The northern tribune., 1848-04-26

j
verify of the distress
ave regret to say that it is our firm belief
that there are more victims falling before the
ravages of hunger at the present moment than
at any period within the last two years. This
fact may appear strange with all the relieving
officers which overrun the country, and all the
funds that are being squandered. But the
fact is, these officers are not doing their duty
in most cases, and to this, and the species of
food may be attributed many of the deaths
which daily occur. The plan seems to be
how, with the least appearance of humanity,
the surplus population can be got rid of.
"Inquests are being held in almost every
district in the south and west on the bodies of
persons who have died of destitution. 1t is
little to be wondered at, therefore, that attacks
on provision carts, and similar outrages are
reported
BELG1uM.-The King and his Ministers have
been making great preparations to calm the
laboring classes, and submitted to the Cham
bers the project of loan of forty millions of
francs, to be employed in improving the roads,
introducing new branches Of industry, estab
fishing savings banks, and carrying on by hy-
gienic works in the sections of towns occupied
| by the working classes. The abolition of the
stamp tax upon newspapers is also proposed
and the Government appears to be popular
at any rate a revolutionary expedition from
Paris has met with no sympathy, and been ef-
| fectually put down. 1t was organized under
the eyes of the Provisional Government, who
supplied it with arms, and left in two divis-
! ions.
| RoME.-The Pope, in decree dated on the
l4th of March, has promulgated his long
promised constitution, an abstract of which is
annexed.
/ Tn preamble he declares that he abandons
his first idea Of amerely consultative chamber,
and like surrounding sovereigns, he grants q
complete legislature. There are to be two
chambers, besides the college of cardinals; a
senate named by the Pope for life; chamber
of deputies, in the proportion of one deputy
to every thirty thousand souls. The qualf-
cation to be the possession of capital Of
5000 scudi, or the payment of taxes to the
amount of 100 scudi per annum, and the
members of colleges and professors of univer-
sites, &C., will be eligible ca o6icio. The
profession of the Catholic religion is indis-
pensable as qualification for the exercise Of
civil and political rights The qualification
of an eector to be 800 scudi capital, or IL
scudi paid 30 the revenue. The division of
functions between the two chambers are much
the same as that between English Lords and
Commons; and the prerogatives Of the Crown
reserved are very similar, with the addition Of
peculiar cautions in favor of the Roman
Catholic religion:
All laws and new taxes must be sanctioned
by these two councils and assented to by the
Pope: but the councils are not to be allowed
to propose laws which may affect ecclesiastical
or mixed affairs, which may be opposed to the
cannons and disciplnes of the church, or
which may tend to vary or modify the present
statutes They are also forbidden to discuss
the i" religious diplomatic relations" Of the
Holy See to foreign countries.
The discussion of financial matters exclusive
lily appertains to the council of deputies.
PRuss1A,-The Berlin papers are full CT the
funeral of the.l87 citizens who fell in the late
revolution. The sympathy of the inhabitants
was general, and orenly expressed. The Ger
man banner, joined with mourning flags,
waved from the royal palace, and from all
public buildings. The mourners, the parents
wives and children Of victims created deep
and painful impression upon the public.