Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1855-01-17
GERMANY AND THE ALLIANCE.

GERMANY AND THE ALLIANCE.
II is always difficult to pronounce with GER
tainty upon future contingencies. However
it is both legitimate and rational to recur to
the past with the view Of judging Of the events
of the future, since the most part of our pres
ent actions are more or less prompted by ex-
amples sustained by authorities, or supported
by antecedents. This is what we propose do
ing in reference to the probable part which the
German States will decide to play in the Eu-
ropean drama just begun.
Those who have read the unmeaning speech
of the French ruler, must have been struck
with the passage alluding to the hope that
Germany will soon participate in the alliance.
This is, perhaps, the most sensible part of his
| GRAFTON, though there is another which is no
less remarkable; we mean the comparatively
submissive vein in which he addressed the leg
islative body in this last instance. But, to
come to Germany, Louis Napoleon, by referr-
ing to her participation, has been wisely ad-
vised; he has recorded the sentiment, that all
acquainted with the history of that country
during late years, cannot fail to share. He
has drawn conclusion which naturally flows
from the actual condition of that country, and
from the imperious necessity into which she is
placed.
There are, in the history Of nations, as well
Us in the life Of man, laws which are to be
obeyed at the peril of our existence. Among
those laws the one which relates to the free
|
exercise Of the vital organs stands foremost.
But, by an inexplicable fatality, Germany pos
sesses, in her federal system, the organs neces-
sary to strong and long life, but no freedom
to set them at play. She is clogged in her
movements by .the treaty Of Vienna, by the
rivalry Of the powerful States which are, un.
happily for her, members of the confederation,
and above all by the influence Of Russia, con-
trolling, through the means of Austria, the free
expansion of her energies. She is like a giant
in swaddling clothes, and it is only necessary
for her to change her dress, to resume all the
strength she really and effectually possesses.
VIII the present state of European affairs
help her in reaching that result? This is
what We sincerely hope. We are not even
without some expectations that she will realize
more by the conflict than any other power, be-
cause, being less ambitious, she will be con-
tented with the only benefit she can derive from
the contestant that is her independence.
Acquainted already with the working of the
federal system, she is better prepared than the
most part of the people of Europe to get rid Of
the evils of central organization, the conse-
quence of which naturally leads to despotism.
We do not mean to say thereby that the system,
as it works now, is pregnant with results
Of political utility. Such is not our idea.
1t has in itself elements Of destruction which
must be eradicated. But it is nevertheless true
that the single fact of thirty eight different
States, represented by seventeen voices in the
federative body, called the diet of Frankfort,
and the rights stipulated by mutual conven-
ton, to these different States, constitutes form
of government, akin to ours, which must sooner
or later, and when the obstacle in the way will
have been removed produce fruits sweet to the
lips of the friends of freedom.
Since the year 1861, the German States have
perpetually been on the verge Of an explosion.
Nowhere in Europe is the spirit of ls4s more
alive than in her midst. Protestations are
constantly made not by the demagogues, but
BIZ the sound portion Of her people. Take,
for instance, the example set by by the assem-
bly, of Burgesses Of the city of Bremen. On
the 9th Of December, 1861, the Senate Of
that city ntimated to that body that the laws
they had enacted we're not in conformity with
the 18th article Of the federal pact of 1915,
and in order that they might understand the
Interpretation they had put upon the Fact, they
sent the laws which were to take the place Of
those they wanted to see abolished. The
House Of Burgesses received the communica-
ton from the Senate, saw its spuriousness, but
as its members wanted to keep within the
strictest terms of decorum and moderation,
they selected commission, whose duty it was
to report upon the Senate bill. No sooner,
however, had the senators heard the result,
than they became enraged at the boldness Of
the House, and directly applied to the Frank
fort Diet for redress. The Diet, which had, in
That instance, secretly instructed the members
Of the Senate, sent word to the city Of Bremen,
that their constitution had to be rejected, be.
cause not in accordance with the federal laws.
Thereupon the House Of Burgesses met, and
passed resolution, stating that the Diet had
directly interfered with the interior affairs Of
the States of the confederation, and that, in
opposition to the articles 81, Sc, and 81 of the
additional act Of the treaty of Vienna, warrant
ing the independence Of each State Of the con-
federation. This noble conduct Of the Burgess.
ess created quite sensation at Frankfort. The
Hanovan general jacob was sent by the Diet
to the city Of Bremen, with the title Of federal
commissary. On his arrival, he dissolved the
House Of Burgesses, and enacted laws pre-