Office of the Historian

Mr. Wright to Mr. Seward.

No. 21.]
Legation of the United States, Berlin, February 24, 1866.

Sir: You will not be surprised, from the facts communicated in my last despatch, at the information herewith enclosed, to wit, the dissolution of the Prussian Landtag. The struggle between his Majesty and the popular house has been increasing from the commencement of the session. The minister president of the cabinet, Count Bismarck, returned the two resolutions passed on the subject of the duchy of Lauenburg, (some five days since,) and supreme court to the chamber of deputies, saying, most modestly, “that they were unconstitutional, and could not be accepted by the government.” The house has been sustained by the people in all parts of the kingdom by public meetings. Last Sabbath more than four thousand people assembled in the vicinity of Berlin, and unitedly agreed to sustain their representatives in this contest. They went so far as to hold up their hands and swear they would do so, when the police attempted to interfere, but without effect, as they were ejected from the crowd, and the meeting continued. We shall now have new elections. (It may not be until fall.) No one, however, doubts but that the majority will be largely increased on the side of the liberals. In the mean time appropriations will be made to the army, [Page 8] in violation of the plain language of the constitution, which requires “all appropriations to be made by both houses of Parliament.”

We hear many rumors in the diplomatic circle. It is believed here that France is endeavoring to form an alliance with Austria with the view of affecting Russia. The programme is said to be as follows: Venice is to fall to Italy. Austria is to extend her borders so as to embrace the Danubian principalities, in connection with which the whole eastern question is to be so settled and parcelled out that France may place her foot upon a portion of Egypt to supply her manufactories with cotton.

A paper published in Poland (Russia) stated last week that “Maximilian is to return from Mexico and be made emperor of Poland in this contest with Russia.” Time will soon determine the truth of these rumors. But the following may be relied upon as facts: The Russian minister at Paris passed through Berlin in great haste to Petersburg. The Prussian minister at Paris has returned to Berlin, and is in frequent private consultation with the Prussian cabinet. The relations between Prussia and Austria on the Schleswig-Holstein question are not of the most friendly character. Russia has just sent large military re-enforcements to the borders of Austria in Poland-Russia, and what is most remarkable, has, by her order, caused a military order to be issued, authorizing the shooting of every person who shall attempt to cross the borders without a passport.

I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOSEPH A. WRIGHT.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Speech of Count Bismarck on the dissolution of the Prussian Landtag, February 23, 1866.

[Translation.]

Illustrious, noble, and honored Gentlemen of both Houses of Parliament :

The government of his Majesty the King did not open the present parliament in the expectation of an immediate solution of the pending constitutional difficulties, but in the hope that the earnest desire of the Prussian people should find a response in the representatives of the country, in order to establish harmony between the different authorities, for the forming of useful laws, and, through a mutual activity in the service of the country, to allay the disputes between the two houses. It was with this expectation that the government opened the parliament, according to the will of the King, without giving new pretexts for discussion.

The first demonstration which followed the opening of the House of Commons was the speech of the president, in which he gave expression to the discontent of the majority in groundless reproaches against the government of his Majesty. This proceeding prevented any further action of the house; they did not desire peace, but war; did not wish to discuss the laws, but to attack the government on points which the constitution did not allow. Thus, they attacked the incorporation (annexation) of the duchy of Lauenburg, which was the wish of the whole Prussian people. They also assailed the decision of the supreme court of the 10th of February, contrary to article eighty-six, which guaranteed the independence of the judges, and endeavored to destroy the good opinion of the Prussian people for the judges, which they have merited for centuries, and merit still. In another case, the House of Commons violated article forty-five of the charter, and set aside the acknowledged authority of the executive power of his Majesty the King, by endeavoring to assume powers which belong only to the King.

In face of these encroachments, his Majesty asked whether the continuance of parliament would be conducive to the welfare and internal peace of the nation. His Majesty left the question unanswered until the majority had considered the propositions of the minority, which sought for a solution of the difficulties.

The government believes the course pursued by the chambers would lead to demoralization and render all unity impossible; to prevent this, his Majesty has ordered the closing of this session, opened on the 15th of January, and, in the name of his Majesty, I declare the Landtag closed.