of
or
Opposition who called in question the aceurneJ the
the truthfulness of Ministerial statements, tly
leaders of the Liberal party would be conga :3.0,10
engaged in defending themselves against veY-.3;,10.
prosecutions.. But the suggestion of the "o,,e.r—Dly
ham" is so manifestly absurd that it is
puerile to discuss it. That it should ever have '.'n"
adopted by a number of educated gentlemen ~/-0.•
country. which at all events claims to possess_aia.`74
stitutional government is sufficiently surf is
The truth, however, is that it is intended as a
upon
the • Lower Chamber ; and considered in
light it bodes ill for the long continuance of Fara,
mentary government in Prussia, at least in its,pi.
sent form. The antagonism between the two vu'ro.
bers is no less great than that between the Got so
ment and the Lower House ; and it is neecltaid
say that the deputies will not give way. We 5.,%'-iaP
not be surprised if at no distant period the FirL--sio
people should, through their representatives, ot
upon themselves the duty of remodelling the ID
anomalous of European constitutions.