The Sun.
London, England, 1867-04-16 00:00:00

dream, and after spurring up each other for some
time, Ministers and Deputies have come to a better
understanding, and concession and compromise are
the order of the day. Count BISMARCK has devoted
all his energies to the accomplishment of the task,
and has lately made an impressive speech, in
which he declared that, if the Opposition prevented
him from completing the work which had been
begun, he " should request the KING to relieve him
from his post." No doubt this was a very safe
threat; but at any rate the House listened favour-
ably to the propositton3 of the Ministers, to the
effect that a sort of compromise should be effected.
All the new amendments that appeared were re-
jected, and the article referring to the payment of
the Deputies was struck out. llence, the House
has rescinded i's former resolution in favour
of such par:tent. This is a satisfactory
arrangement at any rate, and we arc very glad of
it, because nothing but confusion could possibly
have arisen had the plan of payment been carried
The scenes that are constantly taking place
across the Atlantic surely furnish specimens that he
who runs may read as to the folly of pursuing
such a course, and the success of the North Ger-
man Parliament is already so problematical that it
needs the imposition of no additional drawback.
It is now believed that an entente cordiale may
be considered to exist between the authorities on
one hand, and the members on the other ; but of
course this cannot altogether be relied on as cer-
tain, for there is no knowing what a day may
bring forth in such a complicate] state of things,
and with the requirements of BISMARCK and the
suspicions of the House it is very improbable that
no more contentions should occur. We have no
great faith in the working of this scheme of a
general Parliament, but since matters have gone so
far it will be as well to get things settled as
speedily as possible. Many interests are involved
in the arrangements now pending, and the state
of uncertainty and suspense in which people are
being kept is injurious.

out.

Count BISMARCK has an anxious time of it just
now, and no doubt would be delighted to see the
end of his labours a little nearer, for it is one thing
to make plans and another to carry them out. There
has not been any alacrity displayed by those who
have settled the preliminaries of this German Par-
liament to do the bidding of the Berlin Government,
nor have they testified the willingness which was so
much anticipated; on the contrary, there have been
news of strife and contention, such as were only
equalled by the sittings of the Prussian Chambers.
The secret lies in the fact that when the war was
over men began to ask themselves what they had
been fighting for, and foresaw more danger in giving
unlimited confidence to Count BISMARCK, and
allowing him to act as he liked.

It is almost amusing to notice the excitement
which prevails in certain quarters in Prussia to put
a stop to the rumours in circulation a bout Luxemburg.
The New Prussian Gaztle of yesterday publishes a
telegram from Luxemburg statingthat in the German
Duchy there are numerous addresses in circulation,
which petition the King of HOLLAND to maintain
the independence of Luxemburg, which addresses
are receiving thousands of signatures. It must be
remarked en passant that we did not see such
anxiety testified on the part of Prussian journals to
make known the desire for independence
and the dislike of annexation which were
deeply felt and frequently expressed in
many quarters at the time when Count
BISMARCK was maturing his plans with so much
celerity a few months ago. Then it was quite a
different story, but jealousy of France and suspicion
of Holland have sharpened the wits and cleared the
vision of these political investigators. Perhaps it
is censurable to make the remark, now that some
time has elapsed since the war with Austria, that as
yet we have no proof of the great benefits that have
accrued from the new regime. The Prussians are not
happier, they are not more contented, and they are
not certainly more respected than they were before
Europe was aroused from its dream of peace to wit-
ness the horrors of civil war. Of the two there is
positive disunion prevailing among the Prussians
themselves, and already many similar prophecies
are in circulation as to the duration of the peace
and prosperity of BISMARCK. The real tug of war
will not commence, however, until the completion
of the arrangement of the Constitution. Then
it will be seen if the intellect of collective Germany
will submit to be crushed down at the dictation of
Prussia, and if the several States which have been
forced into compliance will yield that assistance
without which the success of the scheme is impos-
sible. It is one thing to win the day in a fight, and
another to maintain supremacy in the affairs of
home policy. We shall not be surprised if the star
of Count BISMARCK, which has so long been in the
ascendant, now begins to wane, and finally disap-
pear from the horizon ; a result which will put a stay
to the present comprehensive schemes and changes.

A few days later news from New York shows us
that the agitation respecting the Reconstruction
Act is far from abating. Mississippi has taken
active steps, and has petitioned the supreme Court,
through Judge STARKEY and Mr. WALKER, to grant
an injunction to restrain the execution of the ob-
noxious enactment. The petitioners argue that the
act is unconstitutional, null and void, since it con-
tradicts the pledge of the Central Government to
protect State rights, substitutes military for civil
law, and sanctions arrest and punishment without
due process of law or trial by jury. The petition

further avers that illiss;ssippi cannot under the
constitution be expelled from the Union, and
that its citizens cannot therefore forfeit their
political rights except in individual cases of misde-
meanour. It claims that the subject is within the
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, and states that
the petitioners will abide by its decision. The
Court fixed an early day for hearing the applica-
tion, so that a very important question will pro-
bably be debated. The petitioners are wise in fol-
lowing this course. The Supreme Court can hardly
allow the terms of the Reconstruction Act to be
constitutional. For a civil tribunal to recognise the
superiority of military over the civil law in time of
peace would be most suicidal as well as un-
constitutional, and the former proceedings
of the judicial authorities render it very
unlikely that they will adopt such a course.
It is said that a number of the principal Southerners
representing several Stites intend to apply to the
Court for an injunction to restrain the PRESIDENT
and General ORD from carrying the Act into execu-
tion on the ground of its unconstitutionality. The
PRESIDENT is raid by some to countenance this
movement, by others to oppose it; but all accounts
seem to agree that the Southerners are determined
upon invoking the aid of the Court against the
enforcement of the Act. A united and temperate
movement may probably produce important effects,
and, in fact, the issue rests with the Supreme
Court. Six months ago the Court might have
hesitated to oppose the Radicals, but since then
their power and influence have been on the wane.
It is true that the mischievous legislation of the
pist still bears its fruit in the present, and it will
be long if ever its effects are removed. The Exe-
cutive has been curtailed of its rights and privileges
in every direction; between the overweening arro-

fiance and love of domination of the Radical party
on the one hand, and their vindictive personal
dislike to Mr. JOHNSON on the other. The Tenure
of Office Bill has deprived the head of
the Government of the power of removing
or appointing Ministers—a most unprece-
dented and unwarrantable proceeding. The
Executive, indeed, has the right of nominating
Ministers, but the Senate must confirm the appoint-
ments. What should we think if Lord DERBY or
Lord RUSSELL were obliged to submit his appoint-
ments to the House of Lords for their approval ?
The despotism fashionable in America is of a pecu-
liar order. It is veritably the despotism of the
many, and so far from the Legislature being the
guardian of popular rights and individual liberties,
it is the common enemy, the source and origin, and
fomentor of all mischief. One of the leading
Republican journals, in referring to the recent
contests in Maryland, says that it is an attempt to
revolutionise the relation of States to the Govern-
ment, and to lay the foundation of a central power,
to whose dictation all States must submit. This is
the danger which President JOHNSON long since fore-
saw, and of which he warned the people who were
too heedless or too infatuated to accept the warning.
They have set the machine going, and are now
astonished at the work it has effected. The vehe-
mence and recklessness of the ultra party may be
guessed from the fact that the old recognised
leaders of Republicanism are no longer able to
keep pace with the advocates of the new theories.
Negro suffrage is no longer recommended or
sought for in ordinary argumentative fashion ; it
is to be enforced on unwilling states. Mr. SEWARD,
who was an earnest and consistent Abolitionist
years before the Radicals of to-day were heard of,
refuses to adopt such a doctrine, and is consequently
denounced as a traitor to the cause. THURLOW
WEED, not generally a man of much moderation,
has the sense to see the dangers of the headlong
course pursued by his party ; perhaps his judgment
is aided by the fact of his own loss of influence.
"We of the North," he says in a recent
statement, " have become as exacting and
aggressive after as Southern men were before the
rebellion." The South has learned wisdom
through adversity ; the North has its lesson
yet to learn. The people of the North, however,
will never consent to the compulsory adoption of
negro suffrage, and day by day the Radicals are
losing their prestige. The refusal of the Senate
to confirm the appointment of General SLOCUM as
naval officer of the port of New York has excited
general disgust. It is so evident that no man,
however distinguished by long and arduous
public service, however loyal to the Union,
however individually qualified, has a chance
of success with Congress unless he belong to the
absolute and intolerant faction which so largely pre-
dominates in the Legislature. General SLOC U3l
went through all the war, and distinguished himself
in most of the principal engagements, commanding
one of the two columns of that memorable march
which virtually decide the fate of the war. Yet he
is rejected, as well- as two or three other men of
character and ability, but not the extreme Radicals.
Another incident has just occurred which has natu-
rally excited much comment. Gen. BUTLER, of
New Orleans notoriety, has brought forward in
Congress some extraordinary facts. It seems that
BOOTH'S diary, in which he chronicled his plans and
proceedings from day to day, fell into the hands of
the Government, but was kept back. The evidence
which it afforded would have cleared poor Mrs.
SURRATT, but for some unexplained reason no
mention was made of it. Also from this diary
18 pages are missing, no one knowing who has cut
them out. The pages refer to the events preceding
the assassination, and would therefore be most
valuable. It is altogether a most discreditable
affair, and likely to damage the Radical party stil
more.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Monday Evening.

A despatch in the 3.1 oniteur states that on the
10th inst. the Parliament of Northern Germany
agreed to the first reading of the Federal Consti-
tution article by article, and then agreed to its
adoption entire. On the next day the Commis-
saries of the Confederate States met in conference
to examine the modifications proposed in the ori-
ginal project with a view to agree to such as might
appear to be desirable. The Diet was to meet again
this day (the 15th) to come to a final decision
upon the subject.

The convocation of the Prussian Parliament to
consider the resolutions respecting the Federal
Constitution of the North of Germany will be
hastened as much as possible, as that Constitu-
tion involves the necessity of making modifica-
tions in the Prussian Constitution, according to
which two separate votes are necessary at an in-
terval of three weeks.

The Presse of Vienna states that circular notes
addressed by France and Prussia to the Powers
who signed the treaty of 1839 have been re-
ceived iu that city. In the note sent by France it
is declared that the changes which have taken plAce
in Germany, and particularly the dissolution of the
Confederation, have given to the Grand Duke of
Luxembourg the power to dispose of that province.
Prussia, on the other hand, contends that it is obli-
gatory upon her to occupy the fortress of Luxem-
bourg in the name of the Confederation of the
North of Germany, which has been substituted for
the ancient Confederation, and also for the general
interest of Germany.
Another Vienna journal received in Paris states

that many telegrams have recently been exchanged
between the Cabinets of London, Vienna, and St.
Petersburg, the object of which is to induce an
agreement between the Governments of those coun-
tries to make a common declaration of neutrality
relative to the question of Luxembourg. The Duke
de Gramont, the French Ambassador at Vienna, is
said to have been ordered to come to Paris, not so
much in reference to the Luxembourg question as
to confer upon the Eastern question. Upon the
same authority it is stated, that France is desirous
for a Congress of the leading Powers at which the
Luxembourg question may be gravely and impar-
tially discussed, with a view to an amicable solution
of it.
La Liberte gives its opinion, that if England,
Austria, and Russia be consul;ed they will reply
purely and simply, that the claim of Prussia to con-
tinue to occupy the fortress of Luxembourg has no
sort of foundation, as that fortress has ceased to be
Federal, and that it belongs solely to the Grand
Duke of Luxembourg, King of Holland. "
adds this paper, " Prussia, who for six months has
not paid any attention to the protests of the Grand
Duke of ,Luxembourg, persists in her unjustifiable
refusal to evacuate Luxembourg, which with Sar-
velonis, Mayence, and Coblenz, is to France exactly
what were Verna, nantua, Peschiera, and Leguano
to Italy, what will France do ? Will she be less
fortunate or less skilful than Italy, who, threatened
by the Austrian Quadrilateral, changed the menace
into a guarantee? Shall we with our eyes blind-
folded succumb to the Pi ussian Quadrilateral?"
The omnibus boats of the SAne have commenced
their voyage, although the river is rather high and
very rough at present. This mode of transport is
very rapid and economical, and the intention is, if
possible, to continue it even after the Exhibition.
The stoppages at the stations are made with very
little loss of time. About two minutes suffice to fix

the boats to the station and proceed onwards. The
passage from the Pout Neuf to the Pont Notre
Dame on the large arm of the Seine is effected with
extreme rapidity, but.with perfect ease and comfort.
A man at Milbac, in the department of Lot, who