The Sun.
London, England, 1847-04-16 00:00:00

Lord God in Heaven and this people, in order to rule us with
its paragraphs, and to replace by them our en.•ient and
time-hallowed trusty reliance on each other. Between us
he truth. From one weakness I feel myself entirely free— I
strive not for idle popular favour ; who could do so if he
has read history aright ? I strive alone to fulfil my duty so
as to satisfy we understanding and my conscience, and to de
serve the thanks of my people, even though it be never my
lot to obtain it.
"Noble Lords and trusty Orders, it has often caused me
care and impatience during the fits: years of my reign that I
could not remove hindrances which opposed an earlier con-
vocation of your Assembly. I was wrong. On both sides ;
we should have been poorer by many experiences--poorer by
experiences in part aa costly nature, but all of them, if not
always good, yet for us of priceless worth. We have now
lying open before us the experiences of seven years. and by
God's good pleasure, not in vain. The working of parties
on one aide, and the temper of my people on the other, are
now clear and indubitable. It is a splendid privilege of the
kingly office that it can on all occasions call things by their
right names without Sear. I will do this to-day before you
as a duty which I have to fulfil. I beg you now to follow
me a moment while with a sharp eye we consider the state of
things at home.
" The dearth which has visited Europe of latter years has
also penetrated to us, if with less severity than in other
countries. It has, however, found us well prepared. and I
can give my Government the honourable testimonial that
it has honestly done its part towards alleviating the cala-
mity. There are, also, means further to resist it, if God
spares us from new failures in the crops. Here I must
mention private benevolence, which, in these times, has
manifested itself anew so nobly, so cheeringly, and I pay it
here, before you, tf:e tribute of my admiration and my gra-
titude.

l'he extinction of the national debt is progressing. The
taxes are diminished, the finances are put in order. I have
to-day the happiness to offer the provinces, for the use of
their treasuries, a donatiin of 2,000,000 rixdollars.
"The management of affairs and the administration of
justice are with us in a purer condition than almost in any
other country publicity is established in our courts; roads,
canal-, all kinds of improvements of the land ate proceeding
to an extent before unknown; science and art are in the
most flourishing condition; the national prosperity is in-
creasing; trade and industry—if, alas! not protected against
:heir European vicissitudes—are comparatively satisfactory;
paternal care and good-will are certainly nowhere to be mis-
taken ; the press is as free as the laws of the Confederation
permit; the freedom of confession is associated with ani-
mating power to our old liberty of faith and conscience ; and
our just pride and strong shield, my army of the line and
militia, may be called incomparable.
" With our neighbours and with the powers on this and the
other side of the ocean we stand on the best terms, and our
relation to our allies, in combination with whom we once
treed Germany, and from the happy concord of whom de-
trends the maintenance of a 32 years' peace in a great part of
Europe, is firmer and closer than ever.
" 1 could add much which would be calculated to bend our
knees in thanks towards God, but this will suffice. For it is
quite sufficient to found this gratitude, and a state of con-
tentment, which in an honest comparison, in spite of many
just wishes, appears quite natural. Before all, one weuld
think that the press must diffuse gratitude and contentment
on all sides, for I venture to say that it is the press which,
to a particular extent, owes me thanks. Noble Lords and
faithful Staters, I require your German hearts to grant me
those thanks. While recognising the honourable endeavour
to elevate the press by a noble and conscientious spirit, it is
yet unquestionable, that in a portion of it 5 dark spirit of
destruction prevails, a spirit that entices to revolution, and
shat deals in the most audacious falsehoods, disgraceful to
German fidelity and Prussian honour. I know that the
genuine sense of the people remains firm, but we do not de-
ceive ourselves as to the evil fruits of the evil tree, which
Bence,
us in the shape of dissatisfaction and want of cotifi-
ence, attended by still worse fac's, such as open disobe-
dence, secret conspiracy, a declared revolt from all which is
sacred to good men, and attempted regicide. Even in our
.hurches are seen those fruits, together with. the twofo!d
ueath in indifference and fanaticism But ecclesiastical mat-
ters do not belong to the States. Thew have their legitimate
organs in the two confessions. One confession of faith I am,
on this day, unable to suppress, bearing in mind the frightful
Attempt to defraud my people of its holiest jewel—its faith in
.he Redeemer. Lord and King of itself and of us all. This
avowal is as follows—(Here his Majasty arose, and spoke
the words standing, and with right hand uplifted)—' I and
my house, we will serve the Lord.'
I turn my troubled glance from the aberrations of a few
to the whole of my people. Then does it grow bright with
tears ofjoy ; there, my Lords, amid ad the heavy troubles of
rsovernment, is my consolation. My people is still the old
Christian people—the honest, true, valiant people—which has
fought the battlesof my fathers, and the honourable qualities
of which have only grown with the greatness and fame of
their country, which once, like no other, in the days of
trouble, bound itself to its paternal king, and bore him, as it
were, upon its shoulders, from victory to victory—a people,
my Lords, often tempted by the arts of seduction, but always
found proof against them. Even out of the strongest of
these trials it will come forth pure. Already is the impious
sport with Christianity, the abuse of religion as a means of
distinction, recognised in its true form as sacrilege, and is
dying away. My firm reliance upon the fidelity of my
people, as the surest means of extinguishing the conflagra-
tion, has been ever nobly rewarded both by the older and the
younger sons of our Prussian country, even where another
language than ours is spoken.
" Therefore hear this well, Lords and faithful States, and
may all the country hear it through you. From all the in-
dignities to which I and my Government have been exposed
for some years I appeal to my people! From all evils which
perhaps are still in reserve for me I appeal beforehand to my
people! My people knows my heart, my faith and love to
it, and adheres in love and faith to me. My people dues not
wish the association of representatives in the Government,
the weakening of rank, the division of sovereignty, the break.
irg up of the authority of its kings, who have founded its
histo.y, its freedom, its prosperity, and who alone can pro-
tect its dearest acquisitions—and will protect them, God
willing, as heretofore.
" Know, my Lords, I do not read the feelings of my people
in the green arches and huzzahs of the festivity ; still less in
the praise and blame of the pass, or in the doubtful, some-
times criminal, demands of certain addresses. which are sent
to the Throne, and States, or elsewhere. I have read thee•
with my own eyes in the touching thanks of men tor benefits
scarcely promised, scarcely begun; here, where broad dis-
tricts of land stood under water; there, where men scarcely
recovered from hunger. In their graceful joy, in their wet
eyes, did I read their feeling., three years ago, when the lives
of myself and the Queen were so wonderfully preserved.
This is truth—and in my words is truth—when I say, that it
is a noble people; and I feel entirely the happiness of pre-
siding over such a people. And your hearts ...rill understand
me and accord with me, when in Hai great hour I urgently
call upon you Be worthy of ibis people!'
" Illustrious P. incee, Counts, and Lords, you will have
recogniseA sin the position as-igried to you by law in this
United Diet my intention that that position should he a
dignified one, at once answering to the conception of a
German order of nobles, and also beneficial to the tvliole
community. I rely upon your deeply feeling at this hour,
and in these times, what is meant by being the first of a
nation, and also what is required at your hands. You will
repay my confidence.
"You Inv Lords of the Nobility, and my faithful
'lurghers and Commons, are, I am firmly persuarleu, im-
pressed with this truth, that on this day, and in this hour,
You are the first of your respective Orders, but, therefore,
also, the protectors of your ancient renown. Look at this
throne! Your fathers and mine,—many princes of your
race, and of mine, and I myself;—have fought fur the pre-
servation. the deliverance, and the honour of that throne.
and for the existence of our native land. God with
us! There is now a new battle to be fought on behalf of
the same glorious possessions,—a peaceful one indeed,
but its combats are not a whit less important
than those of the field of war. Aud God will be with
us yet again, for the battle is against the evil tendencies of
the age. Your unanimity with me, the prompt expression of
your wish to aid me in itnuroving the domain of right; (that
true field for the lab of kings), I make this Diet a pitched
battle gained against every evil and lawless influence that
troubles and dishonours Germany; and the work will be to
your renown and that of the country, and the contentment
and satisfaction of the people.
" Representatives of the Nobles, he now and for the future,
as of old. the first to follow the banner of the Hohenzollerns,
that for three centuries has led you on to honour. And you,
Burghers, give to the whole world a living testimony that
the intelligence, the gre 1 mass of which you are proud to
represent, is, amongst us, that right and true one which en-
nobles, by the development of religion and morality, and.by
the love of your King and country. And you, representatives
of the Commons, you and your order are never the last when
your country and your King call on you, whether it be in
peace or in war. Hear the voice of your King that tells you
they require you again !
" In my kingdom neither of the three Orders ranks above
or beneath the other. They stand beside cacti other on an
equality of rights and honour, but each within its limits, each
with its own province. This is a practicable and reasonable
equality; this is freedom.
"Noble Lords and trusty Orders, a word more on the
question—yes, the question of existence between the Throne
and the different Orders ; the late King, after mature consi-
deration called them into existence according to the Gernean
and historical idea of them ; and in this idea alone have I
continued his work. Irnpressiourselves, I entreat you, with
the spirit of this definition. lou are German Orders in the
anciently received sense of the word—that is, you are truly
and before all ' Representatives and defenders of your own
rights'—the rights of those Orders whose confidence has sent
here the far greater portion of this Assembly. But after that
you are to exercise those rights which the Crown has recog-
nised as yours, you have further conscientiously to give the
Crown that advice'it requires of you. Finally, you are free
to bring petitions and complaints, after mature deliberation,
to the foot of the Throne.
" Those are the rights, those the duties of German Orders;
this is your glorious vocatioa. But it is not your province
to represent opinions,' or bring opinions of the day, or of
this or that school, into practical operation. That is wholly
un-German, and, besides, completely useless for the good of
the community ; for it would lead necessarily to inextricable
embarrassments with the Crown, which must govern accord-
ing to the law of God and the land end its own free, unbiassed
resolution, but which cannot and dares not govern according
to the will of the majority, if Prussia' would not soon be-
come an empty sound in Europe. Clearly recognising my
office 'and your vocation, and firmly resolved to treat that
recognition faithfully under all circumstances, I have
ap-
peared among you and addressed you with royal freedom.
With the same openness, and as the highest proof my
confidence in you, I here give you my royal word that
should not have called you together had I had the smallest
suspicion that you would otherwise understand your duties,
or that you bad any desire to play the part of what arei(
called representatives of the people. I should not have called
you together for that purpose, becau-e, according to .myi e t .pest
and most heard, It conviction, the Throne arid State would
be endangered by it. and because I recognise it as my first duty,
under all circumstances and events, to preserve the Throne,
the State, and my Government as they at present exist. I
remember the axiom of a Royal F. confidence awakens
confidence.' That is this day my brightest hope. flat' my
confidence in you is great, I have proved by my weeds
and Reeled by my act. And from you, gentlemen, I expect
a proof' of confidence in return, and an auswer in the a .me
manner—by your acts. God is my witness. I have .utti-
monod you as your truest, best, and most faithful friend
and 1 firmly believe that among the hundreds before me
there is not one who is not resolved at this
at ittnmeet to pre-
serve that friendship Many of you were Kenigeberg on
the 10th of September, 140, and I can even now heli the
thunder of your voices as you rriaoruneed the oath of Idelity,
that then penetrated my soul.P
which 1 received the homage f 3 I?;eoreftti.'ea"e'yoensataittees',lja:Loend
with thousands in the still-echoing' Yes! with which you
replied to my demand whether you would, in word and
deed, in heart and spirit, in truth and love, help and assistme to preserve Prussia as it is,
and as it
must remain if it
would-not perish that you would not let or hinder me in
the path of considerate but vigorous progress, but endure
with me through good days and through evil.' Now redeem
your word—now fulfil that vow !
" You can do it by the exercise of one of your most im-
portant duties—namely, by choosing from among you faith-
ful and upright friends of the Throne and of our good purpose
for your Committeie--men whoa-have ootnprehended that at