Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The chambers have adjourned for the holidays; the house to the 16th proximo. Before adjourning the civil list of the King was increased by unanimous vote, save one, without discussion, from $550,000 (in round numbers) to $660,000. As the annual dotation of the Duke de Brabant, now suppressed by his accession to the throne, was $100,000, the increased appropriation from the treasury amounts, in fact, to but $10,000.
They also voted to suppress the toll-gates upon the national roads throughout the kingdom, thus relieving the people from a vexatious tax of $300,000, and [Page 60] which, with an excess in the treasury of $1,600,000 on the budget for the year, the country can well afford.
They also completed their manifestations of confidence in their new sovereign, and of desire to facilitate the commencement of his reign, by voting without discussion the budgets of foreign affairs, of justice, of ways and means, the bill fixing the contingent of the army, and the bill opening provisional credits for the non-promulgated budgets of 1866.
In the senate, M. Omalius d’Halloy, speaking for the conservative party, said that the country would appreciate the motives which had determined him and his friends to avoid discussion under the present circumstances; they would vote the budget, but their vote was of a purely administrative character, and was to have no political significancy.
Party discussions are thus, for a time, suspended. It is a matter of doubt, however, whether this truce between the parties will be continued through the term of this parliament. The liberals have not abandoned their programme, and, in view of the elections in June next, will possibly think it expedient not to confine their labors in the chambers to administrative questions solely.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.