Karl Marx

*Neue Rheinische Zeitung*  
Nr. 149, 22 November 1848  

* Cologne, November 21. Who stands on legal ground, Chief President Eichmann or the editors of the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung*? Who is to set foot on the prison ground—the editors of the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung* or Chief President Eichmann? This question is currently before the Public Ministry Zweiffel for decision. Will the Public Ministry Zweiffel side with the Brandenburg Ministry, or will Chief Public Prosecutor Zweiffel, as an old contributor to the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung*, take the part of his colleagues? This question is currently before the public for decision.

The *Neue Rheinische Zeitung* insisted on the withholding of taxes prior to the decision of the National Assembly; it was acting legally before the legislative power. And if this anticipation of legality is an illegality, then the editorial board of the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung* stood on illegal ground for six full days. Mr. Zweiffel could have instituted an inquisition for six days, but on the seventh day he would have had to rest from his inquisitionary zeal.

On the seventh day, however, after the work of creation was accomplished and Mr. Zweiffel had celebrated the Sabbath, and the National Assembly had raised the refusal of taxes into law, President Eichmann turned to Mr. Zweiffel to institute an inquisition against those who had called for the refusal of taxes. Who called for the refusal of taxes? The editorial board of the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung* or the National Assembly in Berlin? Whom is Mr. Zweiffel to arrest—his old colleagues, the deputies in Berlin, or his old collaborators, the editors of the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung*, or the prefect, Mr. Eichmann? Mr. Zweiffel has so far arrested no one.

Karl Marx

We therefore move that another Zweiffel arrest Mr. Zweiffel, because before the Sabbath he did not arrest the editors of the *Neue Rheinische Zeitung*, and after the Sabbath he did not arrest Mr. Eichmann.