AUSTRIA AND THE NEW CHARTER.

Colonist, Volume IV, Issue 340, 22 January 1861, Page 3

AUSTRIA AND THE NEW CHARTER.

It has long been known that Austria was involved in one of those financial crises which are almost chronic in her history, but it may be doubted whether e.ven her enemies themselves were prepared for such a report as was presented by Count Clam to the Reichsrath a short time ago. As spokesman of the committee of 21, lately appointed to examine the accounts of the exchequer, he disclosed a terrible state of facts. Commencing their investigations from the reaction which ensued upon the revolution ot 1848, the committee find that "during the last 10 years the nation has paid in the way of taxation 800,000,000 florins more than it did in the precedingdecennary." Notwithstanding this " the national debt is 1,300,000,000 florins larger than it was 10 years ago," and State domains have been sold to the value of " more than 100,000,000 florins." Such is the teaching of the " inexorable logic of facts" as to the past. Respecting the liabilities of the currant year the committee maintain a prudent reserve, but they intimate that in the probable event of peace being maintained—"the deficit in 1861 will be 39,000,000 florins, and 25,000,000 in the following year." As if this were not sufficiently overwhelming, it further turns out that " the extraordinary war contribution, which amounts to 32,000,000 florins, figures as part of the revenue in the budget for 1861, but the tax is so exceedingly onerous that it cannot long be levied."

The session of the Council of the Empire concluded on the 28th of September. On that day the assembly voted on the principles of constitutional reform proposed by the majority of the committee, which were agreed to by 34 against 16 votes in favor of the proposition of the minority. The Archduke President then stated that the Emperor would examine the propositions without any delay, and give his decision as soon as possible. On the following day, the members of the Council of the Empire were received by the Emperor in final audience. The Emperor addressed them as follows:—

" I have heard with satisfaction the repeated expressions of your love for our country and of your loyalty as subjects. I confidently expect that my resolution respecting your views will, when promulgated, meet with ready concurrence, and that my good intentions will be gratefully acknowledged. I also expect that the inauguration of popular institutions will obtain your energeuc support."

It is fixed that the Council of the Empire will not re-assemble until after the Provincial Diets shall have been formally established.

The official Wiener Zeituny of October 21 publishes a manifesto of the Emperor introducing a charter (diploma), founded upon the basis of the Pragmatic Sanction, to be binding on all heirs to the throne, to be drawn up for all the provinces, and to be enrolled among the federal laws. The charter announces that henceforth the legislative power will only be exercised with the co-operatiou of the Provincial Diets as well as of the Reichsratli. The number of members of the latter is to be increased to 100 by councillors elected by the Provincial Diets. The members are to be distributed among the provinces in proportion to their extent, their population, and the amount of their taxation. Tue ministries of justice, religion, and the interior, as univ£rsal central authorities, are suppressed. The Court of Chancery is restored in Hungary, and one for Transylvania is to be established. The Chancellor of the Hungarian Court is to be a member of the ministry. The affairs of the other provinces are to be represented^ in the imperial councils by a Minister of State. A special ministry is to be appointed for public instruction. The judicial affairs of all provinces not Hungarian are to be represented in the ministerial councils by the president of the Court of Cassation. The interests of national economy and commerce are to be represented in the ministry by a Minister of Commerce. The financial functions of the Reichsratli are to be considerably increased. The contracting of new and the conversion of existing loans, the mortgage and sale of the landed property of the State, are to be subject to the approval of the Reichsratli. The customs, coinage, all monetary matters, credits, the regulations for the issue of bank-notes, postal, railway, and telegraph aftairs, are only to be treated by government with the co-operation of the Reichsratli. Other legislative questions are to be referred to the competency of the different Provincial Diets. The treatment of general questions relating to all non-Hungarian provinces is reserved for a conference of the councillors of the empire (i. c., members of the Reichsratli) representing those provinces. As regards tbe representation of npn-Hungarian provinces, detailed Instructions are tq be given to the Ministers of State on the basis of Ip.eal selfgovernment and the representation of all classes and interests of the Provincial Diets.

The early presentation of provincial regulations} drawn up according to these principles) aad

the convocation as soon as possible of the Provincial Diefs, is ordered.

The constitutional institutions of Hungary are to be re-established. The Hungarian language is to be introduced as the official language in judicial. political, and administrative proceedings. The University of Pesth is to be re-opened.

The al olition of the personal services due to landlords and of the privileges of the nobles as to exemption from payment of taxes is confirmed.

The representation of all classes of the country in the Legislature and the Administration is to be established as a principle. The convocation of the Hungarian Diet is to take place with the lea9t possible delay, on which occasion the inauguration of the charter and the coronation of the Emperor as King of Hungary is to take place.

The administration of justice is to be carried on in the prescribed manner, and on the basis of the civil and penal codes until they are legally changed.

The Royal Curia in Pesth and the Stadlholdership in Buda are to be re-established.

As regards the claims of Hungary and the Servian subjects of Austria for public'rights, an imperial commissioner is to be appointed to receive communications from the most influential persons representing the different classes. The decision of the Emperor is reserved until the presentation of the commissioner's report." Similar constitutional institutions are to he granted to Translyvania. The relations of Hungary with Croatia are to be settled by a joint representation of those provinces.

With regard to the important question as to the manner in which the populations will receive the above charter, the only intelligence we are as yet in possession of is contained in the two following telegrams. A despatch of October 23 from Vienna says : — i; Up to the present all reports received from the provinces announce that the Emperor's charter had everywhere been favorably received, more especially in Croatia. Among the educated classes in Hungary it met with the most favorable reception. The masses were not yet sufficiently acquainted with the details." From Pesth we have the following, of the same date :— " In consequence of the resolution taken by the municipalities, the ciiies of Pesth and Buda are illuminated this evening. Tomorrow, in the forenoon, a solemn celebration of divine service will take place." Home News.