The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-26
The North German Parliament.
COUNT BlsMARCK's SPEECH ON INTRODUCING THE
DRAFT OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION.

DRAFT OF THE NEW CONSTITUTION.
[Berln (Aarch a Correspondence London Herad,]
AT the sitting of tho North German Parliament
to-day, Count Bismarck as President Of tho Fede-
raj Commissioners, introduced the draft OF the
new constitution with the following speech:
7 have the honor, on tehaR Of the allied Govern
ments, to lay before the Parliament the draft OF
the federal constitution, which has been agreed
upon between them. / add to this draft authentic
copies of the treaties upon which the establish.
ment Of the alliance rests, md Of the protocols OF
the conferences in which the draft wss settled be-
tween the representatives Of the Governments
While submitting this draft for the consideration
of Parliament, abstain from making any addition
The speech a bs s as n ny Rsi Soa gone L
is my desire to invite attention.
Article of the provisional treaty concluded An-
gust 49, last year, says: soIhe duration OF the all.
ance shall be until settlement ct the new federal
Grafton shall not be established before twelve
months have expired" It is not my intention at
present to enter into detail upon the situation IN
which Germany would be placed If our work be not
brought to aconclusion BY August 1S of the cur
rent Year therefore in five aad half months from
this date, trust it will not occur. But wish to
direct your attention to one fact, known to us all,
viz that the Diets, or at least several OF them,
have expressly reserved their right OF su6eeang
We shall, therefore, be under the necessity OF
hastily conyoking the Diets Of twenty-five allied
States Immediately after the close of the session.
It is extremely desirable that this phase Of the
matter should be completed before the 18th Au-
a. new reason Tor aecelerating our labors is
afforded by all these causes. Settlement by treaty
Of our relations to South Germany, as they may
hover in amoEe or less completed state before tno
minds Of each Of US, will, in my opinion, be materl-
ally forwarded by rapid decision in North Ger
many. The confidence Of the South Germany
States, il. a junction with their North German
counrymea, will be advanced in proportion as
they see that we are aole to step en- towards our
In this direction also, gentlemen, Lie reasons TO.
Fastening our labors, and for coming to speedy
understanding upon the points as to which dit
ferences Of opinion may prevail. There is, un-
character antagcnistic to the union Of Germany.
We should otherwise ,.ot have lost unity, should
have soon regained it.
II we look back to the time of German greatness
the epoch of tho first empire--we find that no
other country in Europe had the probability Of
acquiring powerful national unity to SO great all
extent as Germany. Look through the middle
ages, from the Russian dominion of tho Rurili
Princess to the Vlsigothic and Arabian rule in
Spain ind you will find that Germany, above all,
had the greatest prospect OF remaining an united
realm. What is the reason that made us lose oul
unity and has hitherto prevented our regaining it!
IF am to characterize it briefly, should say it
appears to me to consist in certain exhuberancC
OF the feeling Of manly indepe ndence which causes
the individual, the community, the race in Ger
many to rely more upon it's own efforts than upon
those of the generality at large. It is this want o
ndaptabllity in the individual and in the raco in
favor of the commonwealth Of that adaptabh.y
which has enabled neighborins nations earlier tc
secure the benefits after which VIC strive.
The governments, gentlemen, have given you,
think, q good example in tho present case There
was not one among them that has not been obliged
to sacrifice material scruples, more or less justi
bio desires, to the object up to the present time
attained. Lee us also afford the proof that in 9
history Of sorrows extending over six hundred
years, Germany has gained experience which slit
has turned to account; that wc-as all here as,
sembled have themselves seen-have taken tc
heart the lessons we were forced to draw from the
fruitess attempts of Frankfort and Of Erfurt. Th.
want of success of the work there undertaken, has
discomfort that las lasted for sixteen years, and
could not finally be brought to q conclusion, save
by such catastrophe as that Of last year, term
n:ting as God light appoint. The German peo
plo, gentlemen, have right to expect from us
That we shall avert the return of such catastro
phe, and / feel convinced that both you and the
allied governments have nothing more deeply q
heart than to fulfil these just expectations.