The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-02-06


rel over precedence of rank and il is worthy Of
notice that just now they indulge in no such fri
volity-evidently showing that they are aware
that they are too heavily pressed by the peoples
In their rear to venture to throw away precious
lime in looking after the shadow, instead Of the
substance, Of State. The eight great Powers
have named above formed themselves into a COM
mittee, really to dispose Of all questions before
them, rendering to the outsiders the poor CON-
pliment Of su invitation to consult only after they
had themselves made up their minds how matters
were to be ordered. Ii should be mentioned that
the attendance of all the others except the sgners
Of the treaty of Paris was unasked, though on
their appearance on the ground, they were COM
plimented with permission at least to look on. In
The case now in course Of progress, all the Pow
ers of Germany great and small have been iauIed,
none being considered too unimportsnt las them
to join the league or intrigue for the safety Of all
They were then at liberty to intrigue against
each other, as they are not now the common dan
ger from the spread of the democratic ideal be-
ing too imminent to allow Of plots within plots to
any considerable extent
Thus, in private corner Russia and Prussia
! agreed 10 take as their indemnifcation FOR the
cost Of their respective shares Of the war Poland
| and Saxony. In the committee, England, France
and Austria, opposed this sef-aggrsudzing ar
rsngement the first combining her protest only
to the absorption Of Poland by the Northern
Bear. Csstlereagh, in that paper, spoke in indig
nant terms Of the conduct Of Saxony during the
war, holding her sovereign to strict account for
tergiversations which were as Justly chargeable
upon every other Continental Power He thus
threw the Council into delectable state of CON-
fusion which, with the aid of the jeslousies man.
ifested all around the counol.tsble ultimately
| saved the gingerbread crown of Saxony in the
possession of her treacherous popinjsy soyer-
eign. Austria proposed to give up Gsllioia and
| also to let Prussia have Saxony, by way of pre-
venting Russia from stretching her dominion up
TO her ;Austrias) border. Prussia was also anx-
ious to keep the claws of the Great Bear OF re-
spectacle distance from her frontier more espe.
q'allY when she thought herself about to be CON
soled for fancied sacrifices by the acquisition of
the finest State on the Continent-Ssxony. The
jealousy Of France, lest Prussia should acquire
too great importance by the proposed cutting and
| carving up, however, defeated the aspirations Of
the latter. So she was not only inconsistent with
her professions of dsinterestedness, but intrigued
with great industry and effect against the Poland
izing of Saxony
The Emperor Alexander, bent on pursuing
the policy Of bis great ancestor, Peter, left no
stone unturned to acquire Poland. He entered
into secret treaties, beseeched England, and even
went so far as to make extensive preparations for
threatened with equal readiness. lie started the
then current story, that the Poles were 80 eager
to come under the protection of Russia-alas! as
the sequel proved, such protection as the wolf
gave the lamb--as to be about to take up arms to
accomplish that object He prated about the Ma
tional Constitution which the Emperor designed
framing for the "Duchy of Warsaw and he
went SO far as to offer his interceSson with Aus
tria and Prussia, to obtain for their Polish sub
jects provincial institutions, by way of prcserv-
ing their nationality, and securing for them the
virtual conduct of their own affairs
Just here, permit me to digress, by way Of say
ing that, by the very last arrival have positive
news from Warsaw, saying that Russia has bat
just finished her task Of dnationalzmg Poland,
which she doubtless proposed for herself while
making all these false " dear people professions
She has dismissed every native Judge and civil
officer in Poland, supplying their places with
Russians, and in every other manner has deprived
the Poles ofdstinct and separate position Up to
this time the administration Of her Government
in Poland differed in many respects from that in
| operation in Russia. But now all is Russian;
the local laws being repealed by breath from
the Emperor How long will it be ere she pirates
condition by p.ic.hrye Of Hungary to better her
ly keeping Of the Gar, now that she has sfAther
ly advanced her immediate frontier up TO shv ,ory
line Of Hungary
But to resume the thread Of my story. Russia
succeeded in bullying and bamboozing England
and Austria out of their opposition to the sacrifice
OF Poland, for which, faur pax the Parliament
is blameable mot Castlereagh,) which gave up
the Poles to the tender meroies Of the Gar In eX-
change for the abolition of the African slave trade
that cost those according it absolutely nothing
Astute craftsmanship this, indeed.
After settling this matter so as to place all the
| hal Of Enrnpa within the of thu
Gar, the Council bethought itself Of German Of
fairs and the committee on that branch of their
busness-Austrii, Prussia Hanover, Wirtem-
berg, aud Bavaria-on the 10th of October re-
ported a series OF articles which eventually be-
came the basis of the Confederation Of the Bund
just pronounced Intellectual for the purpose de-
sgned--the assurance of the sovereign families in
their il gotten power-in the letter Of invitation
which Russia sent round inviting the progressing
! Council at Dresden. Though other provisions
were subsequently substituted for those embraced
in this report, they are worthy of note, inasmuch
as they embraced guarantee by the Confedera-
| ton of minimum of popular rights to be accord
ed throughout Germany, leaving each Govern
ment to increase them at its own option.
| But Austria and Prussia were on too good
terms to suit Wrtemberg and Bavaria, haunted
| then as now, with visions Of an union between
the great Powers to swallow up their less import
ant neighbors So they intrigued successfully to
defeat this plan-basing their opposition on their
repugnance to any onfederation-of interference
to protect the peoples Of the various States against
the tyranny of their respective masters. England,
| through Hanover did her best to preserve this
very feature in the misunderstanding that the
| long enjoyed rights Of the German subjects
should be announced that all territorial Consti-
| buttons should be maintained; and that In coun-
| tries (of Germany where no States had yet been
| formed, the people should be GUARANTEED voice
| ia making the laws, and should be forced TO pay
no taxes which they did not themselves assess
and, further, that they should in oil cases be en-
titled TO watch over the expenditure Of the taxes
with the right to demand the punishment Of the
| public fuDclionaries in cases OF malvcrsation.
| But the trickery Of Bavaria and Wirtemberg
| broke up the Council before these wise guaran-
ties were agreed on, and an adjournment Of the
committee, lasting for FIVE months, took place.
That recess was passed by the lesser Powers In
intrigue to reinstate Austria in the protectorate
or chief direction Of German aft tirs They were
| backed by the Church, which then held separate
principslites as it were in the bosom Of several
Of the German States, though their pretension to
sovereign power had been suppressed in 1909, and
in company with the lesser princes, Counts Of the
empire and free towns, they were unceremonously
medatized three years after.
but, previous 70 Tue uay ior Inc reasseinDlnR oi
this committee, Napoleon broke loose from Elba,
and appeared in France need not here recount
the history Of his short bat valiant subsequent
effort, ending at Waterloo. The Vienna Coun-
Gil still being in session, IL caused the resssem-
bling Of the German committee on the I'D OF
May, 1915, into which sense Of common danger
compelled The admission OF the lesser Powers, one
and all. Napolcon's approach, at the head Of an
immense army, caused q very unexpected una
ninty in the sentiments Of this body, which Met.
ternich found himself suddenly able To lead by
the nose. lie had only to say Napoleon 10
them, and they were evidently ready to obey any
behest Of his master. By the tenth Of June, has
plan was adopted for the Confederation Of Ger.