The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-31 00:00:00

FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE.

•
The debate on the Posen question came on in the
German Parliament on the 25th July, and lasted two
days.
The following were the motions under discussion,
as drawn up by the National Committee :
" 1. The National Assembly shall declare its renewed
recognition of those parts of the Grand Duchy of Posen
which, at the motion of the Royal Government of I'rus-
sia, were received into the German Confederation by the
unanimous: resolutions of the Diet, under date of April
22 and May 2, and in accordance therewith shall give de-
finitive validity to the election of the twelve deputies
chosen from that part of Posen which has been incorpo-
rated with Germany, and whose admission has been as
yet only temporarily conceded.
"2. The National Assembly shall provisionally recog-
nise the preliminary line of demarcation between the
Polish and the German districts laid down under date of
June 4, 1848, by the Royal Prussian Commissary General
Pfuel; but, at the same time, shall reserve to itself the
final decision as to the boundary lino between these two
parts, which is to be determined after further proposals
on the part of the Prussian Government.
"3. The National Assembly shall demand of the Prus-
sian Government a decided declaration that not only on
its own part, so long as it shall rule the Polish part of the
Grand Duchy of Posen, it will preserve intact tho na-
tionality of the Germans who inhabit the same, but that
it will also take measures to secure to them their na-
tionality, in case of the Polish part of Posen ceasing to
be un er Prussian rule.

" 4. The National Assembly, in respect of the peti-
tions relating to West Prussia, shall declare to the non-
German inhabitants of this province that it (the Na-
tional Assembly), by its resolution of May 31, has
guaranteed to all non-German races, on German Fede-
ral ground (and therefore to all Poles living on:the
same), unfettered development according to their popu-
lar and national usages, and that moreover, as regards
church matters, instruction, literature, civil administra-
tion, and the administration of the laws, it has guaran-
teed to them an equal acknowledgment of their lan-
guage, as far as its region extends."
On these motions the committee were unanimous,
with the exception of Schuseika.
The principal speakers in the first day's debate were
Stenzel (Breslaw), who warmly recommended the adop-
tion of the report, and animadverted in strong terms on
the scenes of bloodshed recently perpetrated in the Grand
Duchy; Goden (Posen) also supported the Committee;
Blum (Leipzic) ono of the most talented orators of the
Assembly, took the brightest side of Polish history,
pointed out the virtues of the Polish race—Germany
was greatly to blame for the fall of Poland. The report
of the committee was altogether destitute of statistical
or topographical data, he could not understand how such
a report could have been laid before the National As-
sembly; and this they were to receive without ado, this
report involving a question that was connected so
closely with the general weal of Europe. He would
conclude with the words of a great ruler who took part
in the division of Poland. " 1 must confess," she said,
" that I never felt so ashsmed of myself; for think what
a sacrifice of honour we shall be making if we hazard
our reputation for the sake of a little paltry piece of
Poland." And this was Maria Theresa.—(Cheers.)
Jordan spoke in favour of the incorporation, and de-
clared that he who thought they should give up half a
million of Germans in Posen and let them be incorporated
summarily with Poland, was " unconsciously a traitor to
his fellew countrymen." The restoration of Poland,
merely because its downfall was a grief to them, he re-
garded as a foolish sentimentality. They could not help
but admire the patriotism of the Poles, but to wish to
roll back the wheel of history, to be crushed by its recoil,
was the height of absurd sentimentality.—(llissing on
the left.)
Vogt was the next speaker, after which the House ad-
journed.
On the 27th the debate partook of a much more
stormy character. A cons.derable time was taken up in
arranging the order of division. Several motions recom-
mending the incorporation of all Posen wore unsupported.
A Saxon Member proposed that the sense of the As-
sembly should be taken as to whether it felt itself com-
pete% to decide on the Posen questicn, or whether deci-
sion should be entrusted to the Congress of France,
Englcind, and Germany. His motion was unsupported.
Huge moved—
" 1. That no part of Posen for the present be received
into the German Confederation.

" 2. That the twelve members already chosen for a
part et' Poson, audi admitted to their seats,
be pr3nounced disqualified.
'• . That the National Assembly effect the assem-
bling, of a Congress. in which the Ambassadors of Eng-
land. France, and Germany, shall deliberate and decide
on th,. Posen question."
Rejected by u large majority.
Blum moved that,

" The National Assembly resolves to call upon the
central power to institute a commissarial inquiry into
the internal relations of Posen, and consequently to
cause a fresh report to be laid before the National As-
sembly."
Noes, 333; Ayes, 131.
Blum, on the part of the " left," then declared that he
and his party would abstain from all future participation
in the division on this question, except as regarded those

motions which were consonant with the decisions of the
former Parliament. lie assigned as a reason for this,
that his party did not consider themselves morally ena-
bled by the facts and arguments adduced in the course of
the debate, to form a clear opinion on the subject. He
requests that this declaration might be attached to the
protocol of proceedings. It was signed by 51 Members,
Blum, Vogt, Schuselka, Wiesner, Wesendonck, Zitz,
Eisenstuck, &c.

On motion 1 of the Committee, the result was—Ayes,
342; Noes, 31. A number of declarations and reclama-
tions were then attempted to be made by individual
Members.
The President remarked that by the resolution of the
niajorily, the Posen Deputies might now take part in the
division.
Motion 2 of Committee, as slightly amended, by
Giskra, Kopp, and others, was—
" The National Assembly, under present circumstances,
provisionally acknowledges the preliminary boundary
line between the Polish and the German part of Posen,
laid down by the Royal Prussian Commissary-General
Pfuel, under date of June 4th, 1848, but reserves to
itself' the final decision as to the boundary lino to be
drawn between these parts till the result of further in-
quiries, to be set on foot by the Central Government,
has been made known."
Carried.
Prince Lichnowsky moved—
" That the National Assembly express to the Prussian
Government a confident expectation that the nationality
of the Germans in the Polish part of Posen will be pro •
tected under every circumstance.
Carried. •
A most violent scene of uproar now ensued on the mo-
tion of Deputy Schaffrath—
" 1. The National Assembly declares that the division
of Poland has been a shameful act of injustice.
"2. The National Assembiy acknowledges it to be the
sacred duty of the Gorman people to co-operate in the
restoration of Poland."
Wurtn attempted to speak, but such noise ensued (says
our reporter) more especially on the left, that it was
utterly impossible to catch even his meaning. The
President nearly lost the command of his temper ; he
threatened to close the sitting, and angrily rebuked the
left (who had stamped most lustily as well as shouted),
for conduct which he stigmatized as utterly unbecoming.
The clamour ceased for a moment, but was soon renewed,
till at last the President was obliged to order Wurm from

the rostrum.
The Assembly then divided on Schaffrath's motion—
Members present 458 ; Noes, 331 ; Ayes, 101 ; refused
to vote, 26. The Assembly then adjourned.

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

TERMINATION OF NEGOTIATIONS.

The Provisional Government of the Duchies has
issued the following proclamation :
" Fellow Citizens,—The negotiations which it was
expected would lead to peace with Denmark have been
terminated. Again hostilities have commenced—arms
now decide between us.

" Germany has proved that she desired peace. The
most moderate demands have been refused by Denmark.
Dishonourable conditions have been rejected by the will
of Germany, by the firmness of the brave General who
watches o►er our frontiers at the head of an army of
Germany.

" People of Schleswig-Holstein ; we owe to our Ger-
man country all our gratitude. Prussia and the 10th
corps d'arir43 have taken up arms for our cause. The
German ports have submitted for months to great losses
for our rights. Let us show ourselves deserving of their
good wh,hcp.
" Deeds and union lead to success ! Our youth has-
ten joyfully to arms, that we may join our German
brothers. We will bo ready to comply with every claim
that may be made for the energetic prosecution of the
war.

" Fellow Citizens,—We doubt not the success of our
Just cause. We will not attack the rights of others.
But what belongs to us, what has descended to us from
our ancestors, that we will defend and maintain. The
Duchies are a part of our German country. For our
country we have had recourse to arms—for her the blood
of our German brethren has flowed. With them we will
unite for victory or death.
(Signed) " BESELER.
F. REV E NTLO W.
J. BREMEIt.
TB. OLSHAUSEN.
" Rendsburg, July 25."