The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-14 00:00:00

GERMANY

AND

THE NORTHERN STATES.

PRUSSIA.

The Pru‘sian Diet sat on the 10th for the last
time, and after authorising the Government to raise a
loan of 15,000,000 thalers, to give state guarantees to
commercial undertakings to the amount of 26,000;000
thalers, and after also revoking the elections of the
Diet at Frankfort, the Diet was dissolved.

The following report of the proceedings of the last
sitting of the Diet of Prussia will be found not un-
interesting :
" BERLIN, APRIL 10.
" The Diet met this morning at halt-past 10 o'clock.
" The interest of the public in the proceedings of the
assembly had increased with each sitting; the tribune,
which since the opening has been fitted up with rising
seats, was crovtded to every available inch of space.
" The proce‘dings wore opened by reading the
minutes of the last meeting.

" The first subject discussed was the election of Dopu-
ties for Prussia to the Diet of Frankfurt.
" M. Camphausen entered into a justification of the
course taken by the Diet in electing the representatives,
on the ground that it was the mode specified in the de-
cree of the Germanic Confederation, and that an under.
standing to t!,:e same effect had been come to with the
other States of Germany, because there did not appear
to be time enough for a direct election. This position
of affairs was at the present moment modified.—(Hear )
His Majesty ou the previous evening had received
message from the Diet at Frankfort, stating that the
Confederation, by a decree of the 7th of April, had re-
turned to its first decision in favour of the system of
dirt ct election for the Diet which is to meet on the let of
May. One deputy is to be elected for every 50,000
inhabitants. In the qualification of the electors no
distinctions are to be made between classes or religious
creeds. Every German, being of age, is an elector
in his own country ; every German, of age, is
eligible as a deputy in all Germany. Political exiles
themselves, if they return to Germany, will be
electors, and eligible in the countries of which
they are subjects.—(Stusation.) The result of this
communication from the Diet has been that his Majesty
cancels the elections that have taken place. The States
of Prussia would comprehend the necessity of this de-
claration ; other kingdoms of Germany having accepted
the decision of the Diet, a conflict might be caused it
Prussia should refuse it. It was necessary that Prussia
should be fully represented at Frankfort ; it wished to
give aid and assistance to all that could promote the
union of Germany ; but for this great end it must act
with effect. The Government would take the measures
it deemed necessary, trusting the Diet would support it
in its important task.
" The Marshal of the Diet (the Prince de Solms) then
formally put the question to the Diet, whether it con-
sented to annul the elections ? _ _ _

"The vote was almost unanimously adopted.
" The previous elections of deputies is therefore null
and void. _ _

" The order of the day for the discussion of the Mi-
nisterial project for a loan was then taken.
" M. Knoblanch read the report of the commission,
which was a minute statement of the position of the
finances, and the probable outlay the Government will
have to meet. The demand of the Ministry is for power
to raise by extraordinary means a sum of 15,000,000
talers, to be applied to securing the peace of the country
from without and within; next, for the restoration of
credit and the assistance of commerce, trade, and agri•
culture, the Government ask power to give guarantees
to the amount of 25,000,000 thalers, on condition that
loss to the State, which these guarantees might cause,
will, as fur as possible, be avoided. The guarantee of
the State will thus be brought to the encouragement of
enterprises that are suffering from the pressure of the
times. _ _ _

" The loan was agreed to by tho commission ucani-
mously. The proposal for the guarantees was carried
by 17 votes to 2.
" The discussion of the war fund was first taken.
" M. Wintzler had confidence in the present Govern.
ment, and did not wan to refuse the credit it asked for;
but how was the money proposed to be raised ? Credit
was wholly destroyed, and they could riot do it by wa)
of a loan, except on ♦ery unfavourable terms. To in
crease the present taxes or impose new ones was impos-
sible ; the people demanded a diminution of existing
burdens. lie thought the best means of raising the
money would be by a bold appeal to the patriotism of
the country ; the King would place himself at their
head ; if this did not suffice, they might try a volun
tary loan ; even a forced loan might be adopted as a last
resource.

" M. Hanseman (Minister of Finance) would not then
discuss the several plans proposed by M. Wintzler, but
objected to the introduction of the name of the King
into his speech ; the Sovereign should henceforth be
placed out of sight in their debates. He also objected
to dividing the report of the Commission into two parts.
" After a short discussion on the part of the re port
referring to the Government guarantees to commercial
undertakings,
"M. Hausman again addressed the Chamber. lb,
explained that the Government had not detailed the
modes in which they proposed to raise the money, be
cause they did not wish to prejudge the future. The-
guarante es would give relief to many branches of trade
and commerce that were then suffering. lie did cot pre
sent the project as a law, In an extraordinary crisis
like the present, extraordinary measures were rrquired.
Should the Diet not consent to the proposals, the,
Ministry would have done its duty in laying them before
it. They should not be terrified at the amount of the
guarantees the Government asked for power to give.
The Commission required the Government to fix a sure
approximating to what would be required, and the
Government had complied with their request. But it
was hoped that the commercial crisis would have passed
away before the meeting of the National Assembly. In
principle a guarantee was a debt; but it differed from
a debt,in its results. The measures to be adopted could
cot be attempted with so small a sum. One of them was
the establishment of banks of discount in the provinces.
He urged the Deputies, on returning to their provinces,
to impress on the wealthy, a liberal and confident course
of action; they ought not to conceal their money, but
keep it in circulation as before. Let the poor be also
advised not to substitute anarchy and violence for
moderation and discussion.—(Applause.)
"The proposition of a forced loan not being sup-
ported by 24 deputies, was not farther entered into.
M. de Vincke thought the financial condition of
Prussia, compared with that of other countries, was
rather satisfactory than otherwise. But to maintain
that situation the Diet ought to give its support to the
Ministry. He approved of the establishment of special
banks, suggested an issue of notes secured on the royal
domains, and strongly denounced such a measure as a
forced loan.
" Several deputies who were to have followed re-
nounced their right to the tribune, as it was the general
wish of the Diet to come to the decision.

" On the vote being taken, the report of the Commis-
sion was almost unanimously- adopted.
" The Marshal called for three cheers for the King,
which was very warmly given, and
"M. Camphauseß, the Royal Commissioner, in the
name of his Majesty, declared the Diet dissolved.

The differences between the calico-printers and
their masters have been arranged, but considerable un-
easiness continues to exist on account of the difference,.
between the workmen themselves on the labour ques-
tion. One set contend for being paid by the day, and
are outrageous against what they call the injustice of
of one man being permitted to earn more than
another, whilst the other set prefer job-work, and
consider it unjust that the active and industrious
labourer should not be enabled to profit by his
superior industry and ability.
There is no truth in the report that a strong remon-
strance had been received from the English Govern
ment against any interference by Prussia in the affairs
of Schleswig-Holstein.