The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-25

Tue yOuuR AuSUflhu Emperor udS BOuc w DcA-
lin and paid visit to the King of Prussia an event
which had not before taken place no Austrian EN-
peror having ever been in Berlin.
Whether the German desp0ts will renew their
nnholy alliance, and continue their absolute and des
potc course, prefer to draw their subjects again
into their interest in adopting more liberal and
conciliatory course, time will show. To judge, how
ever, from the past, and from their incapacity and
ilwill, such prudent course is not likely to take
place. on the contrary, they seem to believe that JUS
fice and indulgence will only spoil their people
that they must be governed and ruled with an iron
rod.
Oppression of the most lawess kind continues. and
is on the increase the German rulers are however,
no longer satisfied with making their subjects feel
the iron rod; they try to apply the same also to
foreigners. and in particular, to such American cit
zens as were born in Germany. An outrageous pro-
Ceeding against one OF our citizens by the Prussian
police officers at Minden has been told to me by the
sufferer, who, as evidence Of the truth of his
account, has shown to me his passport from the
Department of State dated goth October last. The
bearer, Mr.: Rheinheimer, OF Baltimore, came over
to Germany toVbtch away two Of his children which
he had left here for the sake of education. On his
arrival at Minden, in Prussia, with the train from
Bremen for Cologne, his baggage was examined by
the custom and police officers, Minden being from
tier town; nothing that was dutable being found
the police officer took periodical in his hand, and
finding that the same was printed in the German
language he seized all those in the trunk, four in
number-they being German quarterly magazine
called the Didaskalia," printed in ls48 and 1s49
by Maclea at Baltimore; they then ordered the effects
OF Mr.. Rheinheimer to be stopped and to be sent to
the Office Of the police, where he also conducted
like criminal, under the escort of gen d'armes
Arrived there he had TO undress and undergo a
bodily search. without, however, any result. He
then had all his papers taken from him which were
read by the police officers and after once more over.
hauling his effects, and nothing being found. Mr..
Rheinheimer was liberated; only the four numbers
Of the American periodical printed in the German
language, with his travelling contract and
n ntNnr Of hIpnk
tanned. which fact was endorsed on his passport,
in the following terms 1.-The bearer is permitted
to 60, via Cologne, to Mayence. Several democra.
teal papers, with contract for passage, and
several blank agreements for passages, have been
taken from the bearer blythe police OF this place:
Minden, the 5th December, 1852. Signed, Rose
Now what was the crime for which MIR. Rhein.
heimer citizen Of the United States was seized at
Minden conducted like criminal to the Office of the
police, made to strip there and undergo bodily
search, and had his passport mutiated by the Prus-
sian police, charging that he was political ennis.
sary, exposing him thereby to all the chicsneres Of
than that he had with him four American periodicals.
printed there in ls48 and in lS49, in the German
language, and which may contain some passages dis
agreeable to the Minden police officers-nohing else
has been laid to his charge.
Such fragrant outrage against one Of our fellow.
citizens BY PIussan menials ought certainly not to
be suffered by our government MIR. Rheinheimer
has gone from here to Frankfort-onthe- Main, to
sui; but, to Judge from what | have heard of him,
it is to he feared that his efforts will be made in vain
Our consulate there is in most deplorabe state The
incumbent, Mr.. Swendler, is On old gentleman Of
about 30 years, several years confined by govt and
lameness to his chair unable to move any of his
limbs, totally unfit to help himself, and, naturally,
not others. Besides his bodily nfrmity and inca
pacity, he is in his dOtage he has only one ideato
the consulate at Frankfort he is constantly complain
ing that the Office Is troublesome, and yields him
no rec0mpense; still he keeps it, and would be angry
with any one who should advise him to resign. Being
unable to write, he had stamp made representing
bis signature which his servant must press upon
the Authorization and oats of invoices written by
q son-in.aw, and on other papers on which ne can
charge his fees.
Our fellow-citzens who may require protection or
advice will therefore leok in vain to obtain them
there; consul Swendler whatever may be his nclina
ton Of advising them is in reality unable and unfit
to do 30. The old gentleman is not to be blamed; it
is our government on which the responsibility rests
for continuing such an DID, infirm, and unfit gentle
which, although for fees Of dollars and cents
very unimportant one, in point Of making itself
nseful and necessary for the protection of our ct
zens islands foremost We have legations ut Paris,
Berlin, and Vienna, all OF which are too remote
from the great thoroughfare the Rhine. The least
which we Americans can, therefore, expect from our
government, is that it keep at Frankfort an able
bodied, intelligent consul, and not superannuated
AS Mr.. Rhenheimer will have little chance of re-
ceivng, at Frankfort, from old Mr.. S., any assist
ance and protection, you had better take Mr.. Rhein
heimers case in hand, and all our German born cit
IL HOWARD.
MAYENCE, Jan. l, 1853
The arrest of an american Cii.en-IHc German
Poiice-Opnio, of an american Consut-Loris
Napoleon's Election, &c.
A happy new year, and great many returns to
you, and all connected with the HERALD. In my
letter of the goth ult. gave you account Of the
outrage committed an American citizen--a Mr..
Renehemer, Of Baltmore-by the Prussian police, at
8Iinden; and told you he had gone to Frankfort,
to seek redress from Consul. But the present
Cne, Mr.. Swender, is too infrm to help himself, |
knew he could not assist Mr.. Reineheimer. Although
have been borne out in this my belief, am happy
to say that our government has made some provision
for that neglected consulate by charging consul
for Hesse, Mr. Graebe, with its duties, who for this
purpose has moved to Frankfort. This gentleman
has taken the affair of Mr.. Reineheimer in hand
noted his dispositions the record and after having
ascertained by direct inquiry of the police at Min
den that the case really such Mr. Reineheimer
had represented, he has reported the same to our
government at Washington and to the American
legation at Berlin IN order that the latter might
insist on satisfaction being given TO Mr. Reineheimer
and the guarantee of our citizens being no more ex-
posed to such i'll treatment by the too often over
Officious Prussan police officers Our Minister at
Berlin having in hand the proof of these overt
acts ought not to neglect to defend the rights of our
citizens, as by doing we can alone expect to be
respected
Mr.. Reineheimer has permitted me to take a copy
Of the letter from Consul Graebe to Mr.. Barnard our
Minister at Berlin, which will explain his case more
fully. The following isl
COPY.
FRANKFORT, Dec 90, 1852.
beg leave TO transmit herewith extract from
the record Of this Consulate, from which the Hon. Sir
will see that citizen of the United States Mr. Refine
heimer of Baltimore has made complaints of an outrage
being committed him by the Prussian police Mt Min
den for the particulars OF which beg to refer to the
enclosed. The main point TO which permit myself to
draw the attention Of the Hon. Sir is the rise Of the
Prussian police by which the insnuate and leaves
infer that Mr. Reneheimer had TO distribute
prohibited democratic publications, whereas he had