Year: 1867




PEsTH, January 12.-At to-days meeting of
the Lower House of the Hungarian Diet, NJ
Deak brought in the draft OF his new address,
which was read to the House. Its as iollows;-


IMPERIAL, ROYAL, AND APOSTOLIC MAJESTY
when, in our recently submitted ADDRESS, we
again and repeatedly besought your Majesty to
delgn to restore IN its ull integrity, that solemn
State treaty which forms the basis OF our mutual
relations of right, VIZ, the violated Pragmatic
Sanction, aud the Constitution therein. guaran-
teed, but suspended by absolute pOweri wnen
we explained that, so long as we stand outside
the Constitution we are not justified in taking
any decisive step TOR bringing about the
desired reconciliation, we were with right
able to expect, and did confidently hope
that the thoIoughness OF our motives would be
appreciated, and our request would be speedily
fulfilled. But apprehension and doubt take the
place OF hope, when we see that in the domain
OF legislation, as well US in that OF the EXecu-
tive absolute power continually disposes OF our
most sacred interests, as now recently shown by
decree bearing upon the future. That un-
doubted right OF Hungary, according to which
the settlement of her defensive system and
every modinCaton can only be carried out with
the assent Of the Diet is as old as the Constitu-
ton OF the country, our laws, royal diplomas,
the PTagmatic Sanction, and the invariable
practice ot our constitutional life equally
guaranteed this right. When, in l7l6
the standing Amy was introduced as new
and more serviceable form OF the defensive
SYSTEM 1t was the Legislature OF the country
that arranged it for Hungary. Every change,





among us INTO the defensive system, mas been
determined by the Diet. This right is vital
condition OF the Constitution, and generally of
all constitutionalism, which the country can
never give up. The Imperial decree with re.
spect 10 the defensive system, recently issued
is new positive denial of this indisputable
right. And we who consider it our most sacred
duty repeatedly to urge thar the suspended Con-
stitution be first of all fully restored should SIN
against the tatherland which has entrusted to
us the defense OF It's rlghts-we should err also
against the respect due to your Majesty which
commands us TO be sincere If we were to pass
over in silence this latest measure OF the
absolutist sys TEN. The above-named aDso-
lutte decree was issued just at a time
when we had rightfully petItioned for the
restoration of our Constitution, and were
fairly entitled to expect compliance-at a time
when, in accordance with your AIaiestys
PROMISE we believed our Constitution would be
speedily IN reality restored, and that ConstItu-
tion would also be introduced into your
Malesty's other domnions. 1t was not issued
as the proposal OF a responsible Government.
the binding force OF which depends upon legal
adoption by the respective countries, but as a
law 10 be at once executed, binding in all it's
pats, and extending in its consequences to the
future The object or this decree is the modest
and hardest tribute citizens owe 10 the State
the blood and the lives OF the sons of the coun-
try. Its slipulations strike deeply into the
most sacred relations of family lite, and affect
the most important moral and material in
terests of the land Not only is it required by
that hrst and highest consideration which must
never rightfully remain unreSarded-the clear
sense OF the fundamental laws of our Constitu.
tlon-out also fairness and advlsabIlIty demand
that the will OF the country should cooperate
in The settlement OF similar arrangements, and
that without this, and previous to its legal
expression, they should not be put into actual
execution. II is not only the numbers and the
valor of the army tnat give permanent security
to the State, even amidst the most serious dan
gers. Were the defensive system to remain as it
is, the strength and enduring determination of
hpp nfVNlV ole
up by the enthusiastic Will of the people. But
we can only securely reckon upon this enthu-
sastic will if the system under which the citizen
is bound to defend the State meets the conf
dence OF the nation. This result can only be
attained when the people, uniniured in its
rights and most sacred Interests, convinced of
the adVisability of the system, and percevng
the necessity OF the sacrifices to be brought,
accedes 1t through its legitimate representatives,
and adopts the system. But it, at the very mo-
meDt when every citizen OF the fatherand
imagined he might with justice already count
upon the restoration OF the Constitution right
fully demanded upon the one side, virtually
promised upon the other, il even upon the
threshold of the ful6lment of the royal promise
and in matter of such paramount Importance
appertainIng according to all notions of the con-
stitutionalism to the normal way OF legislation
even their imperial DEGREES are emitted WiChout
absolutst power as laws, and if, without the
country being abr previously to weigh the rea-
son. the necessity, the advisability, the extent
of these DEGREES. and to express Its opinion re.
2arding them in the constitutional way, their
immediate positive execution is also ordered
| then it is impossible that the confidence begin
| ming 10 awake should not again disappear.
| Enthusiasm tor such DEGREES can never arse:
nay, 1t is not even to be expected that the peo-
! pie should remain quiet, for the disregard of
the Constitution displayed in these ordinances
IS of itself calculated to call forth bitterness IN
! place OF tranquility and enthusiasm. If the
| present situation urgently requires such meas
nres,, which demand material modification of
| the defensive system, this presents q new ard
! weIghty reason for your Majesty at once re
! storing our suspended Constitution. Amid
| urgent need, a Hungary standing without the
/ Constitution would be but weak support of
/ the throne. The Diet can only exercise the


legislative right OF the nation upon the basis OF
the Constitutions outside the Constitution it is
! not authorized to do so, nor can it undertake
! burdens for the country whose rights are sus-
! pended. So long as the fundamental condition
/ of the Pragmatic Sanction, which guarantees
| the independence, the rights, and the Constitu-
! tion OF our tatherland is actually imperative.
! 20 long Is 1t legally impossible that the Diet
! should make arrangements in the sense OF
! that mutllated fundamental compact. But
| " cannot take up any other ground.
! We know that the formerly existing mill
| tarY system has undergone, from time to
| time material changes among all the nations


OF Europe. Timely alterations in the political
organization OF the countries, the gradual de-
/ yelopment Of the science ofwar, have compelled


all States to modify their military system i'm ac-
. coIdance with the demands of the general situa


tlon, because its own security would otherwise


nave been jeODaTdIZed. Hungary has not been


backward in this respect, and has at all times


,oluntarily, Of her own free will made changes


corresponding to the requirements of the age.


Pat these changes have al ways taken place


Trough the Diet The country will also be


ready In future so to shape Its military system


as may be required by necessity and adyisa.


n,ilY, by the situation of the land, its consttu-