Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session of the Thirty-ninth Congress

Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.

No. 322.]

Legation of the United States, Brussels, December 11, 1865.

Sir: The funeral of the King is fixed for the 16th instant, his seventy-sixth birthday. His remains will be brought to the palace in this city to-morrow, and be exposed in state for three days.

The day after the funeral the new King will make his solemn entry from Laeken, proceed to the palace of the nation, to take, as Leopold II, and in presence of the Chambers united in general assembly, the oath prescribed by the constitution; after which he will take possession of the Royal Palace, and receive the diplomatic corps and the constituted authorities of the states.

Meanwhile, according to article seventy-nine of the constitution, the council of ministers will exercise, in the name of the Belgian people, the constitutional powers of the King, and upon their responsibility.

The fact that this interregnum can be made without exciting any apprehension speaks well for the strength of the country and the attachment to them of the people.

Upon the opening of the sessions of the senate and of the house to-day, Mr. Rogier announced, on behalf of the ministers, the death of the King; after which both houses adjourned till after the funeral.

I enclose a translation copy of M. Rogier’s communication, and of the replies of the president of the senate and of the house.

I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,

H. J. SANFORD.

Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.

Session of the Senate.

[Translation.]

M. Rogier, minister of foreign affairs. Gentlemen: We come to accomplish the painful mission of announcing to the senate the death of the illustrious and ever popular chief of the great Belgian family.

The sadness is profound among our people who, overwhelmed with regrets for the past, are strengthened by their entire confidence in the future.

The emotion caused is not confined within the limits of the country; everywhere in foreign countries, where the name of the King was universally respected, are manifested, with the expression of the highest esteem for the reign which closes, the most sympathetic good wishes for the reign which commences.

The heir of the throne will soon come to the chambers in general assembly to take the constitutional oath, which he will keep with the same fidelity as his august father. Your patriotic and unanimous concourse given henceforward to Leopold II will permit him, gentlemen, to continue and to strengthen the national work so gloriously pursued by Leopold I, and so to assure to Belgium new days of liberty, peace, and prosperity.

The President. Gentlemen: In presence of the sad event which covers Belgium with mourning, and of our profound emotion, the senate will perhaps judge proper to enter upon no discussion of public business until after the session of the two chambers in general assembly, before which the new King, upon whom all our hopes are centred, will come to take the constitutional oath.

I have the honor to propose to you, gentlemen, that the whole senate take part in the funeral of our venerated monarch, which will be on the 16th of this month.

The seriate, always so devoted to national institutions, will give its patriotic concourse to the strengthening of our dynasty, to the extension of the prosperity of our dear country, and to the consolidation of its independence.

[Translation.]

In the house of representatives, after the same communication from M. Rogier, the president replied—

Gentlemen: I am certain of being the faithful interpreter of our assembly, when I say that the house of representatives receives with the profoundest grief the communication which has just been made to it of the immense loss sustained by the country. In these mournful circumstances, let us give the signal of national mourning by interrupting, for a time, our labors.

We shall have, later, the occasion to manifest our firm will to render, with the whole country, to our new King unanimous sentiments of sincere attachment and devoted loyalty.

I have therefore the honor to propose to the house to suspend its sessions until ulterior convocation, and to charge the Chair with this duty, as well as that of taking such urgent measures as circumstances may demand. No one claiming the floor, these propositions are adopted.