New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-02-07
rate local governmen. as well as the District or

villagers ana by the frtenoiCefs oi l"e i"ii'".
The Lord of the Manor here had the sane power
as the King in the State elections, out OF the
candidates presented he could select three, from
whom the choice was TO be made for village
Judge. However, if he selected unpopular can
didates, or if there were several Lords of the
Manor not agreeing in the candidates to sP-
prove, the District Judge whom have before
mentioned, had the power, after three days to
present the three candidates for the office without
consulting either party.
MANY of the Parishes were entirely freed from
the interference of the Lords Of the Manor
All the other officers of the Parish were
chosen by the villagers, without any "presenta-
ton of candidates though in the appointment
of Clerk, the Noblemen Of the Parish had the
power Of rejection
The duties OF this board of selectmen, and
Judges in each village, were 10 oversee the con-
diton OF roads and bridges and Parish buildings
to regulate the local police; to attend to the
execution of the orders OF the District Judge
and of the State Legislature to divide the
assessments among the individual inhabitants,
and send in the lists to the collectors; to levy, IN
company with the Clerk, the appointed number
Of conscripts for the army, and with the coopera-
ton OF the resident Noblemen, to provide for the
poor of the Parish.
The Clerk and Judge were obliged each year
to present an estimate Of the probable expenses
ofthe coming year TO the Lord Of the Manor, for
his approval. All the accounts OF the Parish
were handed in likewise to him annually and if
fba of
the investigation by the State officers, later,
came upon his shoulders.
These Lvillage Judges, as | often observed in
ny Journey, are the most intelligent peasants OF
the country-and though sometimes liable TO the
feudal labor they have become as expert and
efficient magistrates as can be found anywhere
During his office, no village magistrate, or Of
fetal, can be called upon for his leudal obliga
tIoIs.
Despite such a manifold administration the
expenses Of all this were very slight indeed
Some OF the Comitats were as large as the Prin
cipalities of Germany. The Pesthe for instance
with 100000 inhabitan,s-yet the salaries were
hardly larger than workman's wages with us
The Offices were made, much possible,
places Of honor, and the citizens served for the
excitement, or for the fame and received only
what would pay their extra expenses.
The salary of the Governor, or Obrgespen
was ], SEQ Il (abcut S75O) Of the Vlce-gespan
s3CO of the District Judge, $50; of the Select
men, $50 Of the State Treasurer, $3.50, and Of
tie other officers, in similar proportion These
salaries differed in di1erent COmi,ats, but this
was the maximum.
The Parish officers received somewhat more
in proportion to their rank, than the State Off
GERS, so that the peasants might have more in
ducements TO serve.
This, then was the internal system Of Gov
eminent in Hungary. And we ask any candid
man, whether it was not wonderfully adapted TO
train and educate people in political life.
have seen nothing like this system in any part
of Burvpv, except Switzerland and England
The people here-iirst in the village, then in the
District then in the State-are constantly exer-
cised in the details of politics. Each little local
division is trained in sef-govenment. Men get
into the habit, from early life, with us, of re-
feIring everything to public opinion-to the bal
lot-bOx. They all become accustomed, too, to
public speaking-to the holding Of deiberative
bodies-to the minor difficulties and labors of To-
cal administration.
There is no reference, continually to the cap
ital, ." hat will Paris do ?" Each District and
State has its own opinions and principles, and
will carry them out too, whether Parliament
and the Capital are favorable or not.
That strange inexperence in practical politics,
which meets the American traveller everywhere
on the Continent, does not come before him in
Hungary. The contrast between Germany and
Hungary in this respect, to the stranger. is very
striking
That there were great faults, however, in this
Hungarian system of government, would not
attempt to deny.
Ii was, on one side, too democrdtic There was
too little Capitalization" The Provincial Leg
islatures were TOO much separated from the Cen
trail Government. An order from the General
Administration might lie for years, without be-
ing executed-or even after that time, be re-
jected.
were only carried into effect with the
greatest difficulty, and after long delay
There were so many Provincial bodies and Of
fcers to examine and approve, that the Execu-
tive became almost powerless.
For one, have no doubt that the miserable
condition OF the land, in respect to roads and
bridges and public Improvements" and the car
mage of the mails, resulted much from this sys-
ten. Any measure, demanding great capital and
combined action through the land, never could
be carried out in Hungary
The other groat defeot in tho limited ex-
tension Of suffrage.
1t IS diffcultto estima exactly the number Of
voters in Hungary before ls4s, but it is probable
there were, not including those of Transylvana,
$4,000. which. with a populatior Of about