National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-08-19
The German Confede ration.

The German Confederation was formed.
after the fall of Napoleon l., by the Con-
gress, OF leading European Powers at
Vienna III 1873.
The object sought to be obtained 10y
this Confederation was the maintenance
of the safety of Germany, internally and
externally, and Of the independence and
integrity of its respective States. 1t is
ont of this independence Of these numer-
Gus little States that most of the troubles
of Germany have grown The affairs of
this Confederation, composed OF part of
Austria, IL part of Prussia and several
other Germanic States, were managed by
representative assembly called Diet.
which met at Frankfort, on the river
Main and sat permanently but with the
power of adjournment. Austria presided
over the Diet IN 1S65-66 war was made
upon Denmark, the result of which WAS
the seizure Of the Danish Duchies, Lune-
burg, Schleswi9 and Holetein ny Prussia
and Austria conformity 1t must be con
stantly borne in mind that Austria acted
! lor itself as a seperate and independent
empire, and Prussia acted tor itself as Il
seperate and independent kingdom, and
each acted as part and parcel of the
German Confederation. Austria mp to
the time OF which We are now speaking
(the war against Denmark IN lS65-66 was
the recognized head al the German
States This Joint ownership of the
Danish Duchies led T.. n-y discussions
between these two great Powers The
subject was brought before the Diet. and
the vote of that body was against the pre-
tensions of Prussia This vote, and the
previous refusal of the Diet to recognize
PrlIssias equality with Austria iii the
I Confederation, caused the former Power
to withdraw from the Confederation,
declare il dissolved, and make known the
basis OF a new Confederation from which
Austria was to be excluded The Diet
refused to recognize the existence of such
state Of facts, declared the Confedera-
ton indissoluble. and protested against
the conduct of Prussia. The immediate
consequence of this was the short and
sharp war between Prussia and Austria,
lasting but few weeks. resulting in the
disastrous defeat of Austria at Sadowa,
followed 10y the treaty OF peace concluded
ut Nicolsbure June 26. 1866 BY this
treaty Austria renounccd al connection
with the German States beyond the limits
of her own empire aud engaged not to
oppose the formation OF a confederation
of the Northern German States under the
supreme auspices Of Prussia.
The North German Confederation. a.
formed after the dissolution of the Ger
man Confederation III 1866. consists OF
Prussia and the German States north OF
the river Main. Hohen1ollen, which is
one of the South German States, although
it is south OF the Main, some distance
from the remainder of Prussia, and en-
tirely surrounded by other States, yet il
is component part of the kingdom o
Prussia, and has been since the yea,
lS49 The South German States. not III
cluding these which folm Il part of til,
Austrian empire. are Baden, Bavaria
Hesse-Dalmstadt. .Iiechtenstein and Wur
tembwg They do not belong to tn,
North German Confederation. vet they
have concluded military conventions viii
Prussia. by which they are respectivel,
bound to furnish It quota OF troops in til,
/ . event of INVASION