Mr. Campbell to Mr. Seward
No. 31.]
Legation of the United States,
Stockholm,
November 15, 1865.
Sir: I have the honor to enclose the address of
his Swedish Majesty to the Diet upon the assembling of that body on the
24th ultimo, with a translation thereof. Herewith will also be found a
pamphlet copy of a proposition for the reform of the representation,
which was laid before the Swedish Diet of 1863 and brought up for action
at the present session.
[Page 207]
According to usage, this proposition must be discussed and accepted or
rejected without amendment at the present Diet.
The King, on the opening of the legislative chambers, called the
attention of the members of the assembly to this project of reform, and
urged its adoption with distinctness.
The proposition, embracing a radical change in the organization of the
Swedish Diet, proposes to consolidate the four chambers of which the
Diet is composed into two—a first chamber and a second chamber, the
members of the first chamber to be elected by provincial assemblies and
municipal authorities of the towns, for the period of nine years; the
second chamber to be composed of members elected for three years by
county jurisdictions, whereof those possessing a population under forty
thousand shall elect one member, and those exceeding that number shall
be districted by the King on the basis of one member to each forty
thousand inhabitants.
These are the noticeable features of the project. It may readily be
understood that so radical a change as the one contemplated in the
organic law has given rise to much discussion and no little apprehension
on the part of the public. It is urged by the friends of reform that the
consolidation of the four chambers into two is necessary to meet the
requirements of progress which the present cumbersome machinery retards,
and that a privileged and numerous body, such as the present House of
Nobles, looking more to the interest of their order, as well as to an
obsolete past, than to necessary legislation, and drawing to their
support the clergy on most questions of a vital nature, fail to meet the
exigencies of an industrial and practical age. On the other hand, it is
said the House of Nobles acts as a check upon what is termed the
radicalism of the times, and is necessary under a monarchial form of
government to the security of the throne itself.
The next month will probably determine the fate of the proposed measure,
which at present is involved in much doubt, although the prevailing
opinion is that it will be defeated. A modification by way of compromise
may be agreed to and submitted to an extraordinary Diet convoked for its
consideration.
There is apprehension on the part of the public that, in the event of the
failure of the contemplated reform, indignation may be followed by
revolution; but this I think improbable.
The government has presented the budget to the chambers for one year
only, and not for three consecutive years, as has heretofore been the
case. This departure from established rule may meet with opposition, as
it is affirmed by many to be without precedent and unconstitutional. The
explanation given by some of the friends of the government is, that they
hope to carry the reform bill this session; hence the inutility of a
further demand on the public purse at present.
I shall take care to keep the department informed on the subject as
further developments occur.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, &c., &c.,
&c.
[Translation.]
Discourse of the
King at the opening of the Diet,
October 24, 1865.
Sirs: Grave interests and duties which
impose a high responsibility call you to this session. May the All
Powerful, whose divine protection we have just implored in the
temple, preside over your works, and cause to issue from them the
good of the country. We cannot but recognize with gratitude the
happiness, without marked interruption, with which the roya house
and Swedish people have been blessed. The union of my brother, the
Prince of [Page 208] Dakarlia, with
the princess of the noble house of Saxe-Altenburg, and the birth of
my nephew, the Duke of Nericia, form a happy increase of the royal
family.
In the midst of disease and often alarming phases of the last five
years we have constantly been blessed with the benefits of peace,
and my relations with all foreign powers conserve the character of
friendship and confidence.
The public enthusiasm which marked the celebration of the
semi-centennial jubilee of the union of Sweden and Norway, in
echoing equally from both sides of the mountains, proves that the
ties which unite the people-brothers tighten more and more each
day.
The commission of Swedes and Norwegians named by me to deliberate on
the means of introducing ameliorations in the compact of union has
commenced its labors.
The first of your duties will be to decide definitely, after
conscientious examination, on the adoption of my proposition for a
reform of the national representation. To ask an existing
representation to renounce its rights, in full liberty of action and
will, and to give up to others the glorious task of being the
mandatories of the country, is to have a great confidence in his
patriotism. I have thus a high idea of that with which you are
animated in announcing the hope that you will accept this project,
in the adoption of which I shall see a new guarantee of social
progress.
In consequence of the decisions adopted by the general states at
their last reunion, the new penal code, the maritime code, and the
law on bankruptcies have received their application, (gone into
effect.) In the conviction that the important changes introduced
simultaneously to this effect should not be followed too rapidly by
reforms in other principal branches of our legislation which should
be revised, I will only propose to you during the present diet
partial amelioration of existing laws.
I have concluded with his Majesty the Emperor of the French treaties
of commerce and navigation, which, so far as they relate to Sweden,
will be submitted in their entirety to your approbation. These
treaties have not only liberated our navigation from different
changes, but have also facilitated the sale of several of our
principal products. The concessions which, at the instance of other
powers, we have made to France consist principally in a reduction
justly due to the consumers of the duties attached to certain
merchandise, at the same time maintaining a tax upon them which
corresponds to the just measure of protection accorded to our
national industries. By the treaties concluded in this regard with
foreign powers considerable reductions have been made in the
transmission of letters and telegrams abroad, and a new telegraphic
cable between Skona and the island of Rugen offers us the certainty
of not seeing ourselves deprived by sudden circumstances of this
important way of communication with the continent. As the natioaal
representation should meet annually according to the terms of the
project on. which you are called to decide, the budget which I will
submit to you only contains the extraordinary expenses for the year
subsequent to those for whose wants the last diet has already
provided. If the provisions on which this proposition rests should
not be realized, I have still the means of bringing before the
general states in an opportune moment the necessary propositions for
the following years.
Although important reductions have been made in the custom-house
duties, and though the progress made in every sense by the country
exact new allocations, you will be satisfied, by an examination of
the calculations of the revenues of state, that they will amply
suffice to cover the necessary expenses.
I have caused to be prepared complete plans for the organization of
the army and the marine, calculated after the measure of our
resources and the exigencies of our epoch, and I have approved of
these plans in their principal parts. Your concurrence and also the
allocations resulting from the adoption of these plans are
indispensable to their being put in execution.
In reposing on the views manifested by the general states, I have
accorded to industry an almost illimited liberty. The salutary
influence that it will exercise in the future can be judged of with
more certainty as its inauguration has not been accompanied with any
sudden disturbance of existing relations. Liberal principles have
equally received a more general application in other respects, for
the facilities of distributing capital as well as for the conditions
of the circulation of money, and for the establishment of
institutions of credit.
Public instruction has been the object of my incessant solicitude.
This work of the future becomes greater every day in importance as
well as in extent. The number of pupils in the superior schools has
been almost doubled during these last years; ameliorations have been
introduced as much in the government of these schools as in the
manner of teaching. I have united my efforts to yours to realize
more and more the great idea of general primary instruction. I have
at heart the desire of giving a solid and intelligent education to
the population and to spread these benefits to the less fortunate
classes.
Perfected institutions will equally furnish the best means of
development to the national industry, and will place it on a basis
more just, and more conformable to the interests of society, which
restrictive laws and a system of onerous protection would fail to
accomplish. I count with confidence on your co-operation for the
encouragement of our industries; and in order to propagate the
knowledge of their progress in all branches, I have decided that
next summer a general exhibition of the products of the arts and
industry of Sweden, and of the neighboring Countries, will be opened
in the capital.
The obstructions which arise at all times from great distances have
been more and more [Page 209]
overcome by the multiplied works which tend to facilitate in every
sense communications between the different parts of the country. Our
railroads have taken an extension which, seeing the population of
Sweden and its financial resources, can be compared to that which
has been executed in the richer and more populated countries. After
having effected the junction of the two seas, and having brought
ourselves nearer to the great European continent, I think it will be
well to concentrate our forces on the accomplishment of railroads
which are destined to connect the capitals of the two united
kingdoms, in order to bring the people-brothers to each other.
Conforming to the tenor of the fundamental law, I declare the present
session opened, in assuring you, sirs, of all my royal good
will.
