The New York herald., 1867-03-31
Tho North German Parliament-.-lts 0fgani.
zatiOn and First Political Acts.
Count Bismarck's Argument on the
New Constitution.
THH LATHsx FASHIONS.
SPECIAL DRAMATIC AND MUSICAL REVIEW.
90. &c. 60.
the NORTH GERMAN PARLIAMENT.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE or THE HERALD.

SrINiAL 0VnnISTuNuCNtc W iu6 hthAlu.
Special Report Of tho Opening Of tho Free
Suffrage Legislature-The Royal Procession
and Scene In tho Chambers-The First
Sitting-A General Prayer for the Legisla-
tors, sc.
BERLIN. March Q, 1857.
The Imperial Diet OF the North German Confedera
ton vulgarly called the German Parliament was opened
on February "a with all the pomp and solemnity be-
hitting the occasion, and which the present King OF
Prussia is fond OF displaying Soon after eleven in
the morning the members ibegan to collect to attend
Divine service, the Protestants royal chapel
Catholics at the church OF st. Edvge the King and his
family driving up in their State equipages followed by
the grand func.ionarcs Of the kingdom, the corps
dpomdtique, and the honorable Deputies or the latter
most were In hired carriages cabs foot and
several among whom OF course Baron Rothscbild the
representative of the city of Frankfort only
made their appearance after the religious ceremony
was terminated, when the Baron asionshed all
beholders by his magnificent turnoua gorgeousy gilt
and elaborately decorated vehicle the style of the
Renaissance drawn by four light bay horses peculiar
beauty and altogether echpsing the royal trains The
open squares on both sides OF the Shoss crowded
with spectators in the Linden and the adjoining streets
flags, black, white and red (the federal coors) were
hung out-n conformity with hint given by the po-
iiceand being sunday the city naturally festive
appearance, although the public in general seemed to
u
of political event in which they took any particular
interest
AS tho King left his private palace the royal
lowered from the Flagstaff and hoisted that OF the
Castle as he approached the grand portal The
preached by his Majestys chaplain In ordinary DR. Ho
man, was in Romans xv., and O. Snow the God OF
patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded
one toward another according to Christ Jesus that ye
may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even
Tho Tai of
official programme says that the King would deign to
attend divine service which shows that the anecdote
related IN former letters not exaggerated) After
It's conclusion tho deputies proceeded to tho White Hall
where they conducted their appointed stations
by the masters OF the ceremonies The diplomatic corps
took their seats tbunes assigned to them
then removed Tor the Queen the Prncesses of the Royal
House and the Princes Of Baden Odenburg and Nassau
whercupon his Majesty notified that everything was
IN readiness 10 receive him.
II was about O'Clock when the King sdeigned to
repair his ahighest self' russo Byzantine stye) to
Grand Master Of the Ceremonies Grand Marshal Grand
C1pbearer and Grand Carver and the insignia OF the
nowsky; the globe by General Pencies; the scepre,
by Count Waidefoco; the crown by Count REDEEM and
the standard by Marshal wrange assisted by Generals
HIS Majesty followed by the princes OF the blood
the general the Minister OF the Royal
Court and suite. Saiutrd by the acclamaiions of the
Assembly, he ascended the throne, the middle step OF
which was occupied by his son, the lower by his
brothers and nephews, while at the foot stood the
officers with the inngnia, and Count Bismarck with the
government commissioners TO the Parliament The
effect OF the whole was quite imposing and the
number OF SNOWY uniforms added briiancy to the
scenc very few persons appearing In simple black and
those being cunnngy hid away by the masters OF the
ceremonies to cause a break in the uniner-
rupted line Of gold lace 1t is needless
mention that the King and Princes regmenials
scion Of the Prussan royal family appears in
plain clothes. exc when travelling abroad In spite
OF his recent ndspostion tho King looked remarkably
we'll; and, with his tail commanding figure aud stresm
ing gray hair you might almost have imagined that
Frederck Barbarossa had emerged from tho Kpphauser
w In lQCe ha haa hee
seopng for the last seven hundred years. and had come
10 person TO open the new Parliament which is to lay
the foundations OF q unted Germany.
The first sitting OF the Parliament took place on
the following Monday at the premises hitherto
had been fitted up for the purpose in the In
terval between the close Of the Legislature and
short the carpenters aud painters had only just got
DONE and the atmosphere was imprcgnated BY strong
odor OF fresh varnisn ON the whole there from
2l0 TO 220 deputies present OF whom Count Frankcn.
berg member Of the House of Lords being the senior
President tenn and the four youngest deputies those
OF Secretaries. Count Bismarck among the first
rivals aud took his seat at the extreme right, Prince
Freder OK Charles who appeared In the dashng uniform
OF Colonel OF Hussars at the right CENTRE with Gen.
erals Moltkc Falkcnstein stenmez tho Duke OF Ujes
and Ratbon, NJ Wagner and the Hanoverian conserva-
tives. The Poles had selected the benches the
treme left, where We also noticed tho leading Prussan
aud Saxon radicals, Messrs Duncker, Becker, wiggns
Schatforth and others Waieck only came next dav.)
Tho grouping OF parties however is su incomplete,
and there will be several changes of before every
has found his proper place until when II difficult
TO form an estimate Ok their respective numerical
strength On this occasion tue right certainly prcpo,-
derated, but this may be owing to the fact that
the Prussan members the majority OF whom belong TO
the conservative, very moderately liberal party, are
all in Berlin, while many of those from the other States
still missing Previous to the commencement of
proceedings Coun. Bismarck, who seemed fagued but
lively and iocusr exchanged his seat for
the benches assigned 10 tic government commits
sioners, p front OF the chair along with Count Itzcn
phitz Co0ni Enbaburg. General Room, NJ de Ssvigny,
the Minister Baron Frlesen and the plenpoen-
OF OF the smaller statcs the entire number
OF whom when complete. will be no lcss than forty.
The first sitting sclusvcy devoted to matters Of
FORM did not last above two hours possibly because
the members had been invited 10 dinner by tie King,
and were 10 a hurry TO so home TO dress
Bismarck read the royal order appoint ng him and his
foleagues the official representatives, OF the Prusan
government, aud motion introduced 20 adopt the
rules aud regulations OF the second Prussian Chamber
which passed almost unanimously. Yesterday the
House met again, though only FOR lew minutes, 10
tonirm tue appointment Of committees TO examine the
elections &c The nomination OF President Vice Prssi
dent and other officers will hardly come of before next
week. when the various parties VIII the first oppor
tuniiy of measuring their strength
Of this Assembiy-as 10 ihs Il must be confessed the
public In general do not form any sangune expccta
ons-is evident from their having ordered prayers 70
monarchy for the success Of Its deliberations The form
Of the prayer Is as follows: -"Exend, eternal God
thy mercy the councils which being held at this
lime for the construction OF Arm union of German
fathcrand. sancfy this work. and let Il tend to the
peace and happiness OF our German people and their
Princes. AMI y ths praise Thy HOLY name so Thou
the strong ED and buiwark Of our German Father.
lhna hhu kItutt0at all Christian authOfitFs may JOIN,
under Ihy blessing, with King striving erect
Thy klbgdom upon earth and TO gloriy Thy name"
In the autoogies aud eraons OF this document we may
easily trace the royal style; for Il was penned by no
less iustrous hand than that Of King William l. him
self
First Political Act of the FREQ Lesi.lnture--
Count Bismarck's speech on the Federal
Coustitwticn-Wirc Pulling MT the Elections
Union Of the Socialists aud Conservatives
and Position OF the Grown Prince-Convep-
tion with the Duks of Nassau.
BrxrIv March O, 1867
The nrst political act Of the North German Parliament
the election OF n slmson to the Presidency event
OF considerable Importance and BODIES III for the
dlonai acceptance OF the federal constitution drawn up
by Count Bismarck and his diplomatic colleagues In
the nrss place shows that the new Parliament s To-