The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-01-27
Prussia.

The results of the war Of 1855 between
Austria and Prussia, as well as q general
idea of the internal polity of the latter
country are admirably presented in letter
addressed to Mr.. SEwAaD few weeks ago
by Hon. GEORGE BANCROFT, United States
Ambassador to the Court Of Prussia. Mr..
BANCROFT, competent judge of suoh ques-
lions, saye "the victories Of NAPOLEON, pre-
compared with the successful celebrity of
the short Prussisn campaign Of 1858"
NApoLEos's political system, in Germany,
however, was at war with the ever active
forces of vigorous nationality, and the
freedom Of brave and intelligent people;
whereas the present union Of the German
States is the ripened fruit Of generations
Of continued suffering and struggles, and
is so completely in harmony with natural
laws, and so thoroughly the concurrent act
of government and people, that it is likely
to endure, and is received with the good
will, the consent, or thu necessary acqui-
escence Of every power in Europe The
result seems the more wonderful the more
it is considered. unised State, having q
seaooast, extending from Russia to Holland,
a mercantile marine superior to that of any
European continental power, inferior only
to that of Great Britain and the United
States; population of thirty millions, well
educated and all trained to the use Of arms
rises up in the centre Of Europe, equal in
culture, courage, and prospective, if not
immediate influence, to any government on
the continent This Stste, the existence of
which is inspired and guaranteed by a
strong and ever increasing sentiment of
ancient and indivisible nationality, is fur
ther strengthened by permanent treaties of
offence and defence, snd commerce with
principalities inhabited by ten million
more; and the treaties are of such nature
that the armies of these ten million are to
be placed in time Of war under the lead of
the President of the United States of North
Germany, and their representatives are to
take their seats in tie joint parliament
which is to prescribe fer all a common sys-
TEN of commercial taxation. Controlling
the military resources Of forty millions of
people, the German Union feels assured of
peaceful neighbor in France; in its COM
pact energy, it stands toward the East in
an attitude Of independence, and is so re-
lated to Austria that taat Empire, out of
regard for its own welfare, must seek its
friendship.
The legislation, as with us, is carried on
by Parliament Of two houses. The Coun-
Gil, as the German Senate is called, is COM
posed Of forty-three members. Each State
names at least one counsellor; otherwise,
the distribution of numbers follows the
precedent of the late German Dict, so that
Prussia nominates seventeen. The appoint
ment is made respectively by the Executive
Of the several States. But it is to be re-
membered that in each State there is a con-
stitutional government SO that the election
of councillors is raised above the caprice
of the Princes Of the several States.
The House of Representatives, or Impe-
rial Diet, as it is called, is composed Of two
hundred and ninety-seven members, dis
tributed on the ratio cf one to every one
hundred thousand inhabitants, with fur
ther representative to each State for frac-
tion of fifty thousand Or more, and chosen
by universal suffrage with the ballot. NJ
advantage is conceded to rank or privilege
or wealth, and accordingly the Diet just
elected, including bankers, large manufao-
turers and members Of the highest nobility,
men Of letters, mechanics and laboring
men, is a very good representation Of the