The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-12-30
THE VIEW GERMAN BUND
It's Detailed Constitution

The Berlin correspondent Of the London
Times gives the following analysis Of the Con-
stitution of the new German Empire:
The Constitution OF the North German Con-
federacy, as well as that Of the German Con-
fedcracy by which it Is about3to be superseded,
claims military and navals Alars, as well as
and some minor subjects, asthe domain Ofthe
Central Government and Parliament. To
these the remodellcd constitution adds legis-
la,ion on the right Of forming private socie-
ties and on the liberty Of hepfess-an extcn-
sion which is sure to be f,irther. increased, as,
Indeed the nsss4Tsa bT e faHf snasra
bodies polite. The Government oil the Cen
iraeracy Is carried on by Il Federal Council
formed by the representatives OF the various
soyereigns. In voting upon the measure pro-
nosed by any OF them each representative IS
accorded number of votes, supposed 10 DC
proporlonate to the size and Importance OF
The State he sits for. While Ham9irs, Tor IN
stance, has one vote, Brunswick has Two,
Slyony four and Prussia seventeen. In the
Federal Council, as it existed up 10 the, pres
emf war, there were (orty-three votes altoge-
ther, of which Prussia herself possessing near
ly half, could always connt upon so many
more as made her practically paramount IN
the Assembly. In the new Council, rs It will
be after the entry of the Southern States,
though the number OF votes Is Increased
by fifteen, Prussia retains only her ior-
mer number, and accordingly has her In
fuence proportionately weakened. Bava-
ria possessing six votes, Wurtel1bnrg four,
Sayony four. and Hesse three. will together
have as many votes as the presiding power OF
the Confederacy, and by coalition be always
able to neutr,llize their principal colleague. II
this arrangement seems to bear On ominous
resemblance to the old Bund, in which the va
rious German States so effectually nelltraIlzed
each other all that long time from 1915 TO 1866,
it ouuht to be remembered that Prussia ut pre-
sent is the onl ly real power IN lne C0nleaeracy;
while formerly there were two-Prnssia and
Austria-each equally strong, and equally
likely TO draw number of minoriStates atler
it. Without hereditary rival to combat hcr
every action, Prussia's ascendancy Will be very
great in an assembly of minor States, even
though the influence constitullonally assigned
her may be comparatively small.
To secure, however, the imnin points OIL
unity against even the possibility OF n change
In the wrong direction, Prussia retains the
right she already possesses Of vetoins any
modification Of the military and naval arrange
mcnts, and which Is q remarkable progress
acuuircs the same right with regard TO the
tariff and excise This renders her mistress OF
the Federal Il ances, and, together with her
command over the army. Is sure to weld the
various States together into u solid whole.
By way OF counter-coaccsslon TO the Southern
States, she has voluntarily divestcd herself OF
her present privilege Of declaring war IN Inc
name OF the Conledcracy without the
sanction of the Federal Council. Except In
case OF attack BY u foreign lUe, whcl she
NAV act without consulting her allies, decla-
ru.ions OF war III future will proceed, not from
Prussia. but from the Council that represents
the Deirischcr Bllnd. Two more important
concessions have to DC recorded. Three
fourlhs OF the votes Of the. Federal Council, in
stead of two-lhirds, rs hitherto. will be requlr-
ed for any alteration In the Constltutlon-a
provision which, as every coming change Is
sure to strengthen unity at tbr expense Of the
local governments, is clearly in favor OF the
minor dynusties. Again, In each of the spe-
cial committees of the Federal Council, which
have To prepare the laws and Buperintend the
different branches of tile administration, four
minor States, Instead Of two, as formerly, will
DC represented in addition TO Prussia. Other
points are OF minor Importance. Baden,
Bavaria, and most probably, also, Wur-
temburg. as they retain the legislation on
the beer and spirit cXc;se-a matter OF
the greatest moment to the Southern En-
chcquers, which rely principally upon the crea-
Lllrc wants Of the snbjecL-will not vote on
these points in the Federal Cornell. A privi-
legged position has been accorded TO Bavaria in
military matters which leaves her the eXcln-
siye organization and direction OF her own
army in ti:ne Of peace; WurtenbI,rG, it seems,
secures the less considerable exception Made
in favor Of SaXony some LINE ago, anu,
coniormir. to the Federal laws III all
THAI concerns organization, retains the
direction of her troops In Time Of peace;
tn,l the opposite policy is followed by
B.uirn, who, not satisfied with the Ginnii-
lion ri her military sovereignty dccreed by
the Federal charter, has Concluded spC-
ca treaty with This government i'll which
SHE rrnnuncrs even the financial portion oil
her military business, lis well as The risll TO
appoint officers. and some her points OF sec
ondary Importance cOnstitutioEally lett to the
local governments. Tie Baden army simply
becomes embodied with the prnssian, as have we
so many Of the other Federal States. BY the
way, tile different gradations in the way in
which they give up their armies to be com
manded and, employed by Prussia, cnrionsly,
reflects tue degree of Importance belonging 10
each minor sovereign. Proud Bavaria only
consents to keep certain number Of troops,