The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-11
FOREIGN.
Additional In, ,se..ce by the Caledonia.


tended by magnificent enue, proceeded 10 the White
hill of the palace, where he was received with three
rounds Of applause The Diet was declared assembled,
the King assembled the throne, sat down, and delivered
speech almost long message OF one OF our Presl-
dents OF which the English papers publish bad trans
lation.
In this speech the King apologies for his fathers vo-
ation of his promise give Prussia representative
suton, by saying that he prevented from doing it
by the mpracticabty of the plans laid before him With
regard to himself, he says: "As the heir of unweak-
ened CROWN which must and will hand down unweak-
ened to my descendants, know that perfectly free
from all and every pledge with respect to what has not
been carried out and above ALL with respect to that from
the execution of which his true patena conscience
preserved my iustrous predecessor" He process 10
tell the Diet that he has allowed them within certain ne
cessary limits, the power of granting taxes ana prom
Uses that sfrom this time forward he, Twin the sole
necessary exception of the occurrence OF the caahy Oh
war; will contract no state loan levy no new axes nor
increase existing ones, without the Tree consent OF all
orders"
As "a .the conversion of the natural relation between
power and people into conventional existence, as
sured by charters and ratified by oahs" the King says;
PRUSSIA gentemen--Prussa cannot bear such state
of things Do you ask why! answer, cast your eyes
its component parts follow the line of our borders;
weigh the power of neighbors throw, before ALL an
enlightened glance our history 1t has pleased God to
make Prussia strong by the sword OF war from with
out and by the sword of intellect from within;
not surely, by the negative intellect of the age, but
by the spirit OF moderation and order speak out bold
ly, gentlemen AS in the camp unless in cases OF the
most urgent danger grosses folly the command can
only be vested in the will Of so can the desnies OF
this country, unless it is to fall instantly from Its height,
only be guided by one will"
Lest the people should form any hopes OF government
strictly CONSTITUTIONAL the king says
81 am forced to the solemn declaration that power
earth will ever succeed in moving me to change the
NATURAL and in our own case, so mperatvey necessary
relation between prince and people into something mere.
ly conventional constitutional, that once for ALL will
never suffer written sheet OF paper to force itself as
it second providence, between our Lord God in
Heaven and this people, IN order to rule us with Its para
graphs and to replace by them our ancient and hme-ha
lowed trusty reliance on each other
The German press appears to give the Prussian mon
arch some anxiety The press, he says, owes him in
particular manner its thanks, but it is Notwithstanding,
nnquesonabe, that in some portion OF ga dark spirit
OF destruction prevails spirit that entces to revolution,
and that deals in the most audacous fasehood and he
declares that he appeals the people from all the ndg
mites to which he and his government have for some
years been exposed from that quarter The thought is
good one, and if literally carried into effect by removal
of the restraints the press in Prussia, and single re-
lance on the public of justice, the monarch would
show both good sense and consistency.
Another of apprehension expressed in the speech
is that the Diet will exceed its proper province He tells
them;
81 here give you my royal word that should not have
called you together had had the smallest suspicion that
YOU had any desire to play the part of what called
representatives of the people should not have called
you together for that purpose because according to my
deepest and most heartfelt conviction, the throne and
state would be endangered by it, and because recognise
it as my first duty under all circumstances and events to
preserve the throne the state and my government as
they al present exist.
The government of Prussia has prepared certain regua
lions for the sings of the Diet, OF which the following
Aare part:
Acertan number of sworn shorthand writers are to
charged with the complete reporting OF the proceed
he ocoI hxrf thu
employed to make the process verbal by whom all Often
sve expressions to be struck out The report must
then be submitted for approval to the marshal OF the Diet
Upon the expressed wish of the assembled Diet the re-
ports, approved shall be made public IN complete
form with the Of the speakers. through the col,
unns of the Prussian Universal Gazette. This qualified
sort of publication is still further shackled by two some
what stringent restrictions. The Diet may forbid the
publication of any particular Debates when the publica-
ton appears undesrabe and our royal commissioner has
also the right to prohibit the publication OF particular de-
bates The deputies Of the cities and rural communes
to be paid eut of the public treasury three thaers
day independent OF expenses OF ocopoton) during the
sitting of the Diet.
"The marshal OF the Diet fixes the affairs OF the order
OF the day names the committees and has the right TO in
errup the speakers when he thinks proper The speak
speak from the tribune No written report can be
read by the assembly The marshal determines the Or
der in which the speakers are to address the assembly
In it's first sitting on the 18th OF April, the Diet resov
ed that it would Immediately make of the power CIV
zen by the oath section OF the regulations to publish its
discussions II appears from the general statement OF
the proposals to be laid before the Diet by the govern
ent that the revenues of the Kingdom estimated at
64o3s, GOT rix dollars, which l2649,2is Xix dollars
more than that Of the year 1914
The Prussian cabinet, it is said, intend to present to
the Diet drafts OF the following laws:
al law to regulate the civil condition OF the Jews
"2 Alaw to abolish the duties miers and butchers,
and the personal taxes which will be replaced by sys-
tenn of taxation like the ircome tax in England; the
revenue below 5000 will be exempt, but individuals
coming under this class will remain subject to personal
tax.
a3 Alaw on bills of exchange
"4 The reorganization of the patrimonal tribunals,
and not their abolition, as has been announced.
"5 project for the construction of the government
railway to Kongsberg the expense of which will amount
The Journal des Debas describes the effect of the dehv
cry OF the speech OF the Prussian monarch in these
words:
"The strange impression which the royal speech pro-
duced the auditory depicted the counenances
OF all. The assembly was thrown into great agitation.
A considerable number OF deputies had determined on
Immediately quitting Berlin and returning home, but the
counses of prudence and moderation prevailed and the
excitement by degrees subsidized. The correspondent OF
the Cologne Gazette properly observes that the Kings
speech had placed from the onset the elaboration OF the
Diet on ground widely different from that which the
MEMBERS in their preparatory meetings. intended to as
sume.'
The Union Monarcheque, legitimis Paris journal,
says, on the other hand
''This Prince-whom some have called phdosophe but
whom we shall call wsehas comprehended all the dam
gers of rendering the royal authority too feeble He
does not think that ought to be nrnged by too hasy
Concessions He wishes-to make use of his own
Al HE htrh L. .zl xl..s