New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-06-29
TIE eERnAH CONFEDERATION

The last news from Europe indicates that the
German Confederation is about to take part in the
| impending war; and, apparently, on the side o.
| Austria. 1t has for some time been known thai
the Diet sympathized with Austria, in her ouarrel
| with Prussia because the latter power under the
arrogant guidance Of Bismarck, had manifested a
dispositionto appropriated herselfthe Eibe Ouch
les, in defiance Of the rights of the Bund, whilst
Austria has declared that the basis of her oppo-
| siton was determination that those rights should
be respected Whether or not public opinion
throughout the minor German States inclines
towards Austria, cannot now be ascertained. The
Diet is composed of representatives, of the German
governments who reflect the wishes and opinions
of the sovereign rulers directly; and perhaps in
directly, the sentiments of the people. If this is
the case Austria will receive an accession of
strength which should, to all appearance, give her
vastly the preponderance over Prussia and Italy
combined
The army of the confederation was to consist of
100000 men, not including the reserves. In 1856
it numbered 560OOO of which Austria furnished
three corps Of $4,000, and Prussia three corps
Of l70 Co., leaving four corps of $40 COO to be fur
nished by the other States At present the
numuer is probably 800 900. The mobilization Of
this force is looked upon by Prussia as sn act Of
hostility towards her; and it is not surprising,
therefore, that she declared the confederation dis
solved, and withdrew from it the moment the
motion was carried. The point has been carried
in the Diet by the influence of Austria; and this
fact, together with the formal denunciation and
withdrawal of Prussia settles pretty oonolusiveiy
that the confederation intends to make common
cause with Austria.
The German confederation ia founded on an
act of the Congress of Vienna, June s, 1915, and
a supplemental agreement dated may Is, 1890.
Originally it was agreed that the Diet had no
power to carry on an aggressive war; but the
37th section of the supplementary statute Of
1920 confers the Bund the power to ware a
foreign war, not only in case of actual invasion
but also when the frontier Of Germany seems to
be endangered. The confederation consists Of
one empire, (Austria) five Kingdoms, Prussia,
| Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover and Wurtemberz y
one electorate; seven grand duchies; eight
duchies; nine princpalites; and four free cities
(Iubeck, Frankfort, Bremen and Hamburg) But
large portions of Prussia and Austria do not be-
long to the confederation at all. Prussia is con-
sidered the leading German State, because her
German confederated population is IA TIA Oh
whilst the German cOnfederated population Of
Austria is only 1882 94l, The total population
OF the other States is about 100000.
The federal Diet consists of plenipotentiaries of
the several German States. who meet at the city
Of Frankfort. The administrative government of
the federsl Diet is constituted in two forms: LIST.
AS general assembly or plenum, in which every
member of the confederation has at least one
vote, and the larger States have two three or
feur votes each; and second. the minor council,
or committee of confederation, in which the
eleven largest States cast one vote each, while
six votes are given to the smaller States, a
number of them combined having joint vote
The presidency is permanently vested in Austria
The general assembly decides on war and peace,
on the admission of new members, on any
changes in the' fundamental laws or organic in
but in all other cases the minor
council is competent to act both as legislative and
executive.
The confederation is recognized as an indepen-
dent power, and seVeva representatives of foreign
governments are accredited to it; bat it has never
pet sent ministers abroad. During the forty years
Of its existence the Diet has confined its labors
almost exclusively to the direction and centraza-
ion of repressiVe measures against all popular
movements Although, therefore, it is national in
Is character, it is not popular In this respect il
liffers from the parliament of 49, which repre-
ented the general popular impulse as well as the
national feeling Of Germany. Indeed, were it not
or Bismarok's known despotSeal opinions, it is
that the Diet would no have Ventured to
disregard the Prussan offer of pRrlianenteleoted
" universal suffrage. The Diet represents the
governments of Germany, not the pc gple bat the
governments are in perpetual dread OF q recnr-
ence OF movements like those of 4s, wh'es sVntail
# the German monarchs, dukes and prinsas aying
rom their capitals They have experienced Che
Gree Of public opinion, and they do not wa ut 10
m violently counter to formidable p0Eer !
Ienca the unpopularity of Bismarck, and sho AFRO.
ant professions Of Prussia furnish them with
ohvenient pretest FOR alying themselves With
ostria, aud for throwing the weight ofthe federal
rmaon the side Of the power which has always
sen The great hnlwarls of desp6tismi Ia Germany.
Recent reports render It certain that the iruit
pp in central Georgia and Alabama will be a
Iure There may lie half lbe usual 1nadtify II
piles sNad pears, bu. peaches and grapes arc de-
,oyed.