The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-12-03

only the rctenuOn Of tucu cstSunsncu
privileges. Parliament after parliament has
been d ssolved, but each election has only
found the Liberals stronger than ever, and
the majority against the King in the
Chamber of Deputies still larger
The last session, however, was Tar
stormier than ever, and termin ted by a
most outrageous usurpa,ion OF power by
the King and his counsellors. A favorite
scheme of William has been 10 increase his
army and place it upon "A war-footing equal
10 that OF France or England. The people,
fearing TO pl &C such po crial engine IN
the hands Of so INSCRIPTIONS monarch
have steadily refused TO make the necessa
nv appropriations. The late parliament
was chosen after most bitter election
campaign. Every adjunct of kingly power,
patronage and menace was brou Int To
bear, tn intimidatc and inlluetce votcrs,
but without effect, for the now Chamber OF
Deputies was almost unanimously Liberal,
and in point Of intelligence and worth lar
exceeded any popular Representative body,
ever convened ut Berlin. The Ministerial
Budget was submitted as usual and re-.
ceived very rough treatment in the COM
mittee in the Lower House, and was 80
mangled and amended AZ tn almost lose its
identity Ju.t money enough was appro-
priated to retain the army on the present
footing, and the bill, as reported
10 the Deputies by this com
mittec, was adopted and sent I, the
Upper House. In tho latter body, by an
unhcard of usurpation, AMI under the per
sonAl ditecticn Of the King, 1t was moved
TO entirely disregard the amendments Of the
Deputies, and TO vote the original Budget
After an acrimoni ,us debate, this WIS done
by u vote of IA to A.. The termeut that
ensued was tremendous. In announcing
the action of the Upper House, the Chair
man OF the Chamber of Deputies declared
IL To be UNANIMOUSLY unconstitutional, and
the whole matter was referred back to the
original COMMITTEES. After short dcliber-
alton, they reported resolution, that the
action of the Upper House was unconsti-
,utional, and therefore null and void, and
that the Government has no right to take
any steps based thereon, which was adopt
cd by AN unanimous vote Of 237.
o. Immediately on this action, the King
sent in message, dissolving the Parlia-
mcnt, and announcing that whereas the
Upper House had voted the original
Budget, the Ministry would feel
compelled to net, as II IL had also
passed the Lower House, until At
least tho next session OF Parliament. The
sentiment resultant upon this outrageous
violation of the law, and of all the consti-
,ional privileges et the people, may be i'm
agincd The indignation of the Deputies
all men of integrity and iniluence-spread
rapidly and pcr1ncatcd all classes of the
people Vast meetings were held in Berlin
under tho very palace windows, and the
action of the King was denounced in the
most unmeasurcd terms. Meetings of elect
ois were held throughout the whole king.
dom, and votes OF thanks passed to the
Chamber of Deputies for the patriotic spirit
with which they had resisted the cncroach-
men,s of the Crown In Berlin an address
has been drawn up to this effect and Is DO
inv sigucd both in the capital mud through.
out the provinces. The next session OF
Parliament will undoubtedly bring matters
to a crisis.
Meanwhile no one can regard the folly Of
the position of the Prussian monarch with
aught than theme complete astonishment.
by judicious concessions t. the popular
spirit and timely fostering oF the element
OF national greatness, William !. could have
made OF Prussia u greater nation, than she
over has been even in the palmy days OF
Frederick. Instead he chose 10 place
himself ~ u stumbling block in the way of
her advancement and TO act the part OF "A
Tyrant rather than OF Beneiactor. lie