PRUSSIA.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 451, 10 August 1850, Page 3

PRUSSIA.

The New Constiiution.— The ceremony of taking the oath to the new Constitution was performed by the King and the two Chambers, in the Hall of KuigMs, on the 6th of Februaiy; Divine service having first bipn attended in the Cathedral. The Kmg and the Princes of the blood royal entered t!i<> hi 1 1 together ; the Prince of Piussh absented himself: the two Chambers were present in iminetiodic.il mass, packed together wherever they could stand i,i the nai-iO-.v hall: the Constitution on the 31st J.uuiuy lay on a table in fount of the tlnone. The Knv; having taken hi* seat, rose, and in a tone solemn, though not ( without humour, said he would avail himself ot the last occasion to address them unbound by Ihe influence of Ministerial responsibility. The specrh follows " Gentlemen — I he;j for your attention. What I am about to fcay aie my most intimate words; for I btand beforj jou this day such as I never did before uor ever shall again. I am not here to exercise the born and hereditary holy rghts of the royal functions which are high lemovod above my will or that of parties. lam heie, above all, unshielded by the responsibilities of my mit'ht advjscis — as myself alone~as a man of honour, who will give his dcaitst — his word — ayes! energetically and conadciately. '' On that account, then, n few previous words. The I woik to which I am this d,,y about to Bet my affirmation emanated from a year which the fidelity ofgenerutioiis lo come will tearfully but vainly wish were expunged fiom our his oiy. "in the foim in which ir u laid before you, it is .doubtl ss a propitiatory work of fidelity of men who have saved this crown, towaids whom my gratitude can only terminate wiih my lite. But il was nevertheless, in the literal sense of the word, in the days when the very eiihtence of our fathei land was menaced. It was the work of the moment, and it bore the broad stamp of its origin. The question is justified, how I, holding such opinions, can give to it my sanction Nevertheless, I will do it, because I can ; and for that I can, I ]nve only to thank you, gentlemen. You have laid an improving hand thereon ; you hnve removed f-om it objectionable aud introduced beneficial parts. Through your excel, lent aud beneficial labours, and accept tner of my last ptopositions, you have gnen me guarantees that you will bung to maturity that commencement which Ims received jour sanction ; and that, through our mutual honourable cxeitions, we shall give additional force to ihe vital conditions of Prussian existence, by constitutional means. I dare to affirm this result, because I do co full of hope. I acknowledge with waimest thanks, and I declare it with joy and emotion towards you, gentlemen, you have meiited tbe thanks of our Liheiland. Thus do I declare—be Almighty God my witness— that my solemn oath to the Conbttfution is tiue, faithful, and without reserve. " But the life and blessing of the Constitution depend upon the fulfilment of sa«e conditions, that you and all noble hearts in the country must aclvnowledeg. You, gentlemen, must help me, and the Chambers that may succeed you, and the fidelity of my people mint help me, against those whj might seek to convert the ficdom according to them by the King into a shield of malice, and turn the same against the au'hority appointed by God— against those who may regard this constitution as an equivalent through Divine Pi ovidence for our historical rights and the all-ancient and holy fidelity. AH the strength of the land must unite now in fidelity as subjects, in respect towaids this Monarchy and this Crown, which rests on the victories of our armies, in obseivance of the laws, and in faMiful accomplishment of the oath of homage according to the new oath, « Truth and obedience to the King ami conscientious maintenance of the Constiluliun :' in a word, its vital conditions are, that government with these laws shall be lendeied possible for me. For in Prussia the King must govern,— and I govern, not because it pleaseth me, God knows, but because God so ordains ; and, this being the case, I will govern. A iree people under a free king—that has been my desire [ for ten years ; such is it this day ; such will it'ever be ij long as I breathe. •■ Before I proceed to the buuineas of th° day, I will lenew two solemn vows. This is inspiied by a relrosj pertive view of the cost ten yenrs of ray government. ' first, I renew, repeat, mid leafliruj, solemnly ani

explicitly, the- \»w I made iu'foic God abd nVen upon the day of homage at Komgbbeiff and at this ploce. Yvs, yes .' that uill I, so help rue God ! Secondly, I renew, repeat, and rc.ifinm, solemnly and explicitly, the only vow which I pronounced upon the 11th of Apiil, 1847 — 'To serve the Lord with ray whole house.' Yes, yes ! that will I, so help we God ! This vow stands paramount above all o'Lers. It must be letained by ecu, as well as all other vows, let them be of other value— mast be retained ns verified by the pure water of lil». N #i w, however, and whilst, in the ful'pcss of my Kindly powpr, I hereby confirm this Constitution : I svteai, solemnly, truly, aiul explicitly, befou> G d and men, to maint'in fum and iuviolablc the Constitution of my couutiy and kinctlojn, n-id to govern in accoi dance with the laws. Yes, yes,! (rx claimed flu King, laising his voice, and elevating his cjts at (1 right hand towards heaveti) th.t will I, ho help me Goti ! " And now I confide the prescribed law to the hinds of Almighty God, whose divi, c interc -ssion inthe histniy of Prus-h is manifestly evident; that it may please him to conveit this work of moiial hand- inio a work of benediction far ou- dear fatbciland, especial. y the c .nfirmation of his holy lights and ordinances. £o be it ! The speech waß listened t<» with the deepest and most raEjer ottcntion ; loud hurrahs burst from the assembly at its close Count Biandenburg approached and read the formula of the oath. The Xii)i r , uncovering himself, pronounced the outh, raising his hand and eves to heaven, and tlun with fervour exclaimed — " I, Fredeiick William, iweir it— swear it r.o true— God help me !'' Ministers v\ere sworn to be faithful and obedient to the Ki»f>, and conscientoualy to observe the Constitution. All the Memb'TS oi the two Chambers «ere hi like form sworn, each separately and each, according to his iciigic-us belief, rai-insj three fingers of the right band, and adilii)s the characteristic asseveration ot his creed. The Minister then addiessid the King in terms of homage and gratitude; the Kinj replied by an invocation of God's blessing on the woik, and depaited ; the assemblage broke np with loud thouts of applause.