The daily union., 1854-12-23
HOW PARLIAMENTS ARE MANUFACTURED IN
PRUSSIA.

"A.
In recent issue of the New York Journal of Commerce
find letter from its Berlin correspondent which con-
ains valuable Information in regard to the present
organization of the Prussian Parliament which, doubt
will be to most of our readers The Prussan Para-
ment which to have assembled the 30th OF Noye-
Der for the first time in its socaed established and perma
FORM of the fruits Of that revolutionary spirit
which burst forth in Europe in ls4s but fruit in that de
cayed and withered condition to afford striking illus
raon of the despotic reaction which soon followed
We have net the space to follow the Journals cores
pondent in his constitutional history of Prussia during
the last few years. or show the steps by which
royalty has taken back from the people the concessions
which it made only six years ago TO the liberal party AZ
ter the revoutonor properly speaking, the insur
conof ls4s the King of Prussia decreed TO his people
constitution famed 'n accordance with modern politi-
cal principles and in which, very naturally Parliament
with powers of decisive legislation formed prominent
feature. This Parliament to consist OF two Chambers.
For the lower house permanent law of election was de-
creed for the upper house temporary arrangement was
announced which in order to allow time for maturing
permanent organizations 10 hold good until August
T. 1852 The difficulty in respect to the constitution Of the
first Chamber appears to have been this The royal family
opposed the organization of Senate upon the cleo
tive basis of republic and sufficient material lacking
to form dgnihed House of Peers like that in England.
The two houses assembled twice in ls49 and again in
1852 but without settling the troublesome question Of the
permanent organization of the upper house On the last
meeting Of the Parliament thus partly constituted by royal
edic the assembly voted het in future the first Chamber
should be formed by royal ordinance aud should consist of
such members the King might appoint either with the
right of inheritance for iep Until the decree of the
King should appear the extraordinary of forming
TIE first Chamber prescribed in the edct of August A. 1852,
was contnne in force. Here of course end of
all popular representation as far the House con-
cerned
The Chambers of 1852 and 1853 thus assembled,
the King seeing fit exercise the power appointing
permanent basis After years of posponement and pro-
crasnaton on the 18th October last the decree of the
King issued for the permanent constitution of the
upper house organic features are thus given by the
correspondent above alluded to
1t viii consist of three elements (a) the princes of the
royal house of Prussia the King having the right to call
them in they attain their naoritytha Is become egh-
years OF age (b) of mombers appointed by the King
with hereditary rights to seat voice in the assembly and
(c) Of members whom the King calls in for life ousuch
hereditary right.
After making this general announcement which is but
little than repetition Of the of the Parliament
quoted above the Kings decree proceeds to state what
(b) win have the hereditary right to in the House
of PEERS namely % the heads of the prinoey houses of
ohenzoern Hechingen and Hohenzoern Sgmarigen; (2)
the heads of German houses residing in Prussia who
had their imperial rights of representations t3) the
other counts princes and lords who called into the
Diet Prussia by the ordinance of Sd july lsi7; D such
other persons may be hereafter named by the King
The ordinance further makes known that the remaining
element (c) of members appointed for life viii consist Of
such persons presented the King and approved by
him from the bodies hereafter named ( of the
Of the four great county offices in Prussia CD of