The southern press., 1851-04-09


ixtion of the several states. thst ths sFqcrticn-
ment Of representation In the Dist undst its De-
Lucrative and executive organization, that the
majorty Ofdsputies necessary to decide,reprssent
three-fourths OF the population Of Germany
one fourth having thus the veto power, whilst IN
the Plenun the opposition of twenty-four votes
is fatal to any proposition, and twentyfcur votes
may be given by states whose population is not
one fifteenth part OF the whole. And as to the
most important questions unanimity is required
Each state is assessed at certain contingent of
troops for the armies Of the confederation.
1t is apparent that as federal system, the
German is in general more conservative Of state
rights than our own And in fact, in the thirty
five years Of the existence Of the German con-
federation, the original rights Of the states as
agreed on Ly the compact Of 1915, have been
respected more religiously than with us. This
results from its being less consolidated in its
structure than ours
But there are too antagonistic elements in
the German confederation as in ours. With us
they are the distinctions between white and
black with them the rights Of princes and
people.
The overthrow of Napoleon was effected by
the rising of the masses of central Europe against
him, on promises Of liberty from their rulers.
These promises was evaded rather than fulfilled
bya stipulation in the constitution Of the German
confederacy, that the Diet was to provide repre-
sentative charters for the several States. But
even this vague provision had not been OBJ
served, when, on the occurrence of the French
revolution in 1880, the agitation extended to
several of the German States, and, among them,
the people Of Hesse Cassel rose and demanded
representation of the Elector. 1t was agreed
TO. A written constitution or charter was
adopted, which, among other things, reserved
for the representatives of the people the right
Of controlling the supplies-the purse. This
alarmed the Diet, which, in 1882, proceeded to
prohibit the exercise Of a power to withhold sup
plies. 1t does not appear that any occasion
arose to bring on an actual conflict Of the Diet
with the Electorate on this point, as the chamber
Of the latter did not exercise the power it
claimed until l848-after the last French revo-
luton, and after what may be called the German
revolution. For great changes followed in Ger
many tiose which occurred in France. The
people rose in Vienna, in Berlin, and in other
places, and extorted constitutions And there
was, BY sort Of general consent, movement
made by both princes and people to establish a
new German union, instead Of the confederacy
of 1915. Strange As 1t may seem, this new
movement was devoted to unity as well as to
liberty. II never arrived at success, although a
convention of the German States was held, not
only recognized, but attended by Austria and
tho other powers. Its design was to consoli-
date Germany into one State, with a repre-
sentative government. Dir. CALHOUN, in a
conversation with the Prussian minister, foretold
the failure Of the scheme-sad that the only
step towards consolidation that Germany could
take was 10 perfect the Zollvsrein, which is a
commercial compact, comprehcnding most of
the States of Germany, and designed to equalize
duties, TO collect them on the frontier, to abol-
ish transit charges, and to remove restrictions
on trade.
The scheme Of German unity, Of German
empirc or OF a German republic failed. And
rca ton occurred in Austria, Prussia, and every
where else Ii was then that Austria undertook
as President TO convene the old Diet at Frank
fort, and one OF the main objects was to call on
the forces of the confederacy to put down the
people of Hesse Cassel, who had through their re-
representatives. refused to grant supplies to the
elecior, on peremptory demand Of an odious
minister, Of large amount, for indefinite OBJ
jects, contrary to the constitution.
This movement of Austria has been opposed
by Prussia, which was jealous Of Austrian ascend
ancy in the Diet. Prussia is the great Protes
tani, Austria the great Catholic power of Ger
many, and with the exception Of four or five, al
the lesser States have preponderance of Pro
testant population. This has sustained tn.
federative character Of Germany, through the
long period in which Russia il the North, ant
France in the South have passed from feudal
ism to consolidation.
Austria insists not only on convening the
Diet, and presiding in it, but on bringing into tbs
Germanic system her Hungarian and Italian
provinces. 1t does not appear that she demand
an increased representation or vote on their nc
count, but 1t would result from their introduc
ton that she would be entitled to the aid Of tn,
federal forces in keeping them 10 subsection
and in protecting them from foreign conquest
On this proposition Prussia has vaclnted, an'
Russia has vacillsted. The latter is indeed no
strictly party to the dispute, except as part,
to the treaty of 1915, on whose integrity she hn
right TO insist And Russia has acquired NJ
influence with Austria, especially in the man
agemcnt Of Hungary, in consequences of the ali
rendered to arrest the late revolution in tha
kingdom. Russia has at one time, il seems
supported the plan of Austria to re-establish tn
Diet, and to introduce Hungary, Lombardy, &e