DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 319, 27 December 1862, Page 5

DENMARK AND THE DUCHIES.

(From the Home News.)

The two* legislative Chambers of Denmark, which now represent only Denmark proper, opened on the 4th October their ordinary session. The president by seniority (nofc the presideut afterwards formally elected) delivered a very ardent and impassioned speech, in which he denounced the arrogant policy of Germany, and declared that the only means of disposing of the demands of the Confederation would be to extend the frontiers of Denmark to the banks of the Eide>*, the natural limits of Denmark and Holstein, while declaring Schleswig, in iis entirety, an integral part of the Danish kingiom. Thus, he declared, would the Government fulfil the wishes of the Danish nation, whom he described as rea iy and ardent to arm to-day, as in 1818, to sustain the national cause against tbe encroachments of Germany. This speech produced much sensation.

A telegram from Copenhagen says that Earl Russell has addressed a despatch to the Danish ferovernm ; nt,' date 1 September 21, a copy of which has been communicated to the caoinets of Paris, Vienna, Berlin, and St. Petersburg, wherein his lordship expresses views very unfavorable to the Danish claims upon the German Duchies ; states reasons which are considered here to be in contradiction with the views formerly expressed by England in official documents concerning the conflict between Germany and Denmark; and recommends the Danish Government to cancel the common constitution for the kingdom of Denmark and Schleswig. In reply the Danish Government has addressed a note to the English Cabinet, positively declining to accept the recommendations contained in Earl Russell's despatch. Recent Copenhagen letters speak of a project formed by the king, of giving a special German Governor to the Duchie3 of Holstein and Lauenburg, so as to deprive the Germanic Confederation of its pretext for interfering in tha internal affairs of the kingdom.