MOST HIGH CABINET LETTER ΤΟ THE PRESIDENT OF THE REICHS RATH (COUNCIL OF THE EMPIRE). Dear Baron Kübeck,-You will learn by the subjoined copy of my ordinance to the Cabinet the resolutions which I have taken relative to the responsibility and to the future position of my Cabinet. These resolutions induce me to introduce some changes in the statutes of my Reichsrath: "1. The Reichsrath is from this time forward to be considered as my Council and the Council of the Throne. "2. In consequence of this declaration, draughts of laws, ordinances, or other such matters, have not to be presented by the Cabinet to the Reichsrath for its opinion, but always to me. Agreeably to par. 7 of its statutes, I reserve to myself the right of demanding the opinion of the Reichsrath, and of directing the discussion of matters under my own immediate direction or that of its President. "3. I reserve to myself the right of commanding the attendance of Ministers or their deputies at the councils of the Reichsrath, according to circumstances and necessity. "The alterations in the order of business and in other matters arising from the ordinances, you have to lay before me without loss of time. If draughts of laws which have been forwarded by the Cabinet to the Reichsrath are still under discussion, due notice is to be given to me, and under all circumstances the results of the deliberations of the Council are to be laid before me. relative to the political position of my Cabinet, I find it absolutely necessary that the question of the maintenance and of the possibility of carrying out the Constitution of the 4th of March, 1849, should be taken into ripe and serious consideration. "You have to consult with the President of my Reichsrath, and to give me as soon as possible your mutual opinions and propositions relative to the manner and extent of the question, as also as to the proceedings and forms to be observed during the examination. "During the examination of this question, and in all future discussions concerning it, you have to consider as principle and object, and as the irrefragable foundation of all your operations, the maintenance of all the conditions of monarchical government, and the unity of the states of my empire. "FRANZ JOSEPH (M.P.) "Schönbrünn, Aug. 20, 1851." "Schleswig-Holsteiners,-The treaty of peace of the 2nd of July made a renewed recognition of the rights of our country, and left it to the Duchies to protect those rights; but since the Germanic Confederation has now resolved to enforce the peace, with a promise that they will protect the rights of Holstein, and the old and vested right of the connection between that duchy and Schleswig, the Stadtholders felt it to be their duty to decree the cessation of hostilities. They have placed the rights of the country under the protection of the Germanic Confederation. "The Stadtholders have to thank the army and navy for the glorious proofs of gallantry and honourable perseverance which they have given; they have to thank the people for the joyful readiness with which they made the heaviest sacrifices. "The Government of the country thinks it a duty to mediate the transition to another administrative board, which will be established by the Germanic Confederation. After the installation of this board, the Stadtholders will resign their power. "Schleswig-Holsteiners! For the future, too, we are sure you will preserve the glory of order and legality. SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN.In our preceding volume we stated that before the close of last year the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein submitted to the authority of the King of Denmark. This was substantially the fact, for after the offered mediation by Prussia and threat on the part of Austria to interfere summarily by force with a body of Federal troops, no further attempt at hostility was made. But the formal submission was not made until the beginning of the present year, when a proclamation was issued by the Stadtholders to the inhabitants, in which they announced the cessation of the war, and the reference of the matters in dispute to the arbitrement of the "Kiel, Jan. 11. The Stadtholders of the REVENTLOW, "FRANCKE, KROHN, 66 REHOFF, "FONTENAY." On the 1st of February the following proclamation appeared:"Fellow-Citizens,-On the summons of the Powers of Germany, acting in the name of the Germanic Confederation, and pursuant to a resolution of the Diet of the 11th of January of this current year, the Stadtholders have mediated the transition from the power of Government which was delegated to them by the Central Power of Germany to another Government which is being appointed by the Germanic Confederation. Having discharged their part of the duty, the Stadtholders have resigned their power into the hands of the Commissioners of the Germanic Confederation. "The purposes of the late war are now to be effected by means of peaceable negotia tions. George V., by the grace of God King of Hanover, Royal Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Cumberland, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg, &c. God the Almighty hath been pleased this day to remove from the world our most honoured Father, the Most Serene, Most Mighty Prince and Lord, Ernestus Augustus, King of Hanover, Royal Prince of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Cumberland, Duke of Brunswick and Lüneburg. We, our Royal House, and our subjects have by this bereavement been overwhelmed with affliction. And whereas by the established order of succession the government of the kingdom of Hanover hath passed into our hands, we by these presents inform our subjects and authorities that we have entered upon the functions of government. And further, we promise by these presents, and pledge our Royal word to the most sacred observance of the constitution of the country; and while we confirm our Ministers of State, and all our servants of secular or clerical estates, in their offices, trust, and dignities, we have that confidence in them, and in all our subjects, that they will grant us all due obedience, love, and honour. In return of which, we assure them of our Royal grace and favour, of our protection, and desire, with the help of Almighty God, and to the best of our abilities, to promote the welfare of our subjects. "We have decreed that this patent, with our hand and seal |