The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-01-09
THE TRIBUNE.
fHE UNITED STATES OF GERMANY.
The Consultation OF the North German
ri. Confederation Compared with
that OF the United States.

1ne IUiOWlng letter from our MmlStt
1T Berlin to the Secretary of State, give
an interesting account Of the recent Dc
ltHal changes in Germany 1t is frol
the documents recently sent to Congress
BY Mr.. Seward:
MIR. BANCROFT TO MR.. SEWARD.
,Amcncan Legation, Berlin, Nov. ], 1867
SIR The interest of residence a
Berlin at this time is immeasurably in
creased by the opportunity of watching
the progress of the greatest Europea
revolution of this century. The victor
les OF Napoleon, preceding the peace o
Illsit, can alone be compared with thu
successful celebrity of the short Prussial
campaign of 1866. The political system
which Napoleon introduced had no sup
port IN the nature of things, and wasted
away and utterly fell, not merely because
1t was carried out of Germany by worth
less persons but because it was at wal
with the ever active forces of vigorous
nationality, and the freedom of brave
and intelligent people. The presen,
union of German States is the ripened
fruit of nineteen generations of continued
suffering and struggles, and is so com.
pietely in harmony with natural laws,
and SO thoroughly the concurrent act OF
Government and people, thati is certain
to endure, and is received with the good
will, the consent or the necessary ac-
4ulescence OF every power in Europe.
The result seems the more wonderful the
more it is considered. A united States,
having sea-coast extending from Rus
STA to Holland, a mercantile marine SUI
perior to that of any European Continen-
tai Power, inferior only to that of Great
Britain and to that of the United States );
a'population of thirty millions, of whom
more than two-thirds are Protestants, and
all are instructed to read and write, and
all trained to the use of arms, rises up in
the center of Europe, equal in culture,
courage and prospective, if not mined
late influence, to any government on the
continent. This State, whose existence
Is inspired and guaranteed by strong
and ever-increaslng sentiment of ancient
and iDdivisible nationally, is further
strengthened by permanent treaties OF
offence and defence, and commerce with
principalities in habited by 10000, 900
more. and the treaties are of such nature
that the armies of these 10000, 900 are
to be placed In time of war under the
lead of the President of the United States
of North Germany, and their representa-
- ~ 1AS w StAhC ChCIt SS~sUo LII ,i''lIt
Parliment which is to prescribe Tor all
one. common system of commercial taxa
ton. Controlling the military resources
of 40,O0O,OO0 of warlike people, the
German Union feels assured Of peaceful
neighbor In France; in its compact ener-
gy 1t stands toward the East in an atti-
tudc ofindependence, and is so related to
Austria that that Empire, if it regards
r. UelI,ra cnoE 1-bi
Thls-wonderful result has special in
tcrest for America, because it has sprung
from the application of the principles
which guided the trainers of the Consti-
taltions of our United States The Con-
stitution of North Germany corresponds
in SO many things with ours, that it
must have been formed after the closest
study OF our system, or the same imper-
fections Of government have led the two
countries, each for itself, to the discovery
and application of similar political prn-
ciples. As with us, there is here cen
trail government, while the several States,
,. III number, retain. each for itself, the
powers over internal affairs that have not
been delegated. The unity of the people
for the whole extent of their territory is
established, as by us, by universal in-
ter-citizenship, giving the rights of
R.tive born to any citizen of any one of
them in any other. The powers confer
red on the General Government extend.
as with US, to naturalization, commerce.
and navigation, weights and measures,
coin, copyrights and patents, army, militia,
navy, postothce. Some powers are con
ferred directly, about which our Consti-
tuition is less explicit. The German
Union has the regulation of the telegraph
Of banks and of paper currency, the reg
ulation of railroads for military purposes,
and In the interest Of general commerce.
Should any Government prove refractory,
the General Government has the amplest
power of oercion-instantIy by the Com
mailler-in Chief of the Union in time of
war, after consultation with the Council
IN time of peace. Coercion can extend
even to the sequestration of the land and
OF Its local government.
Md With us legislation is carried on by
q Parliament of two Houses. The Coun-
ell, Is the German Senate Is called, is
composed Of Is members. Each State
nan at least one councillor otherwise,
the distribution of numbers follows the
pse.eaent of the late German Diet. 50
that Prussia noninatcs !. The appoint
ment is made respectively by the Ike
cutivc Of the several States. But it is to
he remembered that in each State there
~ Con ,titutional Government, so that
the election of councillors is ariSed above
the caprice Of the Princes Of the several
States
The Houses of Representatives, Of I'M
prial Dict, as it is called. is composed of
297 members, distributed on the ratio of
one tn every lDJ 900 ink Il hitantss with q
furthererepresentative To each State for
fraction of 81, 0JJ or more, and chosen by
universal suffrage with the ballot. No
advantage is conceded to rank or privil
eye or wealth, and accordingly the Diet
Just elected, including bankers, large
manufacturers and men. beYs of the high
est nobility, men of letters, mechanics
and laboring men, Is a very good repre-
scatatien of the whole country in its
present condition The members of the
representative Diet are elected for three
years They can be assembled or pro-
ragged by the President of the United
States, but they cannot be dissolved with
out the concurrence of the other branch
Of the legislature
Eeh House, as with us, has the right
tscpropose laws, to amend them, to reject
them, or to concur IN enactlng them
hutin practice, most of the bills are pre-
pared and proposed by the smaller body
representing the several States.
The President of the German United
States is the King of Prussia. His pow
ers are very much like those of our Pres
ident, only they are for life, and are here
ditary; and great intensity of executive
authority is conceded, from the necessity
Of guarding against restless and suscept-
ible neighbors. He is COMMANDMENT
Chief of all land and naval forces he