The Sun.
London, England, 1854-10-20 00:00:00

DENMARK.

The following address to the King of Denmark
was proposed and discussed in the Volksthing on
the 16th. It was adopted by a majority of 90 to

" Most Gracious King—ln your supreme message to
the Diet, your Majesty expressed the hope that the
gieat work, regulating the constitutional relations of the
monarchy, would be advanced a step by the honest and
intelligent co-operation of the present Diet, so that such.
work might soon might be terminated in happy union.
" The Volksthing will assuredly do its part in this
respect, but we consider the first and essential step
towards this object to be a public declaration by the
Diet to your Majesty, in respect to this affair, so im-
portant for the future condition of the country—a decla-
ration that we shall make with all the frankness neces-
sarily arising from the conviction that we, the legiti-
mate representatives, are only uttering that which will
be universally echoed by the people.
"The Volksthing perfectly recognises the necessity
that the different countries confided to the sceptre of
your Majesty should be brought to a state of union in
one firm national constitution, in order that the present
complicated state of affairs should be put an end to. We
are also convinced that this object can be attained so
soon as the work of legislation shall be carried on by a
Government that possesses the harmonious confidenoe of
both King and people, and that does not overlook the
fundamental rights of the Danish nation.
"The Danish Diet has unmistakeably shown its readi-
ness to facilitate the progress and final enactment of one
joint constitution, by its having put f ,rth no pretensions
to exercise any immediate influence on its contents.
But, most gracious King, the Diet, at the same time, has
s) acted on the supposition, that the intended joint con-
stitution, about to include so large a portion of what
constitutes the fundamental law of the Danish kingdom,
was to be in the main based on representation and the
public rights, that it was not to be by its very principle
in diametrical opposition to the one which, by a happy
agreement between the King and his people, had been
given to the latter, and now for some years past has
been legally in operation throughout the kingdom of
Denmark.

"This supposition on the part of the Diet and the
people finds ample justification in the contents of your
Majesty's proclamation of January 28, 1852. For this
reason we never could suppose that the Danish mo-
narchy, which at your Majesty's accession to the throne
received the promise of a representative constitution,
together, with Parliamentary co-operation in all finan-
cial and legislative enactments for the collective affairs
of the monarchy, could have been brought back to a po-
litical condition, that by sad experience has shown itself
but little calculated to secure the throne from convul-
sions. More especially could we not suppose so, since
the fundamental law of the Danish kingdom, expressly
given as it was to be a defence for the monarchy, has
shown its power to preserve the kingdom.
" The Danish people, meet gracious King, have
vivid and firm conscientiousness of their rights, even in
regulation of the affairs of the monarchy, to talc() their
stand upon the constitutional representative basis that
supports our present constitution. Hence no Danish
Diet can ever renounce its claim that the organ to which
the collective affairs of the monarchy have to be entrusted
should have full legislative powers, and be at the same
time a real representation of the people, thereby guar.
anteeing the latter against any undue preponderance of
that element that is being introduced into the Assembly
by virtue of elections made by the crown. .
" With the exception, however, of this claim

which no Danish Diet can renounce, your Majesty
will find the greatest readiness on the part of the
Diet to take any step likely to facilitate the prog,resa
of the united constitution. We feel on that account so

much the more convinced, that your Majesty will in no
respect lend your ear to any counsel, the tendency of
which will be to break the bond of union subsisting be-
tween King and people ; a bond that has given to our
constitution its existence and strength. Such counsel
would foist upon the reservation contained in the funda-
mental law a meaning totally at variance with the right
signification of that reservation. This was solemnly
recognised by the state council of your Majesty, in the
declaration that was made in your Majesty's proclama-
tion of Jan. 28, 1852, at the instigation of the Yolks-
thing, for the security and satisfaction of the Diet.
" Most gracious King, it is during a serious state
of things, both at home and abroad, that the Yolks-
thing addresses itself this time to your Majesty ; but
difficult and dangerous times have already tried the
King and the people, and they have successfully out-
lived them in mutual confidence and concord. Hence
the Volksthing addresses itself this time also with confi-
dence to its King, and in the reliance that he will give
ear to its words--words that proceed from a lively and
sincere care, not only for the welfare of the King and
his Crown, but also for the rights of the Danish people,
the real bulwark of the entire kingdom in years full of
peril to the King and his Crown."