New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-05-11
NETWORK TRIBUNE.
Prussia.

The most extraordinary event tnat now agltates
Monumental Europe is the course now being pur
isaed by the King Of Prussia extraordinary of
Itself and promising fertile consequences.
Il Prussia, since its erection from an Electorate
Into Kingdom, has been a military despotism.
qThe Kings will has been the sole law, and the
ksoldery the instruments of its execution
The present King. Frederick William ~. is q
man of liberal sentiments, or, what is synonymous
Ein our age-of far reaching views. He sees and
yields TO- the necessity of infusrg Liberalism into
the antiquated governments OF Europe
The Inauguration Of the United Diet Of Prussia
by him has served az demonstration Of his prin-
cples Of action and Of his intentions. The London
Times says Of it;
THE fret time In the history Of mankind that the
sbsoute sovereign ,, great nation has paid perfectly
free and disnterested homage the principle of Con
stiuonal Government under constrant or impulse
but that OF his own magnanmous disposition his conn.
dence In the temper Of his people and his enlightened
difference for that public opinion which has made it
self rresistby felt through all the barriers Of despotc
4power"
\ Beside the laws, which the good sense of the
king has induced him to establish, he has conceded
complete religious liberation and has granted pub
ocity of trial in the Criminal Courts OF Justice The
question Of the liberty Of the press he has instruct
ed his Envoy at Frankfort to bring before the F ed
ieral Diet.
| He has granted General Assembly, and the
&prviege of sefimposed taxation-but has denied
in decisive words a scriten Charter. Here follow
ibis remarks thereupon;
Noble Lords and trus,y Orders am forced to the
solemn declaration that no power on earth will
succeed in moving TO change the natural and in
own case 80 imperatyey necessary, relation between
Prince and People into something merely conventional
or constitutional and that, for ALL will never suf
fer written sheet of paper TO force itself in, a. IL were
second Providence, between our Lord God in Heaven
and this people, in order to rule with its paragraphs
and 10 replace by them ancient and time-hslowed
Etrusty reliance on each other. Between be truth
From one weakness feel myself entirely reeI strive
not tor idle popular favor who could do so If he has
read history ariehti strive alone to fulfil my duty so
As TO satisfy my understanding and my conscience and
to the thanks of my people even though 1t be
never my lot to obtain IT,
/ The national debt he said, was fast approaching
extinction the taxes are diminished roads and
= canals and other public works encouraged ;
trade aourishes; and the army is in complete dis
y ciplne and order
> The Royal languagei is most emphatic he speaks
!. like one having authority, and like one, too de.
e termned to use it, The King takes good care to
p tell the Assembly that it is of his own free will and
n not from any rights inherent In themselves that he
u accords these privileges. His acts are far more
K liberal than his sentiments the first the people
will appropriate to themselves: the latter, they
can well afford to leave to him.
He thus closes his address
CLEARLY recognizing" said be- my Office and your
vocson and firmly resolved TO treat that recognition
faithfully under all circumstances, | have appeared
Esmong you and addressed you with Royal freedom -
with the same opennes and the highest proof Of my
n eonf1e in pf a
should not have called you together had j had the
Imses suspicion that you would otherwise understand
Iyour duties that you had any desire TO play the part
Hot what called representatives of the People
tshould not have called you together for that purpose
!because according to my deepest and most heartfelt
Iconvicon the Throne and State would be endangered
10y IT, and because recognize as my fret duty under
ks circumstances and events to preserve the Throne
the State and my Government as they at present OK
list"
i The Kings imperious refusal to grant a written
ncharter-by which his power of abrogation would
be annhsted-is a matter, after all, of but little
umoment. The privileges he has conceded-whether
dictated mostly by sound sense or amiable DISPOSE
y ion-will remain deeply engraven upon the
4 lnds of the people as ii learned from parchment,
ksnd will be as difficult Of reversal.
i The Barons at Runnymede extorted from King
tohn ,rritten charter. That charter however, was
bat more decided enunciation of rights before en-
koyed, and was no less easy of violation, because
Fl had received Royal signature The form OF ex-
preston whether oral written, is but an incident
4 is the idea oonveyed-the end accomplished
hs, constitutes the quality and utility OF an act
| Besides-there being no written oharter-to the
People with the King, is granted equal latitude OF
Interpretation; and on which side soever the com
kentstors are most numerous, in process of time
Pie disciples will be most powerful