Mr. Wright to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The past week has been taken up with the great reception and congratulations by the masses of the Prussian people to a portion of the returning army. The greatest enthusiasm prevailed. Numerous orders were distributed and many promotions made. Count Bismarck was promoted to the rank of general.
An amnesty has been proclaimed for all persons who, up to the 20th instant, have been convicted of high treason or other offences against the Crown—resistance to the state authorities, violation of public order, offences committed by the press in infringement of the press law of the 12th May, 1851, and for infraction of the ordinance of the 11th March, 1851, regulating the right of public meetings. A royal decree has been issued instituting a cross of honor in commemoration of the campaign of 1866.
There is some doubt whether the amnesty will embrace the cases of our adopted citizens, who have been fined during their absence for neglect of military duty. Baron Roon, minister of war, will be adverse to our view of its construction. Count Bismarck will, if possible, extend its provisions to all such cases; his’ health is improving, and I am in hopes to hear his opinion shortly on this subject.
I enclose copy of the law passed providing for the election of representatives for the north German Parliament. It is not improbable that several of the smaller states will refuse to accept an election under a law so liberal and democratic in its provisions; consequently we shall have neither an election nor a German parliament. In this event Count Bismarck would accomplish what he so much desires, a more perfect and speedy annexation by treaty, &c. This view is entertained by many of the best informed Germans.
The Hon. Gustavus V. Fox is expected to arrive at Keil to-morrow with the monitor Miantonomah. Prince Adalbert, (at the head of the Prussian navy,) with some others, will meet Mr. Fox at Keil on Thursday, the 27th instant. It is my purpose to accompany the prince and suite.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
“1. A parliament is to be assembled for the consideration of the constitution and of the regulations of the north German confederation.
“2. Every man blameless in the eye of the law, who is a citizen of one of the German [Page 48] states united in the confederation, is to be a voter as soon as he has attained the age of twenty-five.
“3. From the right of voting are excluded: 1. Persons who are tinder guardianship or trusteeship. 2. Persons against whose property rules of bankruptcy have been granted, during the term of such bankruptcy. 3. Persons who obtain support as paupers from the funds of the state or of their district, or who have obtained such support during the year preceding the election.
“4. As criminals, and therefore excluded from the right of voting, shall be considered those from whom the full and perfect enjoyment of their rights as citizens has been withdrawn by legal sentence, as long as these rights are not restored to them.
“5. Any man entitled to vote who has belonged for at least three years to one of the states forming the confederation may be elected as deputy. Penalties for political offences which have been undergone or remitted do not exclude from election.
“6. Persons who occupy a public office require no permission from government to enter parliament.
“7. One deputy is to be elected for every 100,000 souls of the population, as shown in the last census. A surplus of 50,000 souls or more in the total population of a state is to be reckoned as equal to 100,000 souls. Each deputy is to be elected in a special elective department.
“8. The elective departments wall be divided, for the purpose of voting, into smaller districts.
“9. Whoever wishes to exercise his right of voting in a particular district must have his residence at the time of the poll in that district. No elector may vote in more than one place.
“10. In every district lists will be opened, in which the Christian and surnames of those entitled to vote, with their ages, professions, and dwelling places, will be entered. These lists shall be open to every one’s inspection at the latest four weeks before the day appointed for the election, and this is to be publicly advertised. Objections to the lists are to be made within eight days of the appearance of the public advertisement, to the authority by whom the advertisement has been published, and are to be settled within the next fourteen days, whereupon the lists will be closed. Only those are entitled to vote who have their names inscribed on the lists.
“11. Voting is to be public. Members of the community are to take part in it who hold no direct office under government. The vote is to be given in person by means of a voting card, without signature, which is to be enclosed in an envelope, and so placed in an urn.
“12. The voting is to be direct. Election is to be dependent upon the absolute majority of all the votes given in one department. Should there not be an absolute majority the votes are to be taken over again; but only to decide between the two candidates who have the most votes.
“13. Representatives of the deputies are not to vote.
“14. The polls are to take place at the same time in the whole of the state.
“15. The elective departments and districts, the directors and the proceedings of the elections, in so far as they are not determined by the present bill, are to be settled by the government.
“16. The Parliament examines into the privileges of its members, and decides upon granting of them. It regulates the order of its business and its discipline.
“17. No member of the Parliament can at any time be prosecuted in a court of justice or a police court on account of his vote, or for any utterances made use of in the exercise of his office, or be otherwise rendered responsible outside of the assembly.”