The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-23
From the Philadelphia North american.
SchIesyyb0 and HOlstctn.

The bloody battle which recently occurred be.
tween these Duches and Denmark has induced
Investigations into the history OF this mater
the result OF which 10 that Scbleswlg ID small ue-
tendency of Denmark, containing 3,1A square
miles and Tin lSIT) 1862, 900 inhabitants. its chiei
town Is FlensSurg, containing lb,oOO lnhapltahis'
its connexion with Denmark was like that OF ocot-
land with England 1t has been portion OF Den
mark for nine hundred years, and never was part
of the German empire. Holstein, (Which az me
present time is closely united with Schleswlg')
with Lunenburg, another portion OF the Danish
kingdom, part of the German Confedera~
ton, aud the King OF Denmark, as duke OF Hostein
and Lunenburg, had three votes in the assemblies
of the Diet. iIolstein contains 3,223 square mles;
its population, in lS47, 419 800, mostly Ger
mans. The German law of descent did not allow
females, or those claiming through females, to be
sovereigns; but Danish law, like the English, did;
and this question constitutes part OF the diiculty
Denmark is an absolute monarchy, with a heredi-
tary descent, like that Of England. BY iunda-
mental law of 1861, soemnly ratified by the whole
nation, all legislative and administrative acts pro-
ceed from the will and pleasure OF the king. In
August 1906, the German empire was dissolved, /,
and in September, of the same year, the king OF
Denmark, by his right as sovereign, declared the
Duchy Of Holstein part and parcel OF the Kingdom
of Denmark. Having, by the constitution OF the
realm, all Legislative power over both, separately,
he united them together, to be controlled thereaI
ter by the laws of Denmark.
Space will not admit minute detail OF the facts
for thousand years, connected with this question,
but in lSl5 the King of Denmark joined the new
Germanic confederation as Duke OF Holsteln. by
the 3lh article of the confederation it was agreed
" that there should be assemblies OF estates In all
counties of the confederation" The prelntes and
knights of this duchy in 1922 appealed to the Ger
manic diet for restoration Of their ancient PRIV
leges. They asked also that Scheswig might be
united 10 Holsten because of their intimate con
nexion,) under and the same constitution But
as Schleswig never had been a part OF the German
empire, this denied, though the late King OF
Denmark promised to consider their case and TO
fntinp n aDtc N
present time, of which he was to be the Judge.
The King of Prussia and the King Of Hanover are
in favor Of the separation Of the duchies from Den
mark because the king OF the latter has Just sue
ceeded to the throne through female; which Ger
ma laws of descent do not allow. They call these
duchies .' female fefs," although Schieswlg never
came under the German law. Learned professors
have delivered lectures upon this question, ana the
intrcaces of the federal system have been brought
to bear upon the point with vas learning and zeal
S,udents, animated with warm love, as they iin-
agned, for the cause of freedom, have enrolled
themselves in bands to attack the territory oil KING
who will not inscribe upon his banners NO
woman allowed to govern here"
The Zoll Vercin treaty, or continuation OF Ger
man powers for a uniform levy Of duties upon iili-
porls il is also supposed, has much 10 DO with tils
question; but the main point in dispute IS, whether
the present King Of Denmark has, by hcrcoltary
righi, the sovereignty OF these two Duchles' Inc
four hundred years, and the present king came TO
the throne in lS44 He then gave hls subjects
new constitution under which the Duchies, with
Denmark, bad common Legislature; to sit alter
nately in Denmark and Schleswig Holsten. In
about a month after, they insisted upon special
constitution for themselves. To this the govern
ment was opposed, and the Duchies declared them
| selves independent, and formed provisional gov
| ernment. ,
Hanover, Prussia and all Germany favor the
| Duchies but Russia and England espouse the
| cause of Denmark.
Besides they do not want any interruption TO the
important commercial transactions OF the Baltic
! which a war would produce.