The southern press., 1851-04-09
xhs RoAttos og Germany.

ths conference n Dresdsp And the suhject df
thh conference j. rs-adjustmsut Of the rela.
lions Of the German stAtss
Since than the peace Of the old world de-
psnds on the politics Of Germany, and since
tAat 4 ths country, which. together with Ireland,
fhrnisasa the greater part of European emigra-
tea n this country, and aiocs the political insti-
tuAisps Of Germany resemble our own, more
than any other in the world, il 10 both interest
in1 aa1 important that this country should know
seuetAiae Of Germany For 1t present there is
20 rsQsoa cf the civilized world Of which wv are
woss Ieaerant than that Our knowledge Of
IL Creek ssatss Of antiquity IL fur more exact
ard coupsshsnsive.
Gesmany Il lhs most intelligent, the most
ftss, and ths most prosperous of all the countries
or Euraps. Il extsnds FROM North latitude 80
dee. 10 IS dsg. and ftom $40 to 2020 Of East
ionrissds. The climate Is therefore temperate,
- he isothssmal line in Europe is about ten
derrnes North Of it, lstitade In the United
STATS, and tho soil il fertile The area Of Ger
rsny II about 100000 square miles-about four
tiusa = large "A the Stts Of Virginia; the
popslat3on h now something over forty millions.
L Il watsrsd BY several hundred rivers, Of which
sixty are navigabls but being situated in the
centre Of Europe, has very imperfect access to
she ocean, having bat small front on the Baltic
and on tho North Sea.
Ths ersatsr part of the population Of Ger
maay live 10 cities. towns and villages, of which
there are more than ! hundred thousand; one
hundred of the cities have over 5000 inhabitants
each. There are "a universities with about
an,OOO students--aud $50 public libraries, with
Ase o. six miions Of volumes. The literary
activity Of the people Is prodigious--there being
moro than ten thousand authors, whose annual
production il about Ave thousand new books.
There are some foar hundred Journals, of which
shout one.third are political, and in addition
there are nearly Two hundred periodicals.
The population Of Germany consists almost
entirely Of two races. The German or Teutonic
numbers over thirty miions--the SIavons over
six. There are about million only Of all others,
Wslloons, French, Jews, Italians, Gypsies,
ArmeDians and Greeks.
But the most important distinctions Of Ger
rnanv--those which have affected her history,
politics, and condition most deeply, are religious.
There arc about twsnty-one million Of Catho.
lics, and over eighteen Of Protestants. The
residue consists of Jews, Greeks, and Armeui-
ans.
Germany il a constitutional confcderncy-
the most populous, complicated and wonderful
that ever existed. 1t comprehends no less than
thirty-nine sovereign and independent States
entirely differing in creed, size. power, and insti-
tutioua. Austria is the most powerful member
of the system, having territory In Germany Of
over $4,000 square miles, and population Of
nearly twelve millions On the other hand there
% Lichtenstein with 6ny-one square miles Of
territory. and population of about six thou
sand Every form of government is compre.
hepded inthis omnfarious confsderacY-
kingdoms, duchies, eIectorates, principalities, re-
publics, with every degree Of power, in princes,
estates, parliaments, and people. There are
about fifteen absolute governments, five consti-
tutionsl monarchies, fourteen in which the diff
fersrt orders Of the State princes. nobles, and
elerpy. have sort Of feudal division of power,
and our republics, or free cities.
One of the most curious features Of the Ger
man system is that several of its members have
lsrrs possessions Independent Of it. Austria
has twice "a much territory and population out
aide of the confederation as she has within.
Prussia has about half as much. The King Of
Denmark represents Holstein and Lauenburg
In the oonfsderscy Tin Kiog Of Holland holds
the Duchy of Luxembourg.
The present Constitution of the German Con-
feaeracy was adopted in 1915, and is guaranteed
IN the treaty Of Vienna by the allied powers Of
Europe. The federal government Is vested in a
Diet or Congress- Of the plenipotentinries Of the
States, and Austria presides This Diet is per-
maneut, and meets at Frankfort on the Maine,
one Of the free cities or States. But this Diet
alta In two capacities, and with different organi-
zations. In one capacity, that Of the Pisnum,
It decides, without any discussion whatever, all
questions before IT, In the other it discusses, but
does not decide, except as to what propositions
II shall submit to the Plenpm. In the Pienum
every State has at least one vote, but Austria
and the FIVE kingdoms Of Prussia, Bavaria, Sax
ony, Hanover, and Wurtemberg, have each fouI
votes; Baden, Hessc Cassel, Hesse Darmstadt
Holstein, and Luxemburg, each three; Bruins
wick, Mecklenburg Schwerin and Nassau, each
two; the other States each one, making altoge
ther seventy.
In making or altering fundamental laws, il
the admission of new members into the Con
fsderacy, and in religious matters unanimity il
required The assembly, when sitting to originate
and discuss propositions, is also the executive
power Of the confederncy. Austria presides il
both. But in the deliberative assembly ther'
arc only seventeen votes allowed, and they arr
tins apportioned: Austria Prussia, Bavaria