The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-03
THE POSITION or NEW YORK.


proposition 10 Mas. New York. Long
bland and state. Esitnd Free City
The Hanseatie Lsasue-Some Account
OF the Free Cities 81 Europe, &C., Sc.
We that In consequence dissatisfaction oc
casioned by the injurious and nexplcaple Morrill, tariff
there has been an association consisting OF prominent
merchants citizens, &C. this city, for the pur
pose OF uniting staten Isaad Long Island Manhattan
Island, and incorporating he three into free city
FOR the better understanding Of the working or such an
poraon, we give ske the free Hanseatc
cities OF Europe, all Of wh,sn known to by means
p the commercial and diplomatic relations existing be.
twecn them and us.
Before taking each individual city into consideration
Few worcs relative to thu origin and progress OF the
Hanst attic League may be resting to our readers
wen as 70 show to them tn he proper protection Of their
commerce had as in tue present case great deal TO do
with the establishment OF that confederation.
HANsEATIc LEAGUE.
The Hanseatlc League b title from the Teutonic
word honsd, confederscyy an association of the
principal cities Of the north of Germany &c. for the bet
ger carry ing on OF commerce o their mutual safety
and defence This confedeacy celebrated in the early
history OF modern Europe contributed in no ordinary de.
gree 10 Introduce the Bile OF civilization and good
government into the North The exteison and protection
OF commerce was, however, s main object. Hamburg,
AeN'ea ~ SHlflehaEHt " the nntn, anu IuDeC,
founced about the middle Ct tho twelfth century were
The earliest members OF the aagne There Is no very di
rect evidence az to he pc Tod when this alliance
summated. Some ascrbe It's origin to the year 1869,
others to the year 1900 Others still later-viz l24l
Inc coniederacy doubtlrs4 little by little, like
United States, until it the great power Tor which
became ultimately celebrated The cities that
established along the Baltic eagerly Joined the consedera
fioa The progress OF The League consequence
elyx
tury embraced every cradle city all those
countries extending from iivonia Holland, was
match for the most powerful the fourteenth
and hteenh Centuries 4 cu,rsed from sixty to eighty
cities. The supreme apthofity OF the League
was vested in the deputies OF the different
towns assembled in Congress. In it they dis.
cussed al their measure, decided upon the each
city should contribute 70 ito fund, aud upon
the questions that the confederacy and
other Powers, well bet geen the different
members Of the League 'ha Congress met every three
years, of,encr II occasion repaired Any one might
be chosen deputy, and tho ongress therefore,
composed only az merclsots, but also of cerg, men,
lawyers, artists &c When the deliberations were con-
cluded, the decrees formally communicated to those
below them and the vigorous measures were
adopted for carrying them into effect. The conederacy
a4- ed nearly he eatire monopoly the trade OF the
Baltic and tho northern Of Europe as well as that
OF the land. Tse-e SHADOW OF a doubt that
tbs League, By its influence, the of prod-
gousy acceleratrg tie progress Of civilization in the
north Tor they repressed racy by robbery by
iano they set the example the inhabitants of good
government ard subordnaiiug, and inspired them with
. taste for literature science The Kings of
Denmark, Sweden and Norway in their jealousy
of the progress OF the League, were frequent. |
iy engaged in hos.lities with it, but the only rasun
was to augment and extend it, union gave them
strength Their military operations being combined
directed by council posed OF Of tried talents
and experience, therefore excellent, and their
merce supplied them with abundance of all sorts of
provisions The Hansaros became The principal merchants
of Europe and the conservative city Of London
granted them exclusive privileges.
HAMBURG,
One of the free Hanseatic cities situated the river
Eibe, and has population Of about rs0 900. 1t is
sdered IL the greatest, of the greatest OF the
cities of Coptineu al Europe IL is certainly
30 OF Germany The water communication OF the city
has been improved by sluces and canals to make
them very advantageous. The trade OF Hamburg is, in
great measure passive; that is it depends more upon
he vitality OF other countries than upon its policy
The free navigation OF the E.be has a great deal
10 do with the Of Hamburg railway
communication Ha aburg with Berlin and other
important cities The government Is composed OF Sc
nate, Commits Council AID Assembly. The Senate Is
nm annual eaary and constitute the executive They
have 20 hereditary right distinction, but they have
the privilege eectiDg their members. Such cleo
tions ho gevcr are almost always In with
the popular wi b. The burgcsses, citizens, act by de-
legation Ia various ways: by commission OF fifteen,
called the Council Of Elders by the Council Of Sixty, ami
by an assembly of hunlrei anl eighty. These DO.
dies are each entitled confer with tho senate ques
tions OF impor ance. The Senate alone propose
law; its adoption rejection rests With the represent
fives Of the citizens To be citizen in legislative
II IL requisite TO DC OF the Lutheran faith and
TO possess permanen, property within the walls
10 the value OF thousand Xix dollars (about |
81 2oo) OF double that II outside the wallis, but
within the territory the Tign. OF citizenship for
tile purposes of easy acquisition, vz Foreigners
cannot establiah Themselves merchants or carry |
on any bussess 10 their own names at Hamburg |
without becoming burghers, and to be maui
facturers they must also enter the guild or corporation
peculiar to the trade they mean to follow But tobe-
come burghor one has only 70 comply with certain
forms and pay fees which do not in all exceed
ten pouns $50. lie then becomes, in the eye Of the
Law Hamburg subject a1d oplts al the rgh's ant
privileges Of native.' The Whole OF The constitution
YVES framed by commission oppouted by the Emperor
Of Germany 172 grew aas 20 wAeh The goveFnmen''t
rambufp haa been tee source Of fequcDt strife between
tbe senate he arsocfacy) AID lie citizens The city
revenue ia derived chiefly from customs aud assessed
,axes These defray the public salaries and the pay OF
the military which are number about two th1us'ni
The river il kept order by mesns Of toll upon snip
ming The ttrfitofy Of Hamburg comprises about one
hundred and thirty three square uliles II consists oil
small strict ,ing around the cry, Of the town ana
baliwck OF CuXhayen at The mouth Oh tue
E,be. where number Of very large vessels gene
rally unlcai--iheir carg,es boiog taken up to Ham
4 La I'M ~