Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-02-25
FORETG.r ITTELLIGErCE.
CoNTINUATIoN OF
LATE FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE,
Received by the British siooh oFzvar Rauo-
RTE, orrfUeG at Ne1v York.
AFFAIRS OF GERMANY.

\ me Following from German paper, is
a more complete copy than appeared in the
French Journals, of the important note pre-.
sented on the 10Th ult. to the courts of Wen
ma and Berlin, by the ENJOYS of the minor
| German States. a copy Of the same note
was presented to Count Munster. for the
purpose of being communicated TO the Prince
Regent Of England.
The 9th article of the treaty OF Paris,
| signed by the principal powers OF Europe,
| having established as basis of the future
| constitution Of Germany the fundamental
! princip's that the German states should be
independent and united ~ federative
| lea tue, the constituents Of the undersigned,
as wei, as ether German states having SINH
lar relations with themselves, we're entitled
! to expect that they would he invited 70 de.
| liberations which have for their object th,,
| fufnre constitution and union of their Com
| mon country
| &c This. howeve~, has not hitherto been
! done, and besides the g~ea. powers, Arstrra
| AMI Prussia. who were parties to the treaty
of Paris, some German Courts. stanting in
| the same predicam Eat, with a much urea er
| number who have not been invited, appear
| DESTROYS of setting themselves forward 50
! representatives of the majori'y Of their Ger
man co-estates.
In this situation Of m Nst importaut cri.
| sis for GERMANY, the undersigned, afar thar
| the opening of TIE Congress has been o'fic, 3.
ally announced, and their full powers have
| been given in, think it due 20 the digniy of
their constituents, aud required by their
duties toward Germany. their conmon
country, and the many mil ions whom they
represent, no longer 70 remain silent.
The sovereignty of the German States
has been acknowledged by the high allied
powers ]; and If, in treaties of accession con-
GUIDED by the majority Of the German Prin.
ces, they engaged n their part TO adhere
| TO the measures which should be Judged ne
cesslry for maintaining tie independence of
Germany, they BY 90 means, BY that en-
gagement, rennunced the right of co-ooera
ting in framing those meaSures. The cues
ton, whether these necessary measures
should be framed exclusively by few GeC-
| man powers, constituting minority of those
Interested is one upon which the aboYe
| mentioned treaties OF accession are entirely
| silent, and they consequently leave uDtouch
ed the originally equal right of the parties
| Interested entering into the league Of the
I! German States, to give heir free suffrage
| for the organic laws of,het league.
Taking this stand on these treaties Of
! accession on the stipulaticns OF the treaty of
| Paris, and on the principles of the law of
! nations, the constituent OF the undersigned
| will never renounce the share they are en-
| titled TO take in the constitution OF the
| league they must, on the ccntrary, insist,
| that this right inherea; in all the tribes of
the German nation be exercised by AL the
governments in an equitable node. which
may be fixed, This is what they expressly
claim by the present note.
" On the other hand, they will feel CRATE
tu' when their maiesties the Emperor of
Austria and the King Of Prussia shall COM
| mun'cate to them for discussion and ad0D-
ton. plans for the future constitution of Ger
| many, founded on the, basis of rhe above
claimed equality OF right. aud OF a complete
representation of all the members of me
league. as well rs any other measures which
may be deemed necessary FOR the indepenA
dence and liberty Of Gerlpany and Ger.
| mans and they will prove their DISPOSE
tons to agree. for tie general good. to such
limitation of their sovereignty, both in re-
gard To the interior Of their states. and their
| external relations, as shall be pronounced
obligatory on all the princes.
In particular. they have come 20 a mus
tual understanding. that, in like manner as
the general constitution Of Germany, should
guard against every arbitrary act effecung
the whole, so, in order to attain the same
object for the separate component parts of
Germany, States General should be appoint
ed in those princiEaiities where there are
none at present, and that the following
rights should be conferred on these Sta.es
General.
al. The right of assent, to the enactment
Of new general laws for this particular couu-
try.
go. The right Of conserving to, and re-
gulating all taxes for the maintenance of the
state.
80. The right Of control over the expen.
diture Of the taxes on objects of common
utility.
90 The right of accusation in case of
maIversation by public functionaries and
other abuses.
AT the same time the right will be left
to the particular soyereignties of organizing
the constitution of their respective states
general, according to the character of their
people, and localities, and the established
customs of each people.
1T is equally then wished that the course
of justice should be in every respect free
from arbitrary interference, and that every
class in society should be subject to their
regular judges.
/" in fine, they are convinced that the Ger
manic constitution will then only receive its
most solid consistency, when a common
chief, who once gave to the German union
the first rank among the nations Of Europe,
shalt be placed at the head of the associa.
| ton of the German states in order to Sc.