The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-12-28
The new German Bn1d-1ts Detailed
J a,onstatntscns

an. Wev German BnnsddE--1as Detailed
Constitutes.
The Berlin correspondent Of the London
Times gives the following .analysis.ol tne
Constitution of the new German Empire:
The Constitution of the North German
Confederacy, as well as shat Of the German
Confederacy by which 1t Is about to be su-
perseded, claims military and naval affairs,
as well as criminal and commercial law, Ia
riff. excise. and some minor subjects, as tne
domain of the Central Government and Far
lament. To these the remodelled Consul
tuition adds legislation on the right OF form.
ing private societies and on the loerty OF
the press-an extension which Ia sure to be
further increased, as, indeed, the limits OF
this Jurisdiction have never been very
anxiously observed by the Federal bodies
politic. The Government of the Confede..
racy is carried on by Federal Councn
formed by the representatives or the Varl-
Gus Sovereigns. In voting upon the mea-
sure proposed by any Of them each repre-
sentative is accorded number OF votes,
and Importance of the State he sits for.
While Hamburg, for instance, has one
vote, Brunswick has two, SaXony four, ana
Prussia seventeen. In the Federal Coun-
ell. as it existed up to the present war,
there were forty-three votes altogether, Oh
which Prussia herself, possessing nearly
half, could always count upon SO many
more as made her practically paramount III
the Assembly. In the new Councll, Us IL
will be after the entry. OF the southern
States. though the number of votes is IN
creased bv is, Prussia retains only her lor-
mcr number, and accordingly has her lnliu'
ence proportionately weakened. Bavaria
nossessing six votes, Wurtemberg four,
SaSony four, and Hesse three, will to-
octher have as many votes as the presiding
Cover of the Conlederacy, and by CO.
alition be always able to neutrallze their
principal colleague. Ii this arrangement
seems to bear IN Omlnous resemblance 10
the old Bund, in which the various German
States so effectually neutrallzed each other
sill that long time from 1915 to 1866, it ought
to be remembered that Prussia at present
is the only real Power In the COnfederacy,
while formerly there were two-Prussia
and Austria-each equally strong, and
equally likely to draw number OF minor
States after it. Without hereditary rival
to combat her every action, Prussia's as
cendancy will be very great in an assembly
of minor States, even though the influence
constitutionally assigned her may be COM
paratively small. -----
To secure, however, the main points of
unity against even the possibility Of a
change in the wrong direction, Prussia re-
tains the right she already possesses of Veto
ing any modification OF the military and
naval arrangements, and, which is a remark
able progress, acquires the same right With
regard to the tariff and excise. This rem
ders her mistress of the Federal finances,
and, together with her command over the
| army, is sure to weld the various States
together into solid whole. By way Of coun-
| circumcision to the southern States, she
has voluntarily Invested herself of her pre-
sent privilege of declaring war in the name
| of the Coufederacy without the sanction of
the Federal Council. Except in case Of
attack by foreign foe, when she may
act without consulting her allies, decla-
rations of war in future will proceed,
not from Prussia, but from the Council
| that represents the Deutscher Bund. Two
| more important concessions have to be re-
corded. Three-fourths of the votes of the
Federal Council, instead Of two-thirds. as
| hitherto, will be required for any altera-
| ton in the Constitutions provision which,
| as every coming changeis sure to strengthen
UNITY at the expense Of the local govern
ments, is clearly in favor of the minor dy-
nasties. Again, in each Of the special COM
| mittees of the Federal Council, which have
| to prepare the lawsand superintend the diff
| ferent branches of the Administration, four
minor States, instead OF two, as former
| ly, will be represented IN addition 10 Prus-
| STA. Other points are Of minor Importance.
| Baden, Bavaria, and most probably, also,
Wurtemberg, as they retain the legislation
on the beer and spirit eNcise-a matter OF
| the greatest moment to the Southern Ex-
cheduers, which rely principally upon the
creature wants of the subject-will not vote
| on these points in the Federal Council. A
privileged position has been accorded to
! Bavaria in military matters, which Leaves
! her the exclusive organization and dlfec-
| ton of her own army in time of peace !;
| Wurtemberg, it seems, secures the less
vor of Saxony some time ago, and,
conforming to the Federal laws in
all that concerns organization, retains
the direction of her troops in time ofpeace;
but the opposite policy is followed by
| Baden, who, not satisfied with the diminu-
ton of her military sovereignty decrced by
the Federal charter, has concluded spe-
| cial treaty with this Government in which
she rcnounces even the financial portion OF
her military business, as well as the right
to appoint officers, and some other points
of secondary importance constltutlonallv
left to the local governments. The Baden
| Ill pSNoAhS' SAApSSkiSe 'A'AA
the Prussian, as have So many of the other
Federal States. By the way, these different
gradations in the way in which they give
up their armies to be commanded and en-
rloyed by Prussia curiously reflects the
| degree Of Importance belonging to each
minor Sovereign. Proud Bavaria only con-
sents to keep certain number of troops
and place them at Prussia's disposal in war !;
SaXony and Wurtemberg go step further,
and, while promising succor in war, accept
the Prussian organization; Hesse, Bruins
wick, and a few other States, adhering to the
letter of the Federal laws, claim the privilege
Of appointing the greater part of their
officers, and of provisioning, clothing,
equipping, and paying their forces, who. in
every other respect, are Prussians, while
most minor States have not thought 1t
worth their while to preserve these scanty
rights constitutionally left them, but, ce.
ding to Prussia's proportionate amount Of
their share in the Zollyerein revenue, hav.
ing entirely handed over their couple Of
regiments to the Berlin Government. To
conclude, Southern Hesse will send 6, Ba'
den II members to the Federal Parliament.
whose total is thus sweled to 317. The eX
act number Of the Wurtemberg and Bava
rian Deputies is still unknown.
DIVIDEaDS.
DANK DIVIDEND AT meeting Of
/ \ In IF nirprtors n nj