In time of war and great emergency every man is liable up to his 49th year to serve in the home guard, (Landsturm,) beginning, as above stated, at the age of 17. The duration of service is calculated from the date of entering the army, so that if he present himself at an earlier age than required by law the time is deducted. Liability to serve dates from the 1st of January of the year of arriving at the age of 20. Those who have been educated at a military school or at the institute of noncommissioned officers must remain in active service beyond the usual three years-two years additional, if they were educated entirely at the public expense, or one year if partially. Those who volunteer before the age of 20, and are able to equip and keep themselves, and capable of passing a specified examination, remain for a term of one year only with their regiment, which is considered as equivalent to active service of three years. The present government of Prussia proposes to extend the term of actual service to four years, and to augment the contingent of the standing army, whilst the liberal party contend for a diminution of the contingent, as well as a reduction of the time of service, from three to two years. This conflict is still going on, but up to this date no change has been made. The government bases its proposition upon the fact that the army has not kept pace with the population. The annual levy has varied for the past thirty years from 60,000 to 63,000 men. This number, under the law of 3d September, 1814, was based upon the then existing census; thus, in 1816, Prussia had a population of 10,136,000 inhabitants, the levy amounting to 125 per cent.; it has now a population of 18,210,000, and the levy amounts to 112 per cent. According to Dieterici, Handbuch der Statistik des Preussischen Staates, the Prussian army in active service in 1855 was 165,537 men; of these the service requires a renewal of one-third every year. The number of recruits required annually is, therefore, 55,179 men, while by the census of the same year, 1855, the number of young men of the age of twenty in the Prussian monarchy amounted to 147,614; about one-third, however, are found unfit for service, or exempted on other grounds. The following data of population, &c., taken from Witsleben Heerwesen der Preussechen Armee, (1864, page 64,) are interesting in this connexion : The population of Prussia, according to census, was in 1854.............. 16,737, 670 Of these there were of young men between the age of twenty and twenty-five... 633, 331 Those having attained twenty years, and liable to call... 177, 416 The other four classes, being respectively twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, and twenty-four years old.. 263, 820 Total of roll of men. 441, 236 From the above the following reductions are made, viz : a. Volunteers serving one year. 12, 458 b. Serving as a punishment. 245 c. Definitively exempted Totally unfit.. 13, 885 The following table shows the relative percentage of the preceding statement, compared with the average during the previous years, from 1831 to 1854: They are definitive and temporary; certain conditions, or temporary service, suffice, in some cases, to entitle to a furlough, with liability to be called upon at any time to join their regiments. Those who have undergone infamous or afflictive punishments are excluded from the army, and those who have lost civil or civic rights, if the loss of the latter be temporary only, this cause of exemption is valid only until legal rehabilitation. If not rehabilitated on attaining the twenty-third year, such persons are incorporated in disciplinary companies as laborers. Those who wilfully disable or mutilate themselves, with the view of avoiding service, are treated in the same manner. Conditional exemptions are granted to Quakers and Mennonites. § 14 of the law of December 9, 1858, stipulates that those immigrating from other German states shall be exempted from service, provided they have complied with the laws of their state on the subject; but that they shall be, on becoming residents in Prussia, incorporated in the reserve, and be liable to serve in the "Landwehr." Foreigners emigrating from other countries than German states are liable to service according to their age, no matter whether they have served at their former homes or not. Those who live in Prussia, without being naturalized as citizens, shall not be called on nor be admitted into the service.* Temporary and conditional exemptions are granted to pupils of seminaries, and tutors of the same, on condition that they join once, for a period of six weeks, a regiment, after which they are exempted from further service. The same exemption is accorded to those who, at the time of the call, are studying at the seminary of Guadenfred and the college of Wielski; also, those of the Jewish college at Munster, provided they bring testimonials showing their fitness for holy orders. Those who serve as attendants in military hospitals for a term of one year are exempted from further service, but remain four years with the reserve, and are afterwards liable to service in the "Landwehr." Those who have served six months in the military train or transport service are held to serve the remaining portion of their time in the reserve, or "Landwehr," if required. Those enlisting for service in the navy are subject to the same rules; they remain in the first class from the age of 20 to 25, in the second from 25 to 32, and in the third from 32 to 39. Those found to be under size, i. e., below five feet, (Rhenish measure,) are put back into the next class, and the military board decides whether the men are definitively exempted or held at disposal, in which latter case the men are liable to be called in case of war. With regard to size, the lowest for regiments of guards is 5 feet 5 inches, for one-fourth; another fourth must have at least 5 feet 6 inches, and the remaining one-half at least 5 feet 7 inches and more. For infantry, the size is 5 feet 2 inches, and 5 feet by exception, if the man be otherwise robust. For fusileer companies, such men who show natural agility, aptitude, &c., are selected; size as above. Riflemen, as a rule, must not be less than 5 feet 2 inches, and not above 5 feet 7 inches; some exceptions are admitted at 5 feet. The same stipulations obtain with regard to the soldiers for the military train. The fitness for service is determined by professional men, but their decision is not binding on the commission appointed for examination. In cases of infirmity the reports of the surgeons are subject to the confirmation of the military board, which alone decides whether a man is to be definitively discharged, or, unless he suffers from incurable infirmity, is to be held at the disposal of the military authorities, as provided in the preceding paragraph. The following provisions to exemptions are made for persons who shall be "favorably considered," or are recommended for temporary exemption: 1. Those who, in the opinion of the examination board, are the support of families which might otherwise be subjected to want. 2. The only son of a widow, when there is no other member of the family to provide for her or her family. 3. Persons who inherit, or unexpectedly acquire otherwise than by purchase, property which they cannot leave in the hands of others, without detriment to their interests, provided such property is of sufficient value to furnish the means of living. 4. Tenants of crown lands, or other real estate, whose lease, owing to the death of a parent or relative, or other circumstance, must be renewed, and the occupation of which cannot be ceded to another without prejudice to the property. * Throughout Germany no one is permitted to settle in any business, or follow a trade, without first becoming a citizen. 5. Owners of factories, or other industrial establishments, who are employing a number of workmen, and cannot find a manager to take their place, provided they have not actually acquired the property by purchase at the time when liable to serve. 6. Those who, as sons of disabled parents, are considered as the only and necessary assistants for the management of their property, whether real or personal, factories, &c., provided they are unable to procure elsewhere the necessary assistance. If it should turn out that the conditions indicated in the foregoing six paragraphs result from purchase, leasing, or transfer of property by the free will of the parties, the exemptions are inadmissible. As a rule, no one liable to serve shall, before having satisfied the provisions of the law, enter into any engagements which tend to preclude, or render difficult, compliance with the terms of the law. Marriage contracted before the time of service is no cause of exemption from service. All temporary exemptions are granted, as a rule, for one year only. 1. To those who bring indubitable proof of being engaged in acquiring the knowledge of a profession, or art, the result of which would be seriously affected by interruption of the studies. 2. Pupils of the industrial schools at Berlin. 3. Pupils of the medical school. 4. Pupils of veterinary schools. On the 15th January, each year, the parish priest must send in a minute of the births in his district for the past year. The local authorities make up from these registers a list of all individuals who have attained the seventeenth year, and these are entered on the rolls. Registers are also kept of those persons who have a legal residence in the district, or who, without being born in the district, are domiciled as servants, managers, clerks, apprentices, students, or pupils. Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward. No. 180.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The King was present at the ball given at the palace on the 13th instant At the diplomatic circle, after some conversation of a personal character, he inquired what my advices were from home. I replied that the result of the war was no longer doubtful; that men and money were not wanting any more than the determination to put down the rebellion. His Majesty said, he hoped that the exercise of force would be tempered by conciliation, or some expression to that effect. I replied that the late proclamation of amnesty of the President showed that such was the spirit which inspired the government. He assented in a general way, adding that he thought great forbearance and patience would be still required before reaching the end. The King appeared to be in remarkably good health and spirits. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, H. S. SANFORD. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. No. 181.] Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: The ministerial crisis still continues. The King, after calling in turn, and without result, M. de Broukère and M. Pirmey, both members of the liberal party, to form a cabinet, has turned to the conservative party, and M. Deschamps and M. de Theux have been, in succession, summoned to the palace, but with the same result. It would seem that none are willing to undertake the reins of government without the power to dissolve the Chambers-a strictly party cabinet being impracticable in the present condition of parties in the Chambers, where, owing to the death of one of the liberal members, M. Coumont, they are equally balanced. The conservatives desire a cabinet without political character, and for business solely, as a sort of interregnum till the next election. The other party are not disposed to enter into such a combination, and desire to throw upon the conservatives the onus of carrying on the government, or declaring their incapacity to do it; and this condition of things is likely to remain for some time longer. Meanwhile, there is a good deal of excitement and agitation on the subject throughout the country. It would be a matter of no surprise to me if, as before stated, the crisis should result in the permanent withdrawal of two or three members only of the cabinet. If, however, they remain fixed in their present position, of standing or falling together, and the party remains equally determined not to accept a "business" cabinet, the probabilities are that a cabinet of one or the other party will be formed with the permission to dissolve the Chambers, and they will accordingly promptly appeal to the people through new elections. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. No. 183.] Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward. LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 66 SIR: The Moniteur of the 23d instant publishes the tables of the indirect" revenue of the state for the year 1863 compared with the revenues from similar sources in 1862. The total in 1863 amounts to 116,750,364 francs, being an augmentation of 2,860,465 francs upon that of 1862, and about five and one-half million francs more than the estimates. This increase arises principally from spirits, beer, and vinegar, inheritances, stamps, railroads, and telegraphs. There is a diminution in receipts from customs, registry, conveyances, and steam lines between Ostend and Dover. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant, H. S. SANFORD. Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c. |