Mr. Sanford to Mr. Seward.
Sir: The house of representatives will adjourn, probably, next week. One half of the members, whose terms expire with this session, will be replaced by the elections in June.
Since the coming together of the chambers, after the Easter recess, there has been little legislation of special interest. The proposition to increase the number of members to correspond with the increase of population has become a law, and eight representatives and four senators additional are now to be elected.
There have been long debates upon the question of electoral reform by the reduction of the property, or rather taxes, qualification; but they seem likely to lead to no practical result—this session at least. The subject is, however, being agitated among the people in the sense of universal suffrage, and meetings of workmen have been held in some of the most populous centres, which have been marked by the expression of a more decided democratic sentiment than the leaders of the liberal party now sympathize with, and which is likely, I think, to become an important element in the future in that party.
The truce between the two political parties, which was established on the accession of the King, seems to be at an end. Old animosities are revived in the Chambers and in the press, and the elections will be bitterly contested. The probabilities now seem to be that, while very close, they will not materially effect the relative position of parties in the Chambers.
In a few weeks, after the elections, the King will commence a series of visits to some of the principal towns of the kingdom, and everything thus far presages that his reception will be all that he can desire from the people of all classes.
I have the honor to be, with great respect, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.