The main thing, furthermore, is that I nowhere find an obvious danger that could occasion such a severe measure; if one existed, then no doctrine would prevent me from agreeing.
The most dubious sentences in the constitution, as said, have neutralized themselves, and at every one of its positions the power of the Crown remained victorious; the King possesses a secure army and possesses secure finances. With these two things, the King of Prussia once confronted three European great powers and dispatched them. With these two things, should he not also, if necessary, be a match for two Chambers? (Merriment and bravo.)
And have such extremely dangerous laws and institutions really been passed since the Chambers have been in existence? Let us compare legislation since the constitution and prior to the constitution, even going back decades, I ask: on which side do we find conservation, on which side destruction? (Lively bravo from the right.)
The most dubious regulations were those that threatened not only the power of the Crown, but also the convictions of the population; fortunately, these have also been overcome during this session; I mean the regulations about the constitution of local government, I also mean that hastily repeated electoral agitation by means of triennial elections.
But the constitution, for all these profound and fundamental infirmities, still has its positive value, and the [value] is this, that it actually is a constitution, i.e., that it contains legal guarantees and a state parliament, and this is certainly the point of great divergence between the gentleman proposing the motion and myself. On this alone I base my hope and my conviction that, by proper further development, this constitution can become not merely harmless, but positively salutary.
Yes, we want and strive for legal guarantees, we do not want any unlimited freedom for citizens or corporations or the church; but we also do not want any unlimited freedom for bureaucratic authority and preventive disciplinary measures. (Lively bravo.)
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