Latest / History of Iceland / Romanticism in Iceland. Struggle for Autonomy. The Icelandic Constitution of 1874. Improved Economic Conditions, Part 2

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Romanticism in Iceland. Struggle for Autonomy. The Icelandic Constitution of 1874. Improved Economic Conditions, Part 2 · History of Iceland

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Chapter sixteen, Part two of History of Iceland by Canute years said. This
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LibriVox recording is in the public domain. On July fourth, eighteen fifty one,
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the Convention assembled at Reikievik, and after a new delay caused by the
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failure of the government to forward in time the drafts of the measures to be
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considered, the law defining Iceland's relation to Denmark was finally submitted. The Constitution
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of the Kingdom of Denmark was attached as a supplement and was to be accepted
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in Iceland without discussion. It was stated that since the Congolov and the Act
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of seventeen o nine through which it was promulgated in Denmark expressly stated that Iceland
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was a part of the Danish Kingdom, this could no longer be subject to
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discussion, and since the king granting a constitution, had sanctioned a popular form
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of government within the limits system is by the conquer love, only the manner
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in which the various provisions should apply to Iceland could be submitted for consideration.
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With regard to the Constitution itself, the government admitted that many provisions in it
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could not apply to Iceland, and that others could not be made operative because
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of the natural conditions of the country. But it was argued that it was
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not necessary to omit these paragraphs, as it was evident that they could not
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be enforced. The Constitution as applied to Iceland would have to be given an
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interpretation based on good judgment. The proposed law regarding Iceland's relation to the realm
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numbered sixty paragraphs, of which the first ten contained the most essential provisions.
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According to this measure, the Danish Constitution of June five, eighteen forty nine
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should apply also to Iceland. In matters affecting the whole realm. The King
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and the Rugsdag should have complete authority even if Iceland was not represented in the
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Assembly, but an opportunity would be given the Icelanders to elect representatives to the
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Rigsdag according to the number of their population. In all, exclusively the Icelandic
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affairs, the King's law making functions should be exercised in conjunction with the All
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Thing and not with the Rigsdag. Also in these meadows, he should act
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through his ministers, who should be responsible to the Rigsdag and not to the
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All Thing. The revenues should be divided in such a manner that all indirect
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taxes should go to the common treasury of the realm, which should pay the
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government officials, the judges of the Superior Court, the bishops, the teachers
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of the higher institutions of learning, and the expenses connected with the mail service
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between Denmark and Iceland. The direct taxes should go to a local Icelandic treasury,
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which was to defray the expenses of the all Thing and the local government.
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As an alternative, it was suggested that instead of such a division of
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the revenue, Iceland might contribute a fixed sum to the general government, but
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it was feared that it would prove difficult, if not impossible, to determine
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what this sum should be. The King promised not to levy new taxes or
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to increase the burdens on the Icelandic treasury without the consent of the all Thing.
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So far as possible, the consent of the all Things should also be
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obtained to any change in the laws of Iceland proposed in the Rugsdag, And
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finally he was proposed that the Icelander should send six representatives to the Danish Whigsdag
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to the upper and four to the lower branch. Provisions regarding the election of
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members to the All Thing, and the draft of a law governing trade and
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intercourse with Iceland were also submitted as distinct measures proposed by the government. In
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the consideration of the submitted proposals, a stern opposition of the convention to the
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whole government plan and the reasoning upon which it was paid soon manifest itself.
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The claim that Iceland was a part of the Danish Kingdom could never appeal with
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force to the minds of those who possessed knowledge of Icelandic history, while the
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declaration that the Danish Constitution, which had never been promulgated in Iceland, should
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be the fundamental law of the land without the sanction of the Convention assembled to
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consider it, was an evident violation of the Royal Rescript of September twenty three,
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eighteen forty eight, stating that no constitutional provisions touching Iceland should be finally
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adopted until then Icelandic Assembly had been given the opportunity to consider them. The
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union of Iceland with Norway under a common king had been established by mutual agreement,
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the Icelanders retaining as before their National Assembly their laws and local administration.
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No change in this relation was affected either by the union between Norway, Sweden
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and Denmark established at Kalmar in thirteen ninety seven, or through the proclamation of
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absolute hereditary kingship actioned at Copa Vogue in sixteen sixty two. Since the Danish
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congolov Lex Regia of sixteen sixty five was never promulgated in Iceland, even that
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document could constitute no basis for the claim set up by the Danish government.
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It is true that absolutism was established in Iceland through any agreement at Kappa Vogue,
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but the weakness of the position taken by the Danish leaders and the Union
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controversy was their claim that they by Iceland became a part of the Danish Kingdom,
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that Icelandic nationality was submerged in that of Denmark. The Icelanders claimed that
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nothing of this sort had happened. They had done homage to the king as
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absolute monarch, as did also the Danes and Norwegians, but this did not
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change the relation existing between the two countries. The Icelanders continued to be a
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distinct people, with their own national assembly, their local institutions and system of
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jurisprudence. All laws had to be religated by the All Thing before they could
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take effect in Iceland, and although the All Thing was finally dissolved in eighteen
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hundred, the Lands for Utter was created in his place, and in eighteen
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forty three the All Thing was re established as a recognition of a separate Icelandic
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nationality. No better evidence could be desired that Iceland was still a separate country
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with its fundamental right of self determination than the Royal Rescript of Separatetember twenty three,
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eighteen forty eight. The course now pursued by the government could find no
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justification in an appeal to the historic past. It could only be interpreted as
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an arbitrary reaction against the liberal policy inaugurated in eighteen forty eight. The committee
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to which the proposed acts were submitted by the Convention returned a minority and a
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majority report. The minority were willing to accept the measures at least in principle,
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though they could not sanction the method pur pursued by the government in trying
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to establish the Danish Constitution in Iceland. They would limit their opposition to a
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demand for amendments to various subjectionable provisions. The majority of the committee would not
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surrender the principle of Iceland's separate nationality and existence as a political entity. They
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kild that the only basis of union with Denmark was a common king, and
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that Iceland should be mentioned in the king's title like other parts of the monarchy.
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They would not accept the proposed constitution as a whole, as this might
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lead to endless confusion and serious dangers for the future. They proposed instead that
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a separate constitution should be framed for Iceland, for which they submitted a draft
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based as far as possible on the Danish constitution. According to this proposal,
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Iceland guche had remained united with Denmark under a common hereditary king, a joint
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foreign department, same flag, currency, university and system of weights and measures.
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Other common interests could be arranged according to mutual agreement in purely Icelandic that
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all things should take the place of the Danish Rigstog, the judicial power should
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remain in the Icelandic courts of law, and the administration of Icelandic affairs should
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be conducted as far as possible in the country itself. Neither the minority nor
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the majority would therefore accept the government plan as submitted the Royal Commissioner, Count
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tramp Stimptum, author of Iceland, who represented the government in the deliberations,
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had gained great popularity through his ability to use the Icelandic language, as well
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as through the interest he had first shown in the liberal movement. In eighteen
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fifty he had served as chairman of the Central Committee appointed by the Patriotic meeting
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at ding Beller, but when he discovered the changed attitude of the government,
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he gradually withdrew from the movement. In March eighteen fifty one, the committee
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announced that its chairman could no longer preside at its meetings because of pressing official
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duties, and that he had even forbidden the printing at Reikiavik of the reports
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of the local Committee, so that the periodical founded by the Central Committee had
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to be published in Copenhagen. His hostility to the patriotic movement in Iceland had
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become so pronounced that in the summer of eighteen fifty one he issued the already
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mentioned regulation forbidding an all unlawful meetings in the Convention, where he served as
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Royal Commissioner. He showed irritation and haughty ill will when the government proposals encountered
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opposition. It was also thought that it was in answer to his request that
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military forces were sent to Iceland, together with secret instructions, that he might
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use them according to his own discretion, a very unusual measure in a country
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where military uniforms were never seen, and where the people were so peaceful and
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loyal as to dream of no resistance to government authorities. When it became clear
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that the government proposals would not be accepted as some the stepped down mouth grew
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angry propos those of amendments or any real deliberations by which an understanding up he
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arrived at he would not tolerate. On August eight, it was announced that
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the Convention would meet the following day at twelve o'clock, when the Royal Commissioner
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would bring up a very important matter. At the stated hour, the delegates
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wherein their seats, and deep silence prevailed outside. The soldiers came marching with
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fixed bayonets and loaded cartridges, taking their position near the convention hall. The
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silent anticipation was growing very tense when the Royal Commissioner stepped forward, attired in
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official uniform. He drew a document from his pocket and began to speak to
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the delegates in a sharp and upbraiding tone, stating that they had wasted their
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time and that the purpose of the convention had miscarried. The session could not
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be prolonged, and he declared the convention dissolved. Joan Siger's, chairman of
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the Constitutional Committee, interrupted him by asking if he would be allowed to explain
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the action of the committee and the convention, but the Presiding Officer of Royal
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Officer answered no. The Count continued saying, I believe the delegates have heard
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that in the name of the King, I've dissolved the convention. Jan Sigurdson
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responded, then, I protest in the name of the King and the people
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against this procedure, and reserve the right of the Assembly to complain to the
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King of this unlawful act. Whereupon the whole assembly rose, and crowding course,
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we all protest. When the Count and the Presiding Officer had left the
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hall, someone called out long lived King Frederick seven, a cry which was
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repeated by all the delegates. This then Mather, in dismissing the convention,
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probably acted in harmony with the wishes of the government. It was evidently the
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plan to secure the consent of the Convention to the government proposal as quickly as
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possible, without deliberation and especially without counter proposals on the part of the Assembly.
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The session had lasted only five weeks, and one week had passed before
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the proposed acts had been submitted. The statement of the count that the delegates
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had wasted their time could therefore not be taken seriously if the Assembly, in
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considering so important measures, should exercise any deliberative functions. After the dissolution of
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the Convention, thirty six of the delegates addressed a remonstrance to the King in
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which they defended the position of the Convention and protested against the procedure of the
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stiff tempter and the presence of troops to intimidate the delegates. They asked that
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the management of Icelandic affairs be placed in the hands of native Icelanders enjoying the
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confidence of the people. That the functionary in Copenhagen who had to deal with
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Icelandic affairs be given seat and voice in the King's Cabinet, That a constitution
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for Iceland in harmony with the outline submitted by the majority of the Constitutional Committee
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and presented to a new constitutional convention chosen in the same manner as the one
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justice missed. This remonstrance was brought to Denmark by Joan Sigurdson and John Goodmunsen.
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An address was also directed to the Icelandic people defending the action of the
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Convention. The people, on their side, showed their approval of the course
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pursued by the Convention in resolutions sent to individual delegates and by addressing a petition
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to the King of similar contents as that sent by the Constitutional Committee, bearing
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two thy two hundred signatures, but these steps failed to elicit a favorable response
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from the government. On May twelve, eighteen fifty two, the King issued
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a manifesto to the Icelandic people denying the petition of the thirty six delegates.
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This document asserted that the views advanced by the delegates and shared by the signers
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of the petition were in conflict with the laws of the realm and would lead
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to the ruin of Iceland and the dissolution of the Danish monarchy. That under
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the existing confusion of ideas, it was not advisable to submit a new constitution.
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The all things should continue its sessions until the time arrived when the King
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should deem it advisable to make new regulations regarding Iceland's position in the realm.
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In accordance with this provision, elections of representatives to the new all Things were
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ordered, but none of the officials who had signed the petition of August tenth
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were to be chosen. On January twenty eighth of the same year, the
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King had issued a proclamation under pressure of the Great Powers, announcing that Slushbig
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would not be incorporated in the Danish Kingdom, that the duchies of Slushbig,
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Holstein and Laurenburg should have their own local assemblies of estates, and that a
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constitution would be granted for the whole realm. But the clamation contained no mention
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of Iceland. Under these circumstances, a meeting which was convened at king Bella
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under the leadership of Sarah Hannis Stevenson, addressed the petition to the all Thing
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of eighteen fifty three. As soon as the all Thing assembled, it sought
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again to bring the constitutional question to his successful termination by directing a new petition
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to the King, reminding him of the promises given in the rescript of September
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twenty three, eighteen forty eight, and in the Proclamation of January twenty eighth,
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eighteen fifty two, the petitioners prayed that, in presenting new proposals regarding
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Iceland's relation to the Realm, the King would grant the all Thing law making
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power in matters in which it already acted as an advisory body. That a
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local administrative government should be established at Reykivik, consisting of three officials who should
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have seats in the All Thing. That the number of judges and the jurisdiction
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of the Superior Court of Iceland should be increase, That Iceland might get a
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representation according to its population in the new Assembly to be established for the whole
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realm, and that an Icelandic Minister should be appointed. The petition was carefully
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and courteously worded and was approved by the Royal Commissioner Melstead, but the King
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again refused to grant the desired reforms in an address directed to the All Thing
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eighteen fifty five. The promise given in the Royal Rescript of September twenty three,
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eighteen forty eight had already been fulfilled by the assembling of the Constitutional Convention
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of eighteen fifty one. It was stated, but the principal reason for denying
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the petition was represented to be that such changes in the Icelandic constitution could not
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be granted because of the burdens which would be placed on the Icelandic people,
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and that Iceland contributed nothing to the general treasury of the Realm. Shortly after
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the adjournment of the All Things, the Danish government published on October two,
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eighteen fifty five, Constitution for the Whole Realm, together with the law governing
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the election of members of the Riggs Broad the new assembly of eighty members which
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was to represent the whole Danish monarchy. Iceland was not mentioned either in the
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Constitution or in the election law. The members of the Riggs Read were to
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be chosen from Denmark, sleashbig Holstein and Laurenberg, but even in the division
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of the realmantry election districts, no mention was made of Iceland, which was
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to be considered a Danish province. This view was clearly expressed in a work
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published by the Danish jurist J. E. Larsen October six, eighteen fifty
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five, entitled arm Islands hid till the Renda stats Religa Stilling, in which
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he attacks the position of the committee majority of eighteen fifty one, and attempts
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to prove that Iceland is an integral part of the Danish Kingdom. In reply,
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John Sigurdson wrote a work Islands and Stunts Stilling, in which he refutes
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with great clearness laws since whole reasoning and the premises on which it is based.
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But in spite of Cigosen's convincing arguments, the policy of the government with
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regard to Iceland remained unchanged. The Danish Rigsdag enacted regulations regarding Icelandic trade and
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debated the Icelandic budget without hearing the opinion of the all thing. Some measures
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were nevertheless passed which affected favorably the situation in Iceland. One cause which young
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Sigurdson had earnestly sought to promote was the improvement of Icelandic commercial intercourse, which
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was still under such restrictions that only citizens of the realm could engage in trade
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with Iceland. In his writings, he urged the necessity of making Icelandic trade
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free to all nations, of view which had first met with determined opposition in
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Denmark. Petitions were sent to the government from many parts of Iceland trading for
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the removed of restrictions on Icelandic trade. In answer to this growing demand,
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a law was finally passed April fifteen, eighteen fifty four, making Icelandic trade
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free to all nations, thus removing an economic yoke under which the people had
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suffered for centuries. Freedom of the press for Iceland was also established by a
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law of May nine, eighteen fifty five, after it had been introduced in
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Denmark in January eighteen fifty one, and in answer to a petition from the
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All Thing. A more liberal election law was published January sixth, eighteen fifty
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seven. In response to an all Thing petition, the King also granted in
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eighteen fifty nine that both the Danish and Icelandic texts of all laws for Iceland
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should be signed by the King. This was a matter of importance, as
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the people would have officially signed laws in their own language, instead of being
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subject to loose interpretations of laws written in a foreign tongue. The ownership of
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all recks thrown ashore, right of which the Icelanders had been deprived by a
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Royal ordinance of fifteen ninety five, was also restored to them. The reference
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to Iceland's economic condition and failure to share in the general burdens of the realm
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contained in the King's Address to the All Things eighteen fifty five raised new issues
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which further complicated the controversy which had developed between Denmark and Iceland. It became
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evident that in order to solve the constitutional conflict, it was necessary to make
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clear the financial relation between the two countries. What Iceland had paid or ought
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to pay to the General treasury could only be determined by careful analysis of Danish
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administration of Icelandic affairs. After eighteen twenty five, repeated complaints had been made
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by the government that there was a constant deficit in the Icelandic treasury, that
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the island was unable to pay its own expenses and had to receive aid from
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Denmark. But a little inquiry into the true status of affairs revealed that large
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SEMs derived from various Icelandic sources had been appropriated by Denmark without returns, depriving
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Iceland not only of her just belongings, but of resources of revenue. A
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fair adjustment of accounts would make Denmark the debtor and not the creditor on the
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financial balance sheet. Before the Reformation, Iceland had been self supporting. The
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expenses connected with maintaining her church establishment were paid from incomes derived from church lands
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and the revenues of the monasteries. For the current expenses of the all Thing
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and the local administration, adequate provision had also been made. After the Reformation,
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the King became the head of the church as well as of the state,
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and the government assumed the management of the church administration. The King issued
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several res groups stating that the incomes from the church estates should be used for
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the establishing and maintaining of schools. He expressly stated that the church lands belonged
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to the people of Iceland. The same attitude was taken also with regard to
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the revenues, funds and valuables of the cathedral, churches and monasteries. Whenever
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these passed under government supervision, a formal receipt was issued for them. Unfortunately,
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the incomes from the church lands were not devoted to the support of the
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Icelandic schools, as at first suggested, but were swept into the royal treasury.
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In sixteen seventy four, the King ordered Henrik Bijoka, Governor of Iceland,
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to sell the lands belonging to the Icelandic monasteries. This order was carried
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out and lands were sold for the amount of twenty four thy one hundred and
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sixty two rigs dollars. Other tracts belonging to the various monasteries were sold from
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time to time until eighteen sixty six. In a similar way, the valuables
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which at once belonged to the Catholic churches of Iceland as well as the church
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lands, were sold and the proceeds turned into the general treasury. When the
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Scalhold bishops seat was moved to Reykievic, the King issued of rescript April twenty
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nine, seventeen eighty five, ordering the church lands of the diocese to be
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sold for the benefit of the Royal treasury, with the proviso that the government
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should pay the bishop's salary and maintain the Latin School. By Royal Rescript of
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October two, eighteen oh one, the bishopric and Latin School of Holo were
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consolidated with the bishopricing Latin School of Reykievic, and the church lands of the
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old bishopric was sold in order to give better financial support to the new school
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and bishopric. The sale brought the amount of one hundred and twenty three thousand,
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one hundred and ninety nine rigs dollar, but this sum was not credited
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to Iceland on the budget. Cash funds of various kinds were also seized to
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these sums must further be added the greater share of the relief fund collected for
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the famine stricken people of Iceland in seventeen eighty four to seventeen eighty five,
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not every one fourth of which have been used for the relief of the self.
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The rest remained in the general treasury or was used for purposes of no
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interest to Iceland. The benefit derived by Danish citizens from the monopolized Icelandic trade
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and the economic losses suffered by the Icelanders due to that monopoly would also have
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to be considered. Even the direct proceeds from appropriated funds and sale of Icelanding
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property formed a capital which, according to the lowest possible estimates, amount the
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hundit and fifty thousand rigs dollar. Iceland's resources had thus remained in the hands
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of Denmark for centuries. The income derived from them was entered into the budget
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as Danish, not as Icelandic revenues, and as the officials connected with the
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church and civil administration drew their pay from the general treasury, it would naturally
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appear that Iceland did not pay her share in the expenses of the realm.
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What part of those expenses could be justly regarded as Iceland's share of the public
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burdens would also need to be determined, and would naturally have to be computed
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to some extent on the basis of the services rendered the country by the Danish
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government. These had often been very small, being usually limited to the sending
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of a governor and a few higher officials to Iceland. No defense had been
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provided against attacks of pirates and freebooters. The Icelandic coasts were unguarded, the
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people unarmed, and defenses without military protection of any sort. In time of
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war, Denmark had been unable to give Iceland any assistance, leaving the country
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to the mercy of the enemy. Economically, the Icelanders had derived even less
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benefit from Danish rule, as their trade had remained in the hands of the
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merchant companies, who made it impossible to foster home industries or develop Icelandic resources.
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It would therefore seem that Iceland's share of the public burdens would be limited
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to the expenses connected with maintaining her schools, her civil administration, and church
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establishment, burdens which the people were willing enough to care if the government would
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establish a legislative assembly and local administration and give them control of their own affairs.
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Political liberty was thus found to be so closely connected with economic independence that
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the Icelanders raised the demand for restitution of the funds and resources appropriated by Denmark,
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separation of finances and the organization of an independent Icelandic budget. In eighteen
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sixty one, a joint committee consisting of three Danes and two Icelanders was appointed
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to devise a plan for settling the financial question. Three different reports were submitted
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by this committee. Jan Sigurdson, who had first started the inquiry into the
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financial relations of the two countries and in articles published in Ny Belascrit, had
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thoroughly discussed the question, was a member and submitted a report of his own.
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He held that Iceland should receive yearly the sum of one hundred and nineteen
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thousand and twenty four rigs dollar in lieu of interest due on Icelandic funds in
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the general treasury, and that the Icelanders should pay proportionately their share of the
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Royal patternages of the expenses connected with the administration of the Joint Affairs of the
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Realm. Two other members, the Icelander add Gear Stevenson and the Dane May
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Your Sure Being, proposed a yearly payment to Iceland of twenty nine thousand,
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five hundred wigs dollar and later an additional twelve thousand, five hundred riggs dollar
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for a period of ten years, after which time the payments should be reduced
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five hundred rigs dollar a year. A third report by the two Danes,
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Berring and newts Shorn, proposed the payment of twelve thousand riggs dollar a year,
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and in addition yearly payments of thirty thousand briggs dollar for a period of
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six years, after which time these payments should be reduced two thousand briggs dollars
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a year. All members of the committee agreed that the of the Iceland finances
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from those of Denmark would be very desirable, but that this matter could be
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settled only in conjunction with the constitutional question. The all thing again petitioned the
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King that as soon as possible he would order new election of representatives to a
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convention to this petition, the King answered in an address to the All Thing
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June eighth, eighteen sixty three, that the question regarding an Icelandic constitution was
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so closely connected with the question regarding the finances of the country that the former
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could not be settled except in conjunction with the latter. He stated that a
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committee had been appointed in eighteen sixty one and had closed its labours in eighteen
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sixty two, that the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance would now
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deliberate regarding the financial question. Neither the question of the constitution nor that of
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finances was submitted to the all Thing of eighteen sixty three. The attempt of
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the government to unite the Duchies of Celsphig Holstein more firmly with the rest of
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the Danish monarchy by granting her constitution for the whole realm met with strong opposition
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from the European powers. So strong was their pressure brought to bear on Denmark
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in favor of the German population of the Duchies that on November sixth, eighteen
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fifty eighth, the government annulled the constitution so far as it applied to Holstein.
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And Laurenberg. The leaders who desired a strongly consolidated monarchy now planned to
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unite Schlusburg with Denmark, with the Eider River as the southern border of the
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realm. This program proved equally unwelcome to the powers, especially to the German
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states, but the government would make no further concessions. On September twenty eighth,
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eighteen sixty three, a joint constitution for Denmark and Schleshpig was submitted to
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the risks Rod. The Assembly proved it, but before it could be signed,
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King Frederic the seventh died and was succeeded by Christian ninth November fifteen,
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eighteen sixty four. Russia and Russia had protested against the new constitution, but
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the king signed it under pressure of a strong public sentiment in his kingdom.
30:08
As a result, the United Armies of Prussia and Austria entered the Duchies.
30:14
In the war which followed eighteen sixty four, Denmark was defeated and had to
30:18
see Schleswig, Holstein and Laurenberg about to fist of the area and population of
30:22
the realm. Thus spanished. Suddenly, the hope of the Danish leaders of
30:27
a strong centralized monarchy. The problem now confronting them was to save their country
30:33
from utter collapse. With this in view, the settlement of their constitutional question
30:37
had to be undertaken on the basis of the change condition in the realm.
30:42
The all Thing had repeatedly sent petitions to the King and Government in an effort
30:48
to bring about a solution of the constitutional controversy, but these were always denied.
30:53
The reasons assigned were either that no general settlement of the relation between the
30:59
various parts of the realm had yet been effected, or that the constitutional question
31:03
could not be solved so long as the financial problems still remained unsettled, as
31:08
in the answers returned in eighteen sixty one in eighteen sixty three, but the
31:14
change in national affairs after eighteen sixty four made the government more willing to listen
31:18
to the supplications of the Icelanders. In eighteen sixty five, the King submitted
31:23
to the all Thing a law proposing a settlement of the financial question, the
31:29
promise being given that as soon as this matter was arranged, the question of
31:33
a constitution would be considered. According to this proposal, Iceland was to receive
31:38
forty two thousand riggs dollars a year for twelve years. After that time,
31:44
the Danish riggsdog should fix the amount to be paid. This proposal was rejected
31:49
and the all Thing demanded that a constitutional convention should be assembled to frame a
31:55
constitution for Iceland containing provisions for the settlement of the financial question. On July
32:02
twenty eight, eighteen sixty six, a revived Danish constitution, prepared by a
32:07
committee of the riigs Rod under the direction of the Ministry, was signed by
32:13
the King. Iceland was not mentioned. Her relation to Denmark remained as undefined.
32:16
As before, no consutational convention was called in Iceland as requested, but
32:22
through the efforts of Hilmar Vinson stip Dan Meth of Iceland, a grandson of
32:30
Bishop Hannus Vinson, the question of a constitution for Iceland was nevertheless brought a
32:37
step near its solution. In eighteen sixty seven, the government submitted to the
32:42
all Thing a draft of a constitution proposing that Iceland should have its own legislative
32:46
assembly and the management of its local administration. The supervision of Icelandic affairs should
32:53
be placed in the hands of one of the ministers of the King's Cabinet.
32:57
The All Things should meet once every three year years. It should consist of
33:00
one chamber and should have the same number of representatives as before. In framing
33:06
laws regarding the common affairs of the realm, Iceland should have no voice.
33:10
Such laws should only be published to become effective. The proposal as a whole
33:15
was favorably received, but amendments to various provisions were submitted, according to which
33:21
the All Thing should meet once every two years, the bicameral system should be
33:25
established, and the number of representatives increased. Regarding the position of Iceland in
33:31
the realm, the All Thing held that instead of making Iceland a part of
33:36
the Kingdom of Denmark, as proposed in the submitted draft, it should be
33:39
a part of the Danish monarchy with individual rights as a distinct part of the
33:45
realm. The question as to what amount Iceland should contribute to the general budget
33:50
should not be decided by the King alone as proposed in the government draft,
33:54
but by the King in conjunction with the All Thing. And finally, it
33:59
was demanded that the officials in charge of administrative affairs in Iceland should be made
34:04
responsible to the All Thing regarding the financial settlement The government proposed to pay Iceland
34:10
a yearly sum a thirty seven thousand, five hundred wigs dollar and twelve thousand,
34:15
five hundred for a period of twelve years, the latter some to be
34:19
diminished by a five hundred Briggs dollar a year. The Old Thing, on
34:22
the other hand, asked a yearly sum of sixty thousand rigs dollar. It
34:28
is evident that the Old Thing, in suggesting the amendments, sought to be
34:30
as moderate as possible, and it was hoped that they would be accepted by
34:35
the government. The difference between the proposals regarding the financial settlement was so small
34:40
that in eighteen sixty eight emotion was introduced in the Danish Riggsdog to grant Iceland
34:46
a permanent yearly sum a fifty thousand Briggs dollar and a ten thousand dollar annuity
34:53
for a period of years. If negotiations have been continued in a conciliatory spirit,
35:00
a final agreement could probably have been reached. But some of the Danish
35:02
leaders had not yet learned that a union founded a mutual goodwill is stronger and
35:07
more enduring than an artificial compact of constitutional provisions based on distrust and injured national
35:15
sentiment. The bill proposing a settlement of the Icelandic financial question did not pass.
35:22
Or Lehmann, a FII patriotic Danish leader more noted for his eloquence than
35:27
for discretion and for political sagacity, said in discussing the measure that it had
35:32
perhaps never happened before that one had to beg and beseech a people, yes,
35:37
even promise them money, in order to move them to accept their liberty,
35:42
and the drilla landed. A leading Danish paper stated that the honor of
35:46
adding the picture of a codfish to the Danish coat of arms and to maintain
35:51
the union with an old Norwegian colony was dearly paid for. The attitude of
35:57
the Danish leaders toward Iceland was still that of dictation from above, a hostile
36:01
opposition to its national aspirations. After the opening of the All Things Session in
36:07
eighteen sixty nine, the Government Commissioner disputed the right of the three members to
36:13
do their seats in the Assembly, one of these being Jan Sigurdson, who
36:16
had constantly been re elected from the same district and who had repeatedly served as
36:22
President of the All Thing. With the exception of one member who did not
36:25
vote. The representatives unanimously resolved to seat the three members, and Yon Sigurdson
36:31
was again elected President of the Assembly. The Danish Brigsdag continued to discuss Icelandic
36:37
affairs and to propose plans for establishing the relation between the two countries without consulting
36:44
the Icelanders. In eighteen sixty nine, alt naw defining the relation of Iceland
36:50
to the realm was submitted to the All Things Together with the Constitution outlining the
36:54
administration of Icelandic local affairs, but both proposals rejected as wholly unacceptable. A
37:01
bill was then passed by the Danish Riggsdog January eighteen seventy one defining Iceland's relation
37:08
to the realm. He declared that Iceland was an in alien mole part of
37:15
the Danish Kingdom, but that it should have its own government in purely domestic
37:20
affairs. The Royal Treasury should grant Iceland an annuity of thirty thousand riggs dollar
37:25
and an additional twenty thousand Briggs dollar for ten years, the latter sum to
37:30
decrease by one thousand riggs dollars yearly until it ceased to be paid. The
37:37
Danish Oster, it should be the highest judicial tribunal, but in other respects
37:43
the domestic suits should be separated from those of Denmark. As this law was
37:47
to become effective April one, eighteen seventy one, it was evident that it
37:52
could not be submitted to the All Thing that the question was to be settled
37:55
without reference to the wish of the Icelanders, which would violate even the constitutional
38:02
right of that Assembly to act as an advisory body. When the All Thing
38:07
that in eighteen seventy one it received notice of the passage of this law,
38:12
and the draft of a constitution was also submitted. The committee appointed to consider
38:16
these measures return to reports. The majority held that the law of eighteen seventy
38:22
one did not concern the Icelanders as it was only a Danish proclamation. The
38:28
constitutional draft was also found to be unsatisfactory, especially the features that the Icelandic
38:34
Minister should reside in Copenhagen and that the highest official in Iceland should be responsible
38:38
to him and not to the All Thing. Some amendments were therefore proposed,
38:44
the most important being the highest executive officials should reside in Iceland and should be
38:49
responsible to the All Things. The minority agreed with the majority on most points,
38:53
and as they hoped to bring about a settlement of the constitutional controversy,
38:58
they maintained an attitude of compromise and reconciliation. They would not refuse to accept
39:04
the law of eighteen seventy one and would be satisfied with a minister residing in
39:08
Copenhagen. The majority report was adopted by the All Thing, but the minority
39:13
report was also submitted. The government would not accept the proposals of the All
39:19
Thing and decided to let the matter rest for a while. The arbitrary spirit
39:22
in which the Danish authorities continued to deal with Icelandic affairs could only increase the
39:28
bitterness of the struggle and strengthen the Icelandic opposition. Ordinances were passed without paying
39:34
any attention to the All Thing. Judges of the Icelandic Superior Court were appointed
39:38
without consulting the Icelanders. In eighteen seventy two, a new office, that
39:43
of Lands of Inga or Governor of Iceland, was created without consulting the All
39:50
Thing or the wishes of the people. Acts of this kind showed that the
39:53
old bureaucratic despotism, though moved by good intention, and draped in new constitutional
39:59
forms not yet been regenerated by a truly democratic spirit. Before a real settlement
40:05
of the controversy could be effected, the old Eurocacy would have to learn to
40:08
bow to the will of the people and do homage to the spirit of a
40:13
new age. The growing discontent in Ice unbound expression in numerous petitions addressed to
40:19
the King upholding the all Thing and denouncing the Law of eighteen seventy one.
40:22
Numerous local meetings were also convened to discuss the pending questions and to express the
40:28
demand for an autonomous local government. A society of Friends of the people was
40:32
organized to defend the country's rights and to further its interests with all available means.
40:38
The press of the country was divided into two camps. The two oldest
40:42
and most widely read papers, the yor f and the n Anfari, as
40:49
well as the knee Bella scrit founded by Yan Sigursen and the gngu Luth edited
40:55
by the poet Jan Ullufsen, champion the cause without compromise, while the paper
41:01
Timmin, founded in eighteen seventy one, was more neutral, and the vic
41:07
ver G founded in eighteen seventy three was a government organ edited by Paul Milsted
41:13
counselor in the Superior Court and Jan Jansen's secretary of the Land show INGI.
41:20
The government threatened the editor of the the or for John governmentsen councilor in the
41:25
Superior Court that his lawyer's permit would be revoked. Jan Olifsen, editor of
41:30
the Balder and later of the gungu Ulo, was repeatedly prosecuted and fined,
41:37
but the fines were always paid by his patriot friends, until finally he was
41:40
forced to leave Iceland to avoid new prosecutions, and his papers ceased to appear.
41:46
The North Thunbury advocated that the Icelanders should try to enlist the sympathy of
41:52
other nations or seek union with some other country. If they failed in this
41:55
attempt, they should emigrate to America to escape the oppression of the overlordship.
42:00
Brazil and North America were praised as lands of freedom, and a movement of
42:05
emigration was set on foot, which soon carried thousands of Icelanders to the United
42:09
States and Canada after eighteen seventy This emigration continued to grow from year to year,
42:15
but it must be ascribed to economic rather than to political conditions, as
42:19
most of the emigrants were poor people from impoverished districts where suffering was general.
42:24
In eighteen seventy four, a millennial festival was to be celebrated in Iceland and
42:30
commemoration of the colonization of the country. A farmer suggested that this festival should
42:35
be made an occasion of national mourning and farewell a emigrating people. A provost
42:39
in the Church of Iceland wrote begging the people to wait one more year to
42:44
see if the king would grant the long expected constitution for this great event,
42:47
and to leave the country only if this last hope was disappointed. Societies were
42:52
founded, the members of which pledged themselves not to taste distill liquors in order
42:57
that the government might not derive any revenue from these. On New Year's Night,
43:02
the students of Reikievic marched through the streets singing the icelanding Brogger, a
43:08
bitter political poem, because it's author of the poet, Jan Olufsen, had
43:14
been prosecuted. Demonstrations were also made in front of the home of the stip
43:19
ten Mathler Hillman Benson. On April one, eighteen seventy three, the day
43:22
on which he was to assume the new office of land sho Finghi, a
43:28
black flag was found fastened to the flag pool in front of his south bearing
43:31
the inscription down with the lands Ingy, so that it was the popular feeling
43:38
that no one ventured to show him any public attention. On June twenty sixth,
43:44
eighteen seventy three, a public assembly was convenient Thingbler, consisting of thirty
43:49
five representatives from the various districts of Iceland, members of the all Thing and
43:52
many people from all Iceland came to attend this meeting, among others also Yan
43:58
Sigurtsen, who arrived from Copenhagen. Jan Goodmansen was elected chairman of the meeting,
44:04
and only the chosen representatives could have the right to vote. Nineteen petitions
44:08
from various districts regarding the constitutional question were submitted. The committee appointed to consider
44:15
these drafted a complete outline of a constitution, declaring, among other things,
44:20
that Iceland was a free and independent country united with Denmark under a common king,
44:24
and that a bill should become a law when it had been passed three
44:29
times by the all Thing unaltered, even if the king did not sign it.
44:34
Jan Sigretson and Jan Goodminson opposed these declarations strongly. They argued that such
44:39
a plan could not be carried out, that Iceland could be a free country,
44:43
even if it had some things in common with Denmark. To those who
44:46
understood affairs of government, has seemed dangerous to break completely with Denmark. Danish
44:52
merchants have indeed depressed the Icelanders, said the speakers. But if we had
44:57
established close relations with other nations, the situation would probably not have been different.
45:02
The first draft of a petition to be submitted to the King expressed strongly
45:07
the excited feelings of the people, but the arguments of Sigurdson and Goodminson made
45:12
such impression that a new draft was prepared in a more modified tone. Even
45:16
this was so radical that Yon Sigurdson refused to present it in Yon Goodminson agreed
45:22
to do so only if it received the sanction of the All Thing. It
45:25
was feared that the strong party feeling which had developed during this period of excitement
45:30
would bring about violent clashes within the All Thing when it again assembled, But
45:35
instead the men representing different views sought to become reconciled, and an unexpected unanimity
45:42
prevailed in the Assembly. It was agreed to ask the King to grant the
45:45
country a constitution which would give the All Thing full legislative power and control of
45:51
Icelandic finances. In answer to this petition, the King issued a Constitution Dune
45:55
five, eighteen seventy four, granting legislative power to the All Thing and establishing
46:00
self government for Iceland in domestic affairs. The manner in which this constitution and
46:07
the Law of eighteen seventy one were issued did not please the Icelanders, as
46:10
they were not allowed to participate in the framing of the new fundamental laws,
46:15
except in so far as they had expressed their wishes and petitions to the King.
46:20
On many points, the measures did not grant what the people desired,
46:23
but the most important demands had nevertheless been realized. The Icelanders were given control
46:29
of their own finances. The number of representatives and the All Thing was increased,
46:34
and the bicameral system was established. The All Thing was to consist of
46:38
thirty six members, six appointed by the King and thirty elected by the people.
46:43
The Upper House e fy D should have twelve members, six appointed by
46:47
the King and six chosen by the elected members from their own number. The
46:52
remaining twenty four representatives constituted the Lower House or neft three deal. The Assembly
46:59
was to meet on the first workday in July in Reikievic every other year for
47:04
six weeks. Special sessions could be called at the King's pleasure. The King
47:08
could also dissolve the All Thing and order new elections. Nobil could become a
47:14
law without his signature. Bills might be introduced in either branch of the Assembly,
47:17
and the parliamentary procedure was to be the same as in other modern legislative
47:22
bodies. The executive power in domestic who was not made responsible to the All
47:28
Thing but to the Minister for Icelandic affairs in Copenhagen. Iceland was not represented
47:32
in the rigsdog, had no voice in the general affairs of the realm,
47:37
and paid no part of the national expenditures. The Lutheran Church was recognized as
47:42
the state Church. The liberty of conscience was granted to all inhabitants. Titles
47:45
and privileges of nobility were abolished, sanctity of the home, security of private
47:51
property, freedom from forced labor, freedom of the press, of association,
47:55
assembly and rights of municipal government were guaranteed. The Icelandic government was thus very
48:01
limited in power. The King's absolute veto in legislation and the responsibility of the
48:07
governor to a minister residing in Copenhagen were especially objectionable features. Much would depend
48:14
on the goodwill of the lands showing Dinga and the minister, and the extent
48:19
to which they would respect the decisions of the all thing. The new election
48:25
law, passed September fourteen, eighteen seventy seven, divided the country into nineteen
48:30
election districts, of which eight elected one representative beat the others too. Suffrage
48:37
was granted to all male citizens not servants twenty five years of age who had
48:40
lived one year in the election district and were paying a tax of eight kroner
48:45
a year, as farmers or citizens of towns or as peasants were paying a
48:50
yearly tax of twelve kroner. Further, also to all graduates of the University
48:54
of Copenhagen and of the Theological Seminary and medical school of Raikievic to office for
49:00
all voters thirty years of age who had resided in the European part of the
49:05
Danish realm for a period of five years. The Millennial Festival could now be
49:09
celebrated as an event of rejoicing over the new era of autonomy and national progress
49:15
to which the Icelanders could look hopefully forward. As the Constitution should become effected
49:21
August one, eighteen seventy four, the celebration of arranged for this occasion would
49:25
have the double purpose of commemorating the thousandth anniversary of the settlement of the country
49:31
and of inaugurating the new national government. This great event was made memorable also
49:37
by the visit of the King of Denmark, Christian the Ninth, who sailed
49:39
to Iceland to take part in the festivities and bring the people his personal greetings.
49:45
Delegation from many foreign lands from Sweden, Norway, France, Germany and
49:50
the United States and England also arrived in Reikievik. On August two, commemorative
49:54
services were held in the cathedral, where Bishop Peterson preached the American poet Bayard
50:00
Taylor, who was present on this occasion. Rights lights were burning in the
50:05
chandeliers, on the altar and between the pillars. Wreaths of heather decorated the
50:10
walls, schires and galleries, and there was a glow of flowers around Baldson's
50:15
baptismal font. The dull red of the walls and dark panels of the wooden
50:21
ceiling harmonized well with these simple adornments. The building wore an aspect of cheerful
50:27
solemnity, becoming the occasion. The seats filled rapidly during the chant, men
50:32
and women sitting together as they could find places. Then the service commenced after
50:37
the ancient Lutheran fashion. In fact, it was nearly an exact repetition of
50:42
that which we have seen in Shaven, except that the Icelandic language was used.
50:47
The hymns were simply and grandly sung, and the Psalm of Praise,
50:52
written by Matthias Yulkinsen and composed by Spine Bjornsen, the first musical by a
51:00
native Icelander, Anto, produced a powerful effect. In whichever direction I looked,
51:05
I saw eyes filled with tears. The repetition of their frame islands Pace
51:09
under Islands thousand years running through the cathedral tones, which were solemn rather than
51:15
proud, and gave expression to the earnest religious spirit in which the people had
51:20
come together. The services were followed by a banquet in the Hall of the
51:24
College, where the King spoke, expressing the hope that the people would be
51:29
satisfied with the constitution he had granted them. Enclosing with the toast long lived
51:34
Old Iceland, the band struck in with the cheers that followed, and the
51:37
ships thundered their salute from the harbor. In the evening, a popular festival
51:43
was celebrated on the hill of Ask you lived near the city. A rostrom
51:47
for speaking had been erected attempt for the king, and two thousand people were
51:52
assembled. An elaborate program was carried out with singing and speaking. Admiral lager
51:58
Krantz spoke for Sweden, the author Nora Dahl Rothson for Norway, and Bayyard
52:04
Taylor for the United States. The former part of the program was followed by
52:07
popular marrymaking consisting of dancing and fireworks. The King and his party and the
52:13
foreign representatives also visited the guysers of Iceland and took part in a public festival
52:19
at dean Beller, where greetings were read from the universities of Copenhagen, Uppsella
52:23
Lund and Christiania, from students societies in Denmark and Norway. From Norwegian patriotic
52:30
societies and from the Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen, which acknowledged the great
52:36
sculptor for vaults and to be an Icelander, Bayard Taylor, brought the greetings
52:40
of America in a poem written for the occasion. At the door of the
52:45
pavilion, a chorus sang a song Many Korns of Thing vella written by Matthias
52:51
Jakinsen. A banquet was then served and the king and his Smarti returned to
52:55
Reikiavik. Better days had at last on or Iceland. Politically, the people
53:00
had won recognition of their rights as a distinct nation. A new spirit of
53:06
enterprise and national self consciousness had been awakened. Economic conditions were improving, and
53:12
export and import trade had increased after the commercial monopoly was abolished. This shows
53:17
that the export of important commodities like fish, train oil, meat, skins,
53:22
feathers, and eider down had increased extensively. The decrease in the export
53:27
of tallow was due to the fact that people now sold it to the fishermen
53:31
instead of bringing it to the merchants. In spite of the decrease in the
53:36
sale of some commodities of less importance, the total volume of the export trade
53:40
was growing. Of still greater benefit to Iceland was the change effected in the
53:45
relation of prices between imported and exported goods. In eighteen forty nine, a
53:50
barrel of rye flour cost eighty nine point six kilograms, of dried codfish in
53:54
eighteen seventy two cost only forty fourth kilograms. In eighteen forty nine, a
54:00
barrel of rye flower was in exchange for thirty nine point five pounds of wool,
54:05
in eighteen seventy two for fifteen point two pounds. Because of this favorable
54:09
change in prices, importation increased in value much faster than exportation, and the
54:15
people were better able than hitherto to procure the staple commodities. The increase in
54:21
number of ships arriving in Icelandic harbors also shows a considerable growth in trade and
54:27
intercourse. During the period of eighteen fifty sixty five to eighteen seventy two,
54:31
the trade with Denmark was decreasing, while the traffic with other countries was constantly
54:37
growing. In eighteen seventy two, many ships from England and Scotland also began
54:40
to arrive in Iceland to purchase forces, an article of export, which from
54:45
this time forth became of increasing importance. Reikievik had now become the chief trading
54:52
center in Iceland, with ice of fuel as second in rank. Another evidence
54:59
of the general progress was the steady growth of population. In eighteen seventy Iceland
55:04
had seventy thousand, thirty one inhabitants, an increase of three thousand and forty
55:08
three since eighteen sixty. End of Chapter sixteen, Part two,