The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-22
BALTIMORE.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER q, 1853.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER q, 1855.
Prussia has once again become the hope OF Ger
many. The transfer Of sovereign authority to
Prince FREDERICK as Regent of the Kingdom his
formal recognition of the Constitution Of lS49 and
his appointment of Liberal Cabinet, have revived
those fanciful dreams of German unity, which, but
a few wears back, were so rudely dispelled by Aus
TRAN despotism, and by the re-actionary measures
to which FREDERICK WILLIAM, of Prussia had lent
his sanction. The dismissal of the MANTEUFFEL |
Ministry, and the separation of the Prince Regent
from the CamariUa that surrounded his well
meaning, but pusillanimous brother, have relieved
the anxiety of the Prussian Liberals with respect to
his future policy, and all that he has thus far done,
has been accomplished with a manly directness
which iustifes the confidence that is repose in
him. Eight years ago, when the King of Prussia
consented to a constitutional form of government
the present Regent strenuously opposed it. At the
DESIRE however, of the King, he consented to visit
England and examine for himself, under the
guidance of the Chevalier BUNsEN the Prussian
minister at the Court of ST. James, the working of
the British Constitution. He returned home deeply
impressed with the admirable adaptation of Eng
lish institutions to the genius of the English people,
but more doubtful than ever of the proprety of
conceding to the Prussians so large measure of
freedom. His consent therefore, to the Constltu-
ton, was rather wrung from him than freely &C
corded; but when that consent had been given, he
regarded it as point of honor that the new form
of government should have fair and impartial
trial. Nevertheless the reluctance with which he
bod oil to tba oh 1onu remembered
against him, and although he subsequently
sisted to the utmost the measures adopted by the
MANTEUFFEL ministry for rendering the Constitution
nullity, his motives were misconstrued, and until
the breaking out of the Crimean war; the Prince Of
Prussia was the most unpopular man in the king
DOM When, however, the Russo-Turkish ques-
ton came up for discussion he placed himself at
the head of the small band of patriots who boldly
denounced the aggressive policy of Russia, and
advocated an alliance offensive and defensive with
England and France. The great mass of the Prus-
sian people, ashamed of the subservieuce of the
Court Party TO the will of the Car, and jealous OF
the supremacy which Austria has so long asserted
and so skilfully maintained in the German B4nd,
ioyfullv recognized in the Prince of Prussia an
uncompromising opponent Of the two great Powers
under whose influence Prussia, instead of standing
at the head of the Germanic Confederation, had
been forced to occupy secondary rank among the
Continental nations. Since his assumption of the
Regency, the Prince of Prussia has displayed a
practical good sense which goes far to justify the
popular confidence in his administrative ability
In his first address to the new Ministry of State
he admonished them to bear always in mind that
the interests of the country are inseparabe; that
the welfare of both rests upon healthy, strong,
and conservative basis. every thing" said he,
''that is promised, should be scrupulously per-
'formed, without, however, retaining from
''ameliorations; and every thing not promised
i'must be firmly opposed. The great secret of
Estate wisdom is to find out exactly the true
''wants of the people: to understand them and to
''meet them; but all extreme measures ought
''to be avoided. Above ALL it is necessary
ito abstain from the stereotyped phrase that the
Government must indefinitely consent to the de-
s'veopment of liberal ideas. When truth and 10y
''alty are manifest in all the acts of the Govern
"ment it is strong, because it is conscious Of act
cling properly, and that feeling gives it right to
"resst energetically all that is Objectionable"
There will be very few who will deny that there
is much sound wisdom in the counsel thus given,
and in the reflections by which that counsel is
supported. "Promse nothing" says the Prince,
''but what you design to scrupulousy perform, and
''let what you perform be in excess Of your prom
'ise rather than fall behind it; but resist danger
Sous Innovations The reasons which have i'm
PEELED him to adopt this cautious, but most udcious
line of policy, are to be found in subsequent
portion of his address, where he speaks of the in
from one extreme to another since l948-from
communal government, which sought, without
preparation, to introduce self governmental the
old system of absolutism, which took no account
of the demands of the times. The aim of the
Prussian Regent is to take middle course, and to
gradually educate the people to that point at
which larger share of liberty may be safely ac-
corded. The process must necessarily be slow, and
to the American mind, might be thought to SAVIOUR
too much of lingering attachment for those an
cent institutions which the Regent tacitly admits
are becoming obsolete; but to those who remember
the excuses of which the Prussan democrats were
guilty during the Revolution of 1848, and the ut
terly mpracticable theories of government which
were preached by some of the most learned Of the
Prussian professors during that period of wild e1-
element, the caution shown by the Regent in
guarding against renewal of similar outbreaks,
will be regarded as the best evidence of the correct
ness of his judgment. The greatest obstacle to
German progress hitherto, has been German TO
manticism. What is meant by rational liberty is
even now but little understood, and is, at best,
but imperfectly appreciated. With the German
Radicals, as with the Red Republicans of France,
Liberty regulated by Law is but Despotism under
another name. In l84s, HELD, one of the leaders
of the Berlin Radicals audacousy proposed the
abrogation of all law, as more fatal to liberty than
the tyranny of an absolute King. Where such
elements of combustion are known to exist there
is more danger to be apprehended in conceding toe
much than too little and the necessity of proceed
ing at all times with circumspecton, is too appa-
rent to admit of question. In undertaking to in,
doctrnate the Prussian people with the true prn
ciples of constitutional liberty, the Prince Regent
has assumed task which depends for success, upon
the confidence he inspires in those whom the policy
he has adopted is designed to benefit. If that con-
fdence, now so freely yielded him. is not impaired
by any subsequent act, either on his own part, OIL
on that of the ministry he has chosen to carry out
his plans of reform, the effect of their labors can
not fail to make itself speedily felt, not only upon
the minor States of Germany, but especially upon
Austria, where the old system of repression is
already found to have become of such doubtful
efficacy, that the Government has been compelled
to resort to the assistance of the public press anc
to relax the despotc rigor of its former rule ii
Austrian Italy and in the Sclavonic provinces.
@@-..u-@z-
BALTIMORE, Dec. 20, 1858.
To the Editors Of the Exchange:
Thanks for publishing my letter relative to thu
clashing of our lectures As yet no remedy has fol