The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-04-08

u. The No, th-German Confederation.
/ treaty of peace, published on the I'd Septem-
ber last, reads as follows: ,t.l i..la. ,..
His Majesty the Emperor of Austria reeog-
nizes the dissolution of the late German Bund
and gives his consent to new formation of
Germany, in which the Imperial State of Aus
tria shall take no part. Moreover His Majesty
promises to recognize the closer Federal rela-
tiOns which His Majesty the King of Prussia is
about to establish north of the line of the Maine
and also agrees that the German States to the
south of this line shall form u union, the ma
tional connection OF which with the Northern
Confederacy is reserved for more explicit
agreement between both parties and which is
to maintain an international independent exis-
tehce. - ri i7 3Atai te #af4 .iiasU.
On the 10th September treaty was con-
cluded between Prussia and fifteen or sixteen
OF the smaller States and free cities north OF
the Maine. A national Parliament, elected
in accordance with the terms of this treaty,
met at Berlin on the path of February. On
the 9th of March this Parliament adopted
the constitution proposed by Won Bismarck.
fourth article of the treaty of Prague, has al
ready taken place, and more-for Bavaria
and Baden. the principal States of the pro-
posed South-G German Confederation, have
within a fortnight bound themselvesby treaty
to give the command of their armies in time
of war to Prussia. A year ago Prussia had a
population of eighteen or nineteen millions
To-day she is the head of a Confederation
numbering thirty-two or three millions-more
populous than Great Britain and Ireland, and
fairly rivaling France. ,sa fas. -t..
The new constitution tranfers all questions
T of trade and commerce, of customs duties
weights, measures, coinage and internal COM
munication to the representatives of the peo-
pie and of the States The Parliament is to
be composed of deputies chosen by the people,
every man over twenty-five years of age
being entitled to vote. The Federal Coun-
Gil will have for the present 43 members ap-
pOrtioned among and nominated by the
States. All legislation on the subjects
named is entrusted to these two bodies
Their sessions ale to be public and the votes
are to be decided by a majority, except that
a two-thiids vote will be required to effect any
change in the constitution. So much is con-
ceded to the German people. 1t is much, and
they will help themselves to more. On the
other hand the King of Prussia is, constituted
Federal Commander in-chief and Lord High
| admiral, with exclusive control of the expens-
es OF the army and navy. Prussia is the sole
representative otthe Confederation among
other nations, She alone has power to de-
| clare war, to make treaties, to receive or ac-
credit ambassadors. She also has the con-
venient power to convene or adjourn the Par
lament Every man is required to serve for
a time in the regular army or i'm the navy
| and all persons in the national service, civil
or military, are to take the oath Of fealty to
the King of Prussia. '.'-' 9''f '.'
In the Prussian sky thereis now but single
cloud. The Duchy Of Luxemburg encompass
ed by Belgium, Prussia and France, but odd
ly enough belonging to Holland, is nqispen-
sable to the full satisfaction of the Royal
Prussian mind. Luxembourg belongs geogra-
phically to Belgium, but the Luxemburghers
are not drawn towards the Belgians. The Dutch
are not prepared to fight for a bit of territory
of no more consequence to them than Russian
America is to us. The Prussians, after the
war last summer, garrisoned the city of Lux.
emburg and still hold it by possession. Mean
while the cable informed us few days acc
that the walls of the city had suddenly brok.
en- out with placards calling for annexation to
France. The Prussian commander demand
ed an explanation of the astonished autorities
which at last accounts they were unable to
give. The cloud is no bigger than mans
hand, but the man is Louis Napoleon, and
the hand is reaching toward possession
which Prussia will not readily suffer him TO
take. If the French Emperor should succeed
in obtaining any colorado title by purchase
from Holland. it is not improbable that we
shall see another European war this sum-
| mer. .Fa a9elss3 sal ...-...