The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-15

to the joy and umutuous pleasure of the frelicklng
crowd around him? Why Is it, that he scorns the
National Parllament-does it not promise enough!
Does 1t notproclalm the sovereignty OF the people
does 1t not admit all the points for which he 30 long
contended with the crowned enemies OF the human
race
Ay, it does promise, 1t does proclaim, 1t does
admit all these things-and that Is the very point
rights of the people; but 1t really protects the
princes and despots in their cruel chase upon the
human game. 1t .proclams the sovereignty of the
people, but in reality 1t binds them. hand and foot,
as miserable captves, at the mercy OF bood'thlrsty
tyrants And when those representatives OF this
much abused body speak of securing to it the rights
and principles belonging to free nation, when
they pretend to give us liberty of the press liberty
than ever from obeying either their constituents
or the dictates of their conscience, for all these
pretended privileges are mere pretences to deceive
and paclty the multitude. Our constitution, at
its way; and, indeed, every thing taken
into consideration, 1t Is master-p lece OF
diplomacy tor such statesmen as Germany can
boast Of But, alas, when say constitution, do
not mean IT, for indeed Germany has neither con-
stitutlon nor government The few paragraphs de.
bated upon tor so long time aud at last written
down and agreed to by the five or six hundred
men assembled at Fran kfort, can surely neither
unite the various discordant nations of which Ger
many Is said to consist, nor give existence to a
thing which lives only in the hOpefraught brain of
enthusiastic youths; neither can the :, Reichsver
ment, when all the kings, and princes and empe.
rors, who constituted the "subjects OF this ideal
state" just do as they please, and obey the execu
tive power just so long as 1t suits their interest or
This is the &c Christmas gift of the " sovereign"
National Parliament to the " sovereign" German
Nation (Excuse me for making such prolific use
OF the word "sovereign'; there is 80 little of it
IN reality, that wish to make as much Of it IN
PRINT as CAM And what is IN store for us, as
"gitt" of some other holiday, is still better than
this. We are, IN future, to have German En-
peror. hereditary, of course) irresponsible alike
to the nation and It's representatives his seat is to
be IN Frankfort, (Which town has been made inn
mortal by the famous "Bundestag' and the lnfa-
nous National Parliament He is to sanction
and publish all laws, (whata pity they, do not IN
tend to give him veto-that would have been
quite in keeping with hereditary. emperor for
sovereign people y Likewise to declare war or
peace with foreign nations, to appoint and re-
ment, in consideration of the " sovereignty" OF
the minor kings and princes, and, probably, the
more to carry out their principle of united
and unanimous state, has granted this latter
countries and free cities of the German Bund)
he Is to appoint, arbitrarily. a national cabl-
net, and the ministers of this cabinet (aas
tor the inconsistency Of the parhamenD are re-
sponslble. The Rechtag"-an institution an
swering, IN point of form, to the American Con-
gress, but, IN point of Importance, to an American
debating society-is to appoint his salary, not to
be altered during the lite OF the emperor. We are
to have, likewise, national council (similar to
the American Supreme Court), consisting of a
member from each Of the German States, which Is
to determine the constltutionaty () of every law
within four weeks from Its passage. This council
may arbitrarily refuse Its consent to all laws, diff
fsring in this respect from your Supreme Court,
and partaking Of the character of the United States
Senate. The legislative assembly consists of a
"staatenhaus" blouse OF States), to which the
several governments courts elect are part of the
members, and the "landstaende," or legislatures,
the other, and "volks-haus," or lower house,
which is to be elected by the people"
1hls Is TO be our government! The government
OF iree, united, and sovereign people. Truly, a
most magnificent Christmas present.
You can easily conjecture what prospect now
remains Tor the realization OF the much cherished
hopes OF the republicans. Firmer than ever the
yoke OF desPotsm Is fastened upon the neck of the
patient people; looser than ever Is the cord that
unltes the diiier Mt tribes of the German nation
Austria has already seeded and severed every tie
that binds 1t to the German States. Prussia
threatens to do the same, If Its king is not made
the hereditary emperor. The remaining minor states
are feeble, and can play but inferior part on the
stage of nations.
But yet, have not lost all hope. cannot yet
believe that the guardian angel of Germany has
entirely abandoned it to its ruthless enemies. 1t
seems necessary that such trials be gone through,
to make the final triumph of libertyi.he more gori-
GUS and the more lasting. God grant that it may
speedily De achieved j.