The daily union., 1846-10-23
From our European correspondent
No. Nv,
FsAsEFoRr-oS-raE-M MAns,
September ~, l646.

.a. E.a FhAkkFohr-ok-rhE-MAh
September ~, l646.
Dean SIR: Although this is a free, Il rs not, nor
ever was, Hometown. IL is called Frsnkfort-on-
thc-Maine, IA contradistinetion--the river Maine
running through it--of Frankfort, in Prussia, town
which was formerly member of the Hanseatic
league, and which Is usually designated Frankfort
on-the Oder This place enjoyed its freedom, and
Tree trade, from lisa until IL joined the German
IONS union, some six or eight years snce by which
act subjected 10 the tariff Of Imports, and other
regulations, imposed by this association. BY yir-
Tue OF declaration of the congress of Vienna, in
1913, II was recognised one OF the free towns Of
tho 6ermane confederation, and, on account Of its
central location was chosen fos the seat of the Diet
II Is emphaticallya city Of sgsngsr- -disisngas
groa. .noroughiare for Europe--wrere every power
ana petty state has representative Of some grade
or other IL 10 believed that at no European court
as mach Information can be Obtained as all that is
iranspirng IN the different governments as here. IL
mol unirequently occurs that, that which most en-
cages the cabinets Of Austria, France, &c, is known
among diplomats before Il is breathed beyond the
pale OF their immediate sphere. | deem il proper
thus mlnutely to notice Frankfort on-the Maine be-
cause intend 10 address from IL series Of letters
TO you for the perusal my countrymen. E
The Diet isat this time in session. Il is COM
posed OF ofthirty'three members, thrty-two OF whom
represent the sovereign princes Of the confederation
and one represents the -four cities Austria furnish
20 'he Pacoiucnts meet once week, anu
are seldom IA session longer than two hours. As
they st with closed doors, their proceedings
er published by authority although occasionally they
Ind their way, through an unknown channel into the
political journals ofthe day. The powers Of the Diet
are ofa very limited nature. They extend merely
to the maintenance Of the internal and external safely
OF Germaoy, and the inyolability OF the rights and
Independence Of the various soyeregntes as estab-
lshed Ly the treaty OF Vienna. Nevertheless, ques.
tons Of an Intricate charcter occasionally are pre-
sented for its consideration A very important one
has recently required its deliberations and the deep
est solicifude nanifestsd for tho result The king
OF Denmark, by letters patent, OF the 9Th Of July
last, expressed determination TO establish an abso
luis right 10 the Duehy Of Schleswg. in favor Of
the Danish crown; but was less explicit as TO his
purposes concerning the Duchy Of Holstein. With
respect 10 Schleswig, the absolute succession was
guaranteed to Denmark by England and France in
the treaty of Adtkholm Of June 3, 1870; but Hol-
stein stands in different position, and the public
mind was at once infamed by the ercumstsnce,
that document from the king should convey an
nma,ion Of his designs to control her future desti
nles. As a part of the Germanc confederation, she
appealed 10 the QiS That body has\Riven ute
rance TO rs sentiments in the following decision;
"His majesty, king of Denmark, duke of Ho-
stein and Lauenburg, having made known, by the
declaration Of the 7h Of fSepember, in reply to the
petition addressed TO the Diet by the states Of Ho-
stein on the Sd Of August, that he had enter
tanned the idea Of attacking the Independence Of the
Duchy of Holstein, nor TO arbitrarily modify either
its constitutions the other institutions which the
customs or the laws had rendered sacred his maes-
ty having, moreover, given the assurance that his
efforts to regulate the order Of succession Of that
duchy had not for It's object TO interfere with the e-
gitimaie right Of the Agnats; in fine, the inten-
ton Of iptaining intact the constitutional right Of
petition, being manifestly expressed by his majes-
ty, the upper Diet feels confident that by deciding
N N off M.
July, his majesty will respect the rights Of ALL
and particularly those Of the confederation-the e-
climate rights Of the Agnats and those of the legal
ofthe country. While reserying to
itself the right, organ of the confederation to
avail itself in of need of its constitutional COM
petence, the Diet declares that it cannot see, in the
states Of Holsten, the legal representatives Of the
federal state to that assembly; their mission should
be confined to the defence of their constitutional
rights, and that the complaint Of those states on the
subject of the changes made, in an illegal manner on
heir constitution, is not well-founded. On the 9th
sr hand, the Diet considers that the order transmit
ed by his majesty to the royal commissioners to
he states, not TO receive any petitions re-
monsrances relative to the right OF succession,
not, when interpreted in absolute manner, in ac-
;ordance with the literal meaning of the law of May
lS, 1881 3D. The Diet is pleased to render justice TO
he sentiments of patriotism, which this occasion
nave manifested themselves in Germany; but it,, at
he same time, depores the hateful accusations and
which have been evnced. 1t express.
IS hope and confidence that the federal govern
nents viii apply themselves 10 put end to those
passionate agitalions. Neither does il doubt but
hat his majesty the king Of Denmark will hasten
o act in the same manner with the most entire re-
'iprocity. 3D.. The representative Of Denmark is
equested to make known this resolution to his
,ourt." . .t
Most of the German governments concur in the
opinions expressed by the Diet, but the public mind
,.Ea 7, IL
hey contain the foreshadowings of the loss of one
If the richest duohies Of Gsmania through the ma
of one more insncere monarchs. The
population of Denmark proper amounts to about
900, ,000 that Of Schleswig to $40 000 and that of
Holsten and Laucnburg to 490 600 Without Hol-
,tein and Lauenburg, Denmark would be one of the
most inconsiderabe kingdoms in Europe.
The Austrian cabinet has recently addressed a cir
,ular to all the German governments upon the con-
titon of the newspaper press. Its tendency is CEN
sidered dangerous to the tranquility and we-being
'f crowned heads and the tightening and strengthen
ing of the muzzle, which has been placed upon it by
The Diet, is most devoutly wished for. The Bremen
journals are those to which most exception is taken,
not only by Austria, but by Prussia The "Weser
Gazette" while it has never descended TO anything
like licentiousness nevertheless expresses itself for
chilly and freely on all prominent questions, for
which reason the king Of Prussia has ordered its cir
culation to be discontinued in his realm! This
policy will be found an entirely mistaken
one, for truth and light cannot be fetered with any
chains, that they will in due time burst asunder
The friends Of the prohibited journal win always
seek some method by which they will procure il
regularly The censorship ofthe press is an entire
mistake in the stateaof the confederation; and the
il is abolished the better il will be for the
different sovereignties interested. In an age like
this, when spirit Of inquiry is co-ex,ensive with
civilization, its purposes are not atainabe. The
American, English, and French papers publish what
they please--of course holding themselves respon-
sible for the consequences-a fact known to every
intelligent German; and the circumstance of this
liberty being withheld from the German papers, oc,
casions more discomfort with their rulers, than
If the outrages committed from time TO time by them
were exposed to the public eye. Moreover, the
press is permitted to animadvert freely upon Amer
lean and English affairs, and the question IL contin-
ualy presenting itself to the reader, why Is that
German affairs is not thus freely commented uponl