Justamentnicht-Regieren

Abstract

After 1838 the conference hardly ever met in regular sessions. Ludwig and Kolowrat almost never attended, thus reducing its procedure to written reports and decisions. Ludwig increasingly adopted Emperor Franz’s favorite “Kabinettsweg”, the ultimate perversion of orderly government ¹. Tension between the two rivals was “stronger than ever”, Kübeck reported when yet another reform scheme by Kolowrat had failed, early in 1839 ². The latter still employed what Kübeck called “the worn-out, ridiculous threat of resignation” with “unvaryingly incredible success” to impose his will on Ludwig. In at least one instance he thus enforced a currupt government contract concluded by Eichhoff ³.