The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-12-08
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
STATE DEPARTMENT.


The Potieal Condition # The German Confsderacy,-Ex-
tracts Of letter from correspondent residing Frankfort
on the Maine, Germany, dated November 0, 1856;
The city of Frankfort with ita territory had been free
town OF the German empire till the dissolution OF the latter
ia the year 1906. 1t then, with different neghborng
States formed the Grand Duchy Of Frankfort by Napo
formerly Archbishop OF kegensburg, (Ratsbon) The Con
gress Vienna the independence of the
city, and the first work Of the restored authorities was the
framing OF constitution. The form and basis of that
constitution intended be republican, but Its features
and true character those OF arsocracy ogarcy
The sovereignty declared TO reside in the otay of the
citizens bat the exercise Of it was vested in three
tons:
lst. An executive power called the Senate, composed Of
forty-two members.
2d controlling body called the permanent represent
alton Of the citizens, composed of fifty members.
:" 3d. Legislative body composed Of ninety-sir mem
bers
The members Of the Senate were elected for life by
committed composed of equal number OF members OF the
Senate and O the legislative body
"The members OF the permanent representation were
also chosen for by committee composed OF an equal NUM-
Der o. ther and Of tae'. legislative BODY
five chosen by the citizens twenty by the senate from
rs own CORPORATION twenty BY the s r. s
villages belonging to the dominions Of the city
Tbe secon Of thu bse be
an indirect The citizens choose seventyhve electors
and these latter the fortve members for the eg.a
tive body That body the first Monday in Noyem
ber every year. Its ordinary session is limited to the period
Of six weeks after the expiration OF which can meet only
when called the Senate Motions emanatng from MEMBER
of this body be introduced only during the ordinary
session. The legislative body the laws and the
No law be passed. changed interpreted without its
consent.
The permanent representation has to watch the
maintenance of the constitution and the laws The Senate
bound to submit for its approval all pecuniary transactions
of certain amount and character.
The Senate is composed Of three sections or benches
The members the thd bench exclusively chosen from
among the tradesmcn the artisans They inferior in
rank salary, right of voting the members of the
other benches The representation and of the
executive is vested in two burgomsstes elected BY
the first OF December every year, from its
elected
The administration Of Justice is ntrusted to tribunals
the presidents and members of which taken from the
members the The administrative bodies like
for the greater part headed controlled by members Of
The constitution some Of the particulars which have
any other Of the time The first Of these
anomalies is that the legislative body composed in part OF
q very @ ss"nd % a
justice mingled with the management OF the executive
the being at the head Of the one and the
Notwithstanding these and several other mpcriecton
the constitution worked quietly enough TIL the year 1875
when the spirit Of reform and change Of institutions prevail
ing throughout Germany could not fail to invade the mot
fenve little of Frankfort then the ea OF the
great German Parliament constituent assembly, chosen by
direct election by the whole OF the citizens called to
frame new constitution Their work was based o. course
the principles oil atsolae democracy but when IN Decem
ber ists after the lapse OF this constitution was
had yielded the restored vigor and energies Of
ments 80 IL that the enste OF Frankfort IN
Gs % Il 9 ss vote ss iss apsd
II
comp ot put the instrument aside altogether TO dissolve
the constituent assembly, and call again the legislative
body promising submit to the latter the reforms OF the
institutions called the spirit OF the times The Senate
supported in this not only by the countenance OF the
newly federal authority but also by strong party
among the citizens themselves who had become tired
the eccenrctes the democratic party and for that
reason notwithstanding the protest Of the latter the cleo
for the restored legislative body nunerously at
tended By the citizens.
atiye body continued for several years without any sstsac
result In the reform OF The constitution, when
length the interference OF the German Diet gave new
feature TO the state OF things.
The political events OF ls4s and 1879 bad led IN Frank
fort well in the greater part OF ernny 70 'ns pnt
emancipation OF Jews The Diet however, rredica
ting its interference article Of the treaty OF vienna
claimed for self the right Of controlling all changes made
the institutions Of Frankfort II decided that tho
rights granted Jews had been granted in way not 10
with the law ard that the Institutions OF lsl6
ought The Senate acquesced in this decs
OF the Diet and the Jews well the citizens o. the
villages belonging the city, deprived OF the rights
conferred them In 1873 .
the year 1858 the Senate submitted TO the legislative
which part OF these rights were 10 De re-
stored law which had already received the sanction OF
the Diet was approved BY the legislative body According
to this law the Jews are excluded from all offices in the sen
tho permanent representation OF the citSens ana 10
management churches aud schools They egipe
10 other Offices and allowed to take part in elections for
legislative body but the number OF Jews allowed 70 take
In that body limited The citizens OF the viii
aes are also restored to their political rights
The schemes brought forward and then rejected,
obtain amendments the constitution leo 20 no result m
! the beginning Of the present year.
ln January 1855 the Senate submitted 10 the Legislative
body proposition according which the number Of mem
beers Of the Senate shall be reduced from TO twenty
one, all Of whom shall enIoy equal rights and saiares the