I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient
servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington.
[Translation.]
Gentlemen: It is with extreme gratitude to
Divine Providence that, in opening the present legislative session,
I am able to announce to you that the condition of the country may
be considered generally satisfactory.
Our relations with foreign powers continue on the most favorable
footing.
The land and naval forces of the mother country, and in our colonial
possessions, continue to afford me reason for satisfaction.
Although the condition of our East India possessions is in many
respects satisfactory, I deeply regret that a violent epidemic has
committed ravages in Java, and it is my most ardent desire to hear
soon that this malady has ceased to afflict that colony.
The results of the emancipation of the slaves in our West India
colonies are not unfavorable, if compared with those which an
analogous measure has entailed elsewhere.
The administrative regulations of the government of the colonies of
Surinam and Curaçoa will be again submitted to you for
deliberation.
I shall have recourse to your assistance in the establishment of the
tariffs of import and export duties, and of transit dues, to be
introduced in the Netherland Indies, and to regulate various
questions affecting industrial and agricultural enterprises
there.
Great developments are taking place in public works. The corps of the
engineers of roads and bridges fulfils, with laudable zeal, duties
which have of late acquired great extension. A revision of this
important branch of administration, to conform to existing
exigencies, has been prepared.
The construction of the State railway is being regularly continued.
The returns from those portions open to traffic exceed previous
calculations. Conventions for the connexion of our railways with
foreign lines have been concluded with the neighboring states. New
concessions will give the Netherland network of railways an
extension which will require fresh labors upon the roads and at the
maritime ports.
I observe with much satisfaction that the execution of the law for
middle-class education is everywhere received with lively interest
and frank co-operation.
The results of the harvest have proved better than was at one time
expected. The returns from the deep-sea, river, and coast fisheries
have been good; but many lives have unfortunately fallen victims to
storms.
Our trade continues in active development.
Although the state of war in which several countries are engaged may
have exercised an unfavorable influence upon commerce, it is
satisfactory to observe that ship-building is on the increase among
us.
[Page 325]
Bills regulating medical supervision, the commercial guards, and
military quarters, will be again laid before you.
The bill for the code of examination in criminal cases, which is
intended to replace the code now in operation, will also be
submitted to you for deliberation.
The state of our finances will allow of provision being made for the
requirements of the public service, and for continuing the
redemption of the public debt.
Bills for the complete suppression of the city toils, and for other
undertakings of a financial character, will be laid before you
during the present session, as well as bills regulating the method
of keeping the accounts of the national finances.
May the important labors to which the present session summons us
tend, under God’s blessing, to the great prosperity of the
country.
I declare the ordinary session of the States-General open.
