CENTRAL GERMANY. Frankfort, December 21.

New Zealander, Volume 4, Issue 310, 19 May 1849, Page 2 (Supplement)

CENTRAL GERMANY. Frankfort, December 21.

The political convulsions into which late events in Italy and in France may powibly throw Europe will find Germany in a state of utter disorganization, unless a saving hand is stretched out, and that very speedily. Since my last letter everything hai become more hopeless. The coalition of the most dissimilar factions— Austrian members, Protectionists, Roman Catholic priests and their ftiends, and radicals— has gained rather than lost in influence. Luckily for the peace of the country, the Austrians consider it their own interest to delay bringing on a decision. They imagine that in three or four weeks at the utmost, the war in Hungary being over, and Hungary incorporated into the Austrian Empire, their Government will be able to declare its poliry regarding Germany. The power of the new unfettered Austrian monarchy would by that time be 10 immense as to hinder the very possibility of Germany withdrawing from it. Now, in order to gain this delay, they have despatched their leader, Mr. Yon Schmerling, to Olmutz to study the opinions current in those regions with respect to the German policy. Until satisfactory answers come from him, or he himself return to Frankfort with such, they will prevent the Parliament from coming to any deciiion. Mr. Sclimeiling left for Austria this morning, and, it is said, takes despatches to the Impel ial Cabinet, in which they are reminded that il would be better not to go too far in separating from Germany, but to wait and see whether the German Pailiament and people will not readily come under the wings of the Double Eagle. Intrigues everywhere you see ; pro bono publico, as every individual says to himself ! One would imagine oneself reading the memoirs of the last years preceding the dissolution of ihe old German Empire, when every prince and tovereign tried to gain as much of power for himself as the decrepit institution could afford. Now-a-days, fortunately, no piincc is enabled to make treaties with foreign states — at least, I doubt those rumours to be true which speak of such taking place with France— but they run a race of advantages of large and small gain. Bavaria gives the best example of this policy. I was mistaken the other day when I told you that the plau of this Government had always been to advocate a triumvirate of Austria, Prussia, and a combined vote of the rest. The truth of the story is his :— Field-Marshal Prince Charles of Bavaria was sent to Berlin by the King's order to propose a triumvirate without Austria, in which Bnvaria and Piussia should each have a place individually, and the rest of the sovereigns should elect one out of their number to make up the three. The scheme was laid before thPraisian Cabinet in a most elaborate form, the strength of the Bavarian army (between 92,000 and 95 00 J men) was detailed, the great influence Bavaria had on the whole south of Germany wa3 mentioned, &c. The Austrian monarchy was spoken of at already itruck out of the Ist of the German Confederation. To nil these proposals Prussia opposed a simple " No ;" and the F.eld-Marshal returned to Munich with this answer. Upon this the Cabinet of Munich took up the plan of a triumvirate with Austria, which it had disliked before, because the other scheme would have •ecured to it one whole vote in the Council of Three, whilst a triumvirate, including; Austria, promises them

only a share in the third member. However, a b' f d In the hand is worth two in the bush. An ambaiiador was sent a week ago to Olmutz to oppose the entry of Austria into a three-headed Government of Germa"". As for the smaller states, like Baden, &c, nobody seems to lay much weight upon their wishes ; and yet some of them at least would finally decide the question. The higher classes in most of these states are averse to Austrian rule from the reminiscence of former days, and because of the cajoling manner in which the northern Czar treats Austria. The older people, though, in this part of the country recollect the coronations of German Emperor* of the House of Hapsburgh and still look upon Prussia as the state that was rebellious against the Crown of Charlemagne. In other parts (as Thuringia), Prussia, as the naighty neighbour, carries it over her southern rival. To return to Frankfort and the anti-Pruisian coalition here. Its effects upon all proceedings hare been* moit ruinoui. Whenever the Left makes a great effort to win the rotes of their new allies, i.e., in all matters of importance, they have them. The sittings of yesterday and to-day gave excellent proofs of thit assertion. In the former, the last paragraphs of the '• Fundamental Rights of the Germans" were carried through the second reading. Now these are to form, as it were, an introductory chapter to the German constitution, and ought, under no circumstances, to be proclaimed apart from and before the rest. Yet Schoder, a leader of the '• Moderate" Radicals, insisted upon their immediate proclamation as " law." Today, then, a bill was read and carried, specifying the manner in which they are to be realized, aud all modifications introduced which they cause in all branches of legislation and of administration. In vain members of. the Conservative party protested against publishing this bill, and against throwing out into the world general principles without a definitive Central Government to watch over their realization. In vain did they beseech hon. members to wait until the sense of the nation was taken with regard to these Central Powers. The bill was carried by an immense majority, and unless the Reichverweser delays signing his name to s document of this kind, which can do no good and immense harm, we shall see all those paragraphs published as " laws of the empire," and see how one government after the other declines accepting them. The consequences are but too clear. In some parts of Germany, for instance, the restrictions of settling in a parish and trading in it are very considerable. Now, one of the said paragraphs lays down the principle that every German shall be allowed to settle in every place in Germany, provided only that he is able to support himself, and is not notoriously a vagabond. If such a principle is carried out in Wurtemberg and noc in Bavaria, which borders on it, it follows that numbers will flock into Wurtemberg from overstocked parts of Bavaria, whilst nobody would be allowed to return. The Government of the King of Hanover has already declared, officially, that the chapter containing " the Fundamental Rights" will not be acknowledged in Hanover until an understanding be arrived at with regard to the whole of the German Constitution. The King's Plenipotentiary in Frankfort, M. Yon Bothmer, declared that officially this evening in a meeting of the different Plenipotentiaries from all the Governments of Germany. Another sitting of the Plenipotentiaries is to take place next Saturday, when some general measure is to be concerted with regard to this decree of the German Parliament. On the paragraph pronouncing the abolition of entails, Baron Vincke made a good speech. The tendency of the age, he said, was to level everything. It would succeed in destroying the old aristocracy ; but a new one would undoubtedly ariie— -the aristocracy of money. The important paragraph which abolishes every political privilege arising from rank and birth it to be i realized within six months by the present Chamber (in which many seats belonged to the nobles of the country) ; and, if these Chambers do not arrive at a proper understanding upon the subject, constituent assembles shall be called to consider the new organization of the deliberative bodies.