The Sun.
London, England, 1850-09-17 00:00:00

Cuienina

LONDON, TUESDAY. SEPTEMBER 17, 1850.

A deplorable illustration has just been afforded of
the necessity for some systematic re-organization of
the Federated States of Germany. Hesse Cassel has,
this time, been the arena of a political struggle, de-
monstrating more clearly than ever the baneful con-
sequences of the present scheme of Confederation. In
order to comprehend the precise character of this
movement it must be borne in recollection that the
principality in question is one whose affairs are con-
ducted, in some respects, under peculiarly advan-
tageous, and in others under peculiarly disadvantageous
circumstances—circumstances materially affecting
the merits of the principle contended for by the in-
ternecine belligerents. Cursed with one of the most
unpopular rulers in Germany, Hesse has ever since
1831 been blessed with one of the most judiciously
conceived and exquisitely balanced constitutions.
The form of government secured to the Electorate,
on the occa,,ion of that revolutionary explosion
which invested the Ducal House of Orleans with the
purple of sovereignty, was shown, indeed, to have
been fashioned with consummate judgment on
that more recent and more formidable mindquake of
of 184 s, which scattered to the winds and the waves
the dynasty of the Barricades. At the moment when
almost every country throughout the European con-
tinent was endeavouring to avail itself of the oppor-
tunity presented for the modification of charters, for
the re-arrangement of authorities, for the re-distri-
bution of responsibilities, the small but important
Electorate of Hesse Cassel showed itself to be
satisfied with the boon of constitutional ad-
ministration acquired during the last political
convulsion. Tnis satisfaction, moreover, was ex-
pressed notwithstanding the unpopularity of the
reigning ELECTOR, an unpopularity provoked by his
own harsh policy and arbitrary temperament. Nor
can we regard the occurrences which have just taken
place between himself and his subjects as proving
anything more glaringly than the justice of that
prejudice against the Prince and that partiality for
the government.

While the Elector of HESSE has displayed the
vices of his despotic character in a manner calcu-
lated to cover his name With an universal
odium, the institutions of Hesse have revealed their
strength and elasticity with a distinctness beyond the
reach of misapprehensiot. The rivalry between the
one and the other, between the Prince and the people,
the ruler and the constitution, the law and the chief
magistrate, having been originated by incidents of a
very simple and conspicuous description, may be
readily explained, and we doubt not but that when
explained, even those who are most enamoured with
the dogmas of tyranny will acknowledge the atrocity
of the attempt made by the Hessian- ELECTOR, to
subvert the constitutional authority of his dominions,
and the dignity and the decision with which those
mendacious advances s ere repelled by the Hessian
population. Like all arbitrary sovereigns, the Elector
of HESSE, jealous of the liberties of his people, has
shown himself in a peculiar degree jealous of the
rights and privileges of the Parliament. Elected by

the Hessian multitude, the Parliament of that Elec-
torate has since the period of its organization in 1831
retained the exclusive privil(ge of voting
the annual supplies to the Government, pre-
cisely as in the case of our own House of
Commons. Against this supreme, or rather funda-
mental right, the ELECTOR has long betrayed a horror
as complete as that of CHARLES I. of England. In
order to gratify his hatred of the privilege, and, if
possible, to bring about its ultimate dissipation, he has
at length entered upon a course of proceeding as wild
and 'Anse nsate, as violent and, we believe, as disastrous,
as that adopted by CHARLES X. of France. Having
convoked the popular Assembly at as late a period in
the year as possible, the Elector of HESSE caused his
Ministerial advisers to submit to the Chamber the
annual demand for supplies, refusing, at the same
time, to lay before the Parliament the customary ac-
counts and estimates. Of course any vote such as
was required by the Cabinet was indignantly withheld
by the Assembly, and the result was soon discovered
by its abrupt dissolution.

So far the ELECTOR ventured to go, aided and
abetted in his arbitrary decisions by his con.
genial servant, the Prime Minister HASSENFPLUG.
But they went further. The demand for
supplies, rejected by the Chamber, was sub-
mitted to the Committee—that being a body
which, according to the judicious contrivance of the
constitution, is entrusted with Parliamentary func-
tions at all times between the dissolution and the re-
assembling of Parliament. The Committee showed
itself worthy of exercising those Parliamentary
functions ; it refused the vote of supplies as
indignantly and resolutely as the Assembly.
Thereupon, HASSENFFLUG, acting in accord-
ance with the arbitrary wishes of his master,
proceeded boldly to extremities. On the sth
of September he issued a declaratory ordinance for
the collection of the taxes, commanding that all direct
and indirect imposts should be levied in the absence of
any legal budget. This was followed on the 7th of
September by another ordinance, placing the whole
country in a state of siege. Since the publication of
those despotic and illegal documents the Electorate
has been subjected to military jurisdiction. All the
institutions of the state, civil and military, ex-
cepting only the courts of justice, have been
placed under the command of a military
dictator. Journals have been suppressed, placards
torn from the walls, meetings prohibited. The whole
land has groaned under the affliction of a sort of po-
litical interdict. Meanwhile the people cf Hesse have
by their conduct proved themselves worthy of
the liberties guaranteed to them by their constitution•
The popular Committee, declaring itself " in perma-
nence," has brought to bear against the unpopular
Minister the whole force of its constitutional
opposition. They have already, in fact, gone so far
as to decree his apprehension and impeachment; while
the ordinances of the Court and the Cabinet have been
formally declared illegal by a judgment of the
chief civil court of the Electorate. Such is the suc-
cess of the constitutional party in Hesse, so complete
is the political checkmate, that the obnoxious ELEC-
TOR, accompanied by the unpopular HASSENPFLUG
and several of his Ministerial colleagues, have aban-
doned the field to their adversaries, escaping
from the strong hand of the law by a flight
both precipitate and ignominious. Alluding to
these occurrences, the Journal des Debate
observes, very justly and sententiously, that the popu-
lation, indignant at such a gratuitous violation of the
National Charter, adopted, with a patience worthy of
a better cause, as a means of crushing the treasonous
enterprize, all the constitutional (and only the consti-
tutional) weapons of resistance. 'Without an insur-
rectionary movement, without an outbreak of any kind
whatever, the people have triumphed over their arbitrary
ELECTOR, and have vindicated the merits of their liberal
and enlightened constitution. Nevertheless, the danger
to the state is very far indeed from having been alto-
gether avoided. Intervention is still imminent on
the part of some other and more powerful princi-
pality. The ELECTOR may be brought back by the
bayonets of his allies, and thrust with his ob-
noxious policy upon the unwilling acceptance of the
Hessian multitude. This calamity, be it observed, is
rendered possible by the existing system of relation-
ship organized among the states of Germany—a
system as detrimental to the interests, and
as prejudicial to the liberties of each
respective principality, as it is injurious
to the cause, the glory, and the power of the whole
Germanic Confederation. It-is earnestly to be hoped
that a new and powerful incentive may be given to
the labours of the Central Diet by the late important
struggle between the Hessians and their Government•

Repeatedly as we have commented upon the shame-
less extravagance visible in our dockyards, we can-
not but avail ourselves of every opportunity which
appears to illustrate yet more clearly the fact of this
profligate and useless expenditure. Our pertinacity
upon this subject is attributable to a painful sense of
the energies, of the resources, of the wealth, and of
the intelligence which are squandered about in mere
experiments. A letter addressed to a morning Con-
temporary demonstrates in a rather novel and impres-
sive manner the nature of this enormous evil, proving
more conspicuously than ever the necessity for some
wholesome and comprehensive supervision. "In
the year 1830," says the anonymous writer,
" I visited Portsmouth Dockyard. The Nep-
tune was then building—a magnificent first-rate
—to carry 136 guns. I looked upon her with awe
and veneration, as a type of our maritime superiority,
destined to carry terror to our enemies, protection to
our commerce, and to renew our ancient glory on the
deep." So much for the first act in the Comedy of
Errors relating to the Neptune. The curtain drops
in the midst of the golden dreams of the spectator. A.
considerable period is supposed to have elapsed be-
tween that time and its second rising, for we find the
writer proceeding thus :—" Twenty years after-
wards I again visited Portsmouth Dockyard. I found
my old acquaintance, the Neptune, in dock repair-
ing, though she had never been to sea. The scales
fell from my eyes, and, with something akin to con-
tempt, I viewed her as one amongst the many means
by which Ministerial candidates secure votes for the
borough of Portsmouth—in plain words—a gross and
gigantic bribe." A miserable lesson is taught by
this reflection, such a lesson as it would be worth
while for the electors to bear in mind,
when taking into consideration the merits of
a Ministerial candidate. " If," says the
writer of the letter, in conclusion, "I survive another
twenty years, and am able to hobble once again
through the dockyard, I expect to find my old ac-
quaintance, like myself, breaking up." The conjec-
ture is unhappily but too reasonable. Of this the nation
has been already assured by a bitter experience. The
Neptune, though a glaring, is anything but an isolated
instance of such extravagance. For all the good that is
derived from such productions,our shipbuilders might as
reasonably have been employed in constructing flying
machines on the principle of Mr. HENSON, or flying
islands on the plan of Mr. GULLIVER. If such absurdi-
ties are permitted to repeat themselves, when can we
rationally hope to witness either an efficient navy or a
judicious retrenchment ?

THE QUEEN or THE BELGIANS.—The last accounts
of the state of the health of her Majesty the Queen of the
Belgians are much more favourable. Two physicians from
pans and her Majesty's ordinary medical attendant have
held a consultation, and have pronounced that the alarming
symptoms have diminished during the last few days.
Auscultation has been adopted, and no imminent symptoms
have been discovered. Her Majesty enjoys good rest, and
there is no lever.

THE GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' Cold-
PANY.—Yesterday a large number of the shareholders con-
nected with the above-mentioned company met at their
works on Bow-common, f. r the purpose of inspecting the
progress of the same, ani reporting proceedings. Mr. Charles
Pearson, City Solicitor, was present, and also several mem-
bers of the Corporation. The party proceeded to view the
enormous gasometers, four iu number, now being prepared
for the supply of the City, and the several subordinate
works, after wh ch they examined the commodious premises
which it is intended to use for retorts, refining-houses, coal-
sheds, and other necessary appurtenances. The site is close
by the Blackwall (batch) Railway to Bow, from which
point it may be seen to advantage. It was stated upon the
ground that the whole of the pipes for suppling the city of
London are now laidi and that such supply might be expected
in the course of a teik days. Both the quantity required and
the quality of the gas have been tested, and the result has
proved highly satisfactory. The directors retired, highly
pleased with the statements made by the engineer and his
officers, by whom the shareholders were assured that they
would receive their supply of gas by the time specified in
their contract, viz., the 29th inst. .
MORE PENNYSUBSCRIPTIONS.—A news-agent of
this town has issued handbills, inviting parties to contribute
to a penny subscription, the object of which. is to raise a fund
for erecting a statue in honour of Barc jay and Perkins's
dreynten !--,Liverpool