Mr. Wright to Mr.
Seward.
No. 47.]
Legation of the United States,
Berlin,
August 6, 1866.
Sir: It gives me pleasure to state that one
among the first acts of his Majesty, on his return to Berlin, was to
pardon Simon Israel and give him his discharge.
Enclosed is a copy of his Majesty’s address to the Chambers, accompanied
with a brief English abstract of the contents.
The King’s remarks on the past difficulties between the Crown and
Parliament, relative to carrying on the government without the annual
budget of appropriations, in connection with the implied admission that
it was a violation of
[Page 39]
law and
requires some legislation by way of indemnification, is regarded as
quite a concession from the Crown.
To-morrow, at Prague, the ministers on the part of both Prussia and
Austria are to assemble, to commence the adjustment of all unsettled
matters between the two countries. As the important questions have
already been agreed upon before the armistice, there can be no doubt
that the conference at Prague will be successful.
The question, arising relative to the formation of the southern German
confederacy, what relation it is to hold to Prussia as the head of the
northern, in connection with the military power, territorial rights, and
sovereignty of the different states—all these (as well as those
necessarily connected with them) are to be adjusted, settled, and agreed
upon at Berlin.
This conference will soon assemble at Berlin, and will be composed of
representatives from all the German states.
All hostilities between the armies have ceased, but we will doubtless
have a war for months, and even years, of ink and paper.
I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[Untitled]
Abstract of the
King’s address to the Prussian Chambers, August 5, 1866.
After returning thanks to Almighty God for great successes in the
field, and congratulating the nation upon the military prowess of
the Prussian army, the King ventured to hope that the fruits of the
war will be matured by Crown and Parliament in mutual co-operation
and in harmonious accord. He then proceeds to say that the excellent
condition of the public finances (the result of many years’ economy)
has enabled him to carry on the war without applying for loans. He
desires Parliament, however, to vote some extraordinary supplies in
order to enable the government to pay for all articles furnished in
accordance with law for the sustenance of the army by the different
local communities. The King then recognizes that as no budget (or
annual appropriation in accordance with the constitution) has been
agreed upon between Crown and Parliament for some years past,
intimating thereby the Crown had no legal authority to expend the
public money. Notwithstanding this admission he says: “The Crown and
Cabinet thought it their imperative duty to carry on the public
administration, for to have acted differently would have imperilled the existence of the state
itself,” and, therefore, asks a bill of indemnity for the
past illegal expenditures. His Majesty then briefly adds his hope
that the conflict existing heretofore between the Crown and
Parliament will be more easily settled in the future, inasmuch as
the extension of Prussian territory and the embodiment of many of
the minor state troops with the Prussian army, will alleviate the
military burden of the Prussian people, which has been so long
objected to by Parliament. Bills for the organization of a common
representation of the states comprised in the new confederacy (which
his Majesty intimates will be called a “United Confederacy”) will be
immediately submitted to your consideration. We are deeply conscious
of the importance of the events that called us together at this
time, and in which the whole country feels
the deepest interest. May the blessing of Heaven be with us in the
future, as it has been in the past.
