XXVII. 1817. tion, is to consider itself bound to intervene in order to CHAP. prevent such an explosion, or to re-establish tranquillity, if it is already compromised. In such a case the confederate state thus agitated is equally entitled to reclaim the succour of the Confederation, as the latter is bound to accord it." 20. of these pro These clauses in the fundamental statutes of the Confederation rendered it a matter of impossibility to esta- Great effect blish in any of the lesser states constitutions not in visions. accordance with the views of the great military powers, whose tendencies towards absolute government were fixed and unalterable; for, the Diet being declared competent. to intervene in any internal disputes between a sovereign prince and his subjects, and the former as being entitled to reclaim it, the smallest state in the Confederacy was liable on any internal convulsion to be overwhelmed by the entire forces of the gigantic "bund" invoked by the ruling government. This state of things effectually prevented the growth of liberal institutions to any considerable extent in any of the free cities or lesser states of the Confederacy, where they were most likely to arise. If Middlesex, Manchester, Glasgow, and Ireland, had formed part of a huge confederacy, which could bring 300,000 men into the field, and in which the decided majority was in the hands of the military and monarchical powers, the efforts of the Catholic Association, Reform Clubs, and Anti-Corn-Law League, would probably have met with a very different result from that which, in the sea-girt and commercial realm of Britain, actually attended them. Spanish and volutions of The anti-democratic and despotic tendencies of the 21. Diet became every day more conspicuous with the in- Effect of the crease of the opposite principles in the Spanish peninsula, Italian reFrance, and England, in the years 1818, 1819, and 1820, lond of which a full account has already been given. The 1820 on overthrow of the established government in Spain, Portugal, Naples, and Piedmont, in those eventful years, the open attempts to subvert it in Great Britain, and the Germany. XXVII. 1819. CHAP. narrow escape from revolution made by France, excited the utmost alarm in the courts of the northern powers, and it became the chief object of their solicitude to prevent the spread of similar principles in the states of the German Confederacy. To accomplish this object, the congress at Carlsbad agreed on an official letter of the Emperor of Austria to the Diet on 20th September 1819, which set forth in strong terms the apprehensions felt by his Majesty at the alarming spread of democratic principles in the adjoining states, and earnestly counselled the adoption of such measures as might prevent the evil from spreading in the states of the Confederacy.* In this ... * "Jamais les fondateurs de la Fédération Allemande n'ont pu supposer que l'on doit donner à l'article 13 des interprétations qui seraient en contradiction avec la teneur littérale et claire de cette disposition, ou que l'on dût en tirer des conséquences qui annuleraient non seulement l'article 13, mais le texte entier de l'acte entier de la confédération dans toutes ses dispositions principales, et qui rendraient l'existence ultérieure de l'union elle-même très problématique. Jamais il n'ont pu supposer que l'on confondrait le principe non équivoque des Etats organisés d'un pays, principe à l'affermissement duquel ils mettaient un grand prix, avec des principes et des formes purement démocratiques, et que l'on fonderait sur ce mal-entendu des prétentions, dont on devait apercevoir d'abord ou du moins reconnaître dans très peu de temps l'incompatibilité avec l'existence d'Etats monarchiques, qui, à l'exception peu considérable de villes libres comme dans cette alliance, doivent étre les seuls élemens de la confédération. Les décisions de la Diète Fédérale, en tant qu'elles ont pour but la sûreté extérieure et intérieure du corps entier, l'indépendance et l'inviolabilité individuelle des membres de la confédération, et le maintien de l'ordre légalement existant, qui est inséparable de l'une et de l'autre, doivent avoir une fois obligation pour tous, et aucune législation particulière et aucune mesure séparée ne peut s'opposer à l'éxecution de telles décisions. Une grande partie des Professeurs académiques, entrainés par le torrent d'un siècle de bouleversement général, ont méconnu les vraies dispositions des universités, et y ont substitué une éducation arbitraire et souvent pernicieuse. Au lieu de remplir le premier de leurs devoirs, qui est de former les jeunes gens confiés à leurs soins pour le service de l'Etat auquel ils étaient appelés, et de leur inspirer les principes dont la patrie à laquelle ils appartiennent puisse se promettre d'heureux fruits, ils ont poursuivi le fantôme d'une éducation soi-disant cosmopolite, ils ont répandu un chaos de vaines rêveries dans des âmes également accessibles à la vérité et à l'erreur, et leur ont suggeré, sinon de l'animosité, du moins des idées désavantageuses et de la répugnance pour l'ordre légal existant. Les maux sans nombre que la liberté de la Presse a répandue sur l'Allemagne sont encore beaucoup accrus depuis que la publicité des délibérations des états et l'extension de cette publicité à des objets, qui ne devraient jamais sortir du sanctuaire des sénats pour être livrés à la publicité, que dans les formes régulières et solennelles, mais jamais pour servir de jeu à une vaine curiosité et à une critique superficielle, a donné à l'audace des écrivains un nouvel aliment, et a fourni à chaque gazetier XXVII. 1 Lettre du letter the false interpretation put upon article 13th of the CHAP. Act of Federal Union,* the incorrect ideas which prevailed regarding the functions of the Federal Assembly, 1819. and the means of obviating them, the defective regime l'Empereur of schools and universities, and the abuses of the press, d'Autriche, especially such part of it as is composed of journal and 1819; Arch. periodical writings, were in an especial manner recom- 120 mended to their attention.1 20 Sep. Dip. 117, 22. of the Diet Austria. In pursuance of this recommendation, the Diet took the different points brought under their notice into con- Resolution sideration, and framed a resolution on the subject which on the probore strong evidence to the influence of Austria in the positions of Confederacy, and the disastrous effect which the revolution in the Spanish and Italian peninsulas had had on the progress of real freedom. It was agreed that all the federal states should each at their sittings next year present to the Diet a note containing their ideas on the interpretation to be put on the 13th article of the Fundamental Act; and in the mean time, until a definitive regulation on the subject could be formed, it was agreed unanimously that an interim one should be adopted, and for that purpose that provisional regulations should be agreed to, calculated to check the abuses in universities and of the press. For that purpose a central authority was instituted, empowered to take cognisance of the matters, and in particular of the revolutionary attempts which had been brought to light in many states of the Confederacy. A commission was at the same time appointed iv. 164, 165. to carry this resolution into full effect, which was to sit un prétexte pour élever sa voix sur des affaires qui présentent encore des doutes et des difficultés aux plus grands hommes d'état. Il serait inutile de rappeler à quel point les abus pernicieux sont enfin montés, quel bouleversement dans les idées, quelles fermentations dans les esprits, quel tumulte des passions, quels égaremens fanatiques, quels crimes enfin elle a fait naitre; et l'on ne peut supposer que la partie bien-pensante et vraiment éclairée de la Nation Allemande, puisse être d'une opinion différente, ou être partagée dans son jugement sur un mal aussi notoire.”—Lettre de l'Empereur d'Autriche à la Diète d'Allemagne, 20 Sept. 1819; Arch. Dip. iv. 117, 137. * That guaranteeing Estates in all the states of the Union. 2 Arch. Dip. CHAP. permanently, notwithstanding the adjournment of the central Diet. XXVII. 1819. 23. Supreme To carry these views more fully into effect, a supreme tribunal entitled "Austregal," was appointed, which was empowered to pronounce judgment without appeal in any questions which might arise between members of the Confederation, and to carry into instant execution the decisions of the Diet by military force, the expense of which was to form a charge against and be levied on the state which rendered such extreme measures necessary. The powers of this court were not long of being exercised. On 30th May 1823, the journal entitled Der Deutsche Beobachter was suppressed at Mayence by orders of the Federal Diet, and several other journals in the lesser states were stopped in like manner by the same authority. The constitutions of the lesser states, which contained several of the elements of freedom, were sanctioned by the Diet ; but as they were all subject to this overruling authority, and without the means of resisting it, they could have no results in establishing the liberties of Germany. Prussia, in particular, took the lead in resisting the demand for the convocation of a general diet or parliament for the regulation of the affairs of the kingdom. On 5th June 1823 the definitive regulations respecting the provincial estates of that kingdom were published, but the convocation of a general diet was passed over in silence, and the promise of the government in that respect was never cariv. 166, 184. ried into execution till it was forced upon it by the revolution of 1848.1 June 5, 1823. 1 Arch. Dip. 24. tion of A deplorable event occurred at this period, which Assassina demonstrated the strength of the feeling in favour of Kotzebue, political freedom which had got possession of the German mind, and the lengths which its impassioned youth were prepared to go to carry out their principles. KOTZEBUE, the dramatist, was suspected of being in correspondence with the Emperor of Russia, by whom he had been made a councillor of state, as to the state of He XXVII. 1819. 1819. public opinion in the cities of Germany; and from the CHAP. manner in which the Czars seek out talent, and allure it into their service wherever it is to be found, it is probable that the suspicion was well founded. On this account he was, despite his great talents and the popularity of his writings, regarded with undisguised aversion by the liberal youth of Germany; and one of them, Charles Frederick Sand, who had distinguished himself by his courage in the war of liberation, undertook to deliver his country from the traitor. With this view he repaired to Manheim, where Kotzebue was residing with his family, and there his murderous intent was too fatally carried into execu- March 23, tion. Having obtained entrance into his house under the pretext of business, he delivered to him a paper, on which were written the words, "Sentence of death executed against Augustus Kotzebue, 23d March 1819." then drew a poniard from his bosom, with which he pierced him to the heart. Alarmed by his cries, Kotzebue's wife arrived in the room only in time to see him expire. The assassin quietly rose, left the room, and descended the stair of the house, exclaiming, "The traitor is dead, the Fatherland is saved! Vivat Teutonia!" Then, as a crowd, attracted by the cries of Kotzebue's wife, followed him, he turned calmly round, and, drawing the bloody dagger from his bosom, he said, "Yes! I am the murderer! It is thus that all traitors to their country should perish." Then, kneeling down, and raising his eyes beaming with fervour to heaven, he exclaimed, "I thank thee, O God! for permitting me to do this deed;" and, opening his vest, he plunged the dagger in his bosom, and Chron. 211. fell to all appearance lifeless on the pavement.1 Ann. Hist. Ann. Reg. ii. 283, 284; 1819, 25. tion, and im mense sen This tragic event, which excited a prodigious sensation in Germany, was sufficiently alarming in itself, the more His execuespecially as it occurred only a few weeks after the murder of the Duke de Berri by Louvel, in Paris, the Cato Street sation it conspiracy in London, and the revolution of Riego in Madrid. But it became doubly alarming from what created. |