Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
President’s message.
You are assembled, citizen representatives, to receive from me the
unlimited power bestowed by the voice of the entire people, and in
your hands now lies the destiny and welfare of Peru.
May the merciful God, who has permitted you to assemble, guide and
direct your deliberations.
The President goes on to say that at the time of the revolution,
which by its successful termination gave him his present post, the
country was dishonored and bankrupt. Since his assumption of
dictatorial power, the credit and honor of the nation have been
restored. He pays a glowing tribute to the heroic dead of the 2d of
May, when Peru met, for the second time, her old enemy and was
victorious.
With the exception of Spain, all foreign countries maintain the most
cordial relations with Peru, and our desire is to preserve such
relations intact.
The United States first offered to us their good offices towards
restoring peace between Spain and this country. The offer has been
recently renewed; but this government can take no decisive step
without first consulting its allies.
Bases of argument were also offered by Great Britain and France, but
their terms being more humiliating even than the treaty with Spain,
of January, 1865, they were instantly rejected, as all such
propositions not tending to the honor of the republic will be.
The unjust war waged by Brazil and her allies against Paraguay, and
the latter’s gallant defence, called the attention of this
government, and our good offices were early offered to the
belligerents.
With the foreign legations resident in Lima our relations are most
friendly. A slight difference occurred with the French legation
concerning diplomatic asylum, but the secretary of foreign affairs
has, by his published memorandum, placed Peru, in this matter, on an
equal footing with other nations.
The American congress will shortly reunite in Lima.
Public instruction is rapidly advancing, and great attention is being
given to the subject.
Taxes, being absolutely necessary to cover the expenses of the
government, have been levied, for the first time in the history of
Peru.
Conspiracies have been detected against the government, and those
concerned in them have been banished from the country, their crime
being all the greater from the fact of existing foreign war.
The question of determining the amount of damage suffered by
merchants in Callao, from the robberies committed by the
revolutionary troops and the mob, is left to Congress.
The dictatorial power is resigned.
If his resignation be necessary he will gladly leave his onerous post
and return to that of a simple citizen.
Opposed to him are conspirators, soldiers who are not promoted over
more deserving heads, families whose extortionate demands on the
treasury have been refused; and in his favor are all who love their
country’s honor, peace, and prosperity.
