The expectations that have been entertained of the adoption of important
measures during the session now closed do not appear to have been
realized.
Congress meets again in a further session, limited by the constitution to
sixty days, on the 1st proximo.
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
[From the Diario Oficial, city of
Mexico, March 29,
1868.—Translation.]
Congress.
At the solemn act of the closing of the sessions of congress, which
took place to-day, the President of the republic pronounced the
following discourse:
Citizen Deputies: You now terminate the
first period of your sessions, to return again to dedicate
yourselves to your important labors within a few days. I come with
great satisfaction to felicitate you in these acts, which present a
high testimony of the regular march of the public powers.
It is pleasing to observe that, the conflicts of war scarcely passed,
the normal regimen of our institutions has been established anew
with but few difficulties.
The people who combatted without rest to defend these institutions
are now enjoying their benefits, for they assure to all their
rights, and will procure the highest good, being faithfully
respected.
Of the disturbances which have occurred in some places, some have
been rapidly terminated, and we have to trust that the others will
be soon suffocated.
The republic desires to enjoy peace under the protection of the
constitution and the laws. To repress those who attempt to override
them the government does not, and ought not, to doubt that it can
count upon the opinion and the aid of the immense majority of the
citizens.
A prolonged war left an inevitable legacy of elements that for some
time will strive to disturb society. We can congratulate ourselves
that these are not many, nor have they so far caused any grave
peril. However, the lessons of the past should serve to place us on
our guard, that they do not occasion greater evils in the
future.
The government will exert itself to comply with the first of its
duties, which is to maintain the public peace with all the energy of
the means of action that it has in its hands, and all the confidence
that should be inspired by the desire and the right of the people
that their agents should give them perfect security in all their
social interests.
The first pledge of peace is the harmony of the public powers.
The government is full of gratitude for the confidence that has been
given to it by congress, and it will always endeavor to merit it
respecting the decisions which, with their patriotism and wisdom,
may be taken by the representatives of the people.
The president of congress, Mr. Iglesias, said:
Congress, in closing to-day its sessions to return to open them again
within three days, proves by this single coincidence how sincere and
how intense is the desire with which it is animated, to fully comply
with the arduous duties which have been imposed upon it by the
confidence of the people.
When congress voted the prorogation of the first period of its
sessions, notwithstanding the inconvenience of joining it with the
second, to form a total of more than half a year, it manifested by
this unequivocal proof that it did not wish to avoid either labor or
fatigue in order to expedite the dispatch of the affairs intrusted
to its hands.
Notwithstanding this good will, the result of the legislative labors
has not been as satisfactory as could have been desired. But neither
can this be considered as an evil of grave consequences, nor still
less can it be attributed to indolence or the negligence of the
national representation.
In what relates to the latter we have well-founded motives for
congratulation.
The meeting of congress has been of itself an event of the greatest
importance.
The representative system, interrupted by the unjust war of
intervention by France, and afterwards by the grave peril in which
the independence of Mexico and its cherished institutions were
placed, the re-establishment of constitutional order demonstrates
that our society has returned to its support.
Placed again in the way of consolidating itself, it will be
sufficient now if the inestimable benefit of peace is not again
lost, in order that the germs of prosperity should be developed,
which virgin and unfruitful are borne in its bosom, opening thus the
doors to the grand future that is reserved for it.
For what congress has yet to do there are already prepared abundant
materials.
With reference to various affairs of great public interest, the
respective committees have already prepared reports; others are in
course of preparation, and will soon be presented in order that with
the first they may be discussed by this assembly, and determined as
shall be deemed best for the interests of the nation.
Among these affairs, that relative to the preservation of the public
peace will occupy a preferential place, in virtue of the necessity
which exists to repress with all energy the disturbances which
affect the security of social interests.
The harmony of the public powers, so indispensable for the well-being
of society, will be securely preserved, because they are animated
with the most fervent desires to comply with the obligations imposed
upon them. Thus it will be realized that the Mexican republic lives
under the protection of the constitution and laws.
The disturbances which have occurred in some localities must speedily
terminate,
[Page 444]
because they do
not arise from defects in our political or social organization,
which might give them a permanent characters. The accidental causes
of these passing disturbances removed, the republic will realize the
abundant fruits of the definitive triumph obtained in the struggle
which Mexico, as all the peoples of the world, has had the necessity
to undertake in order to open its way in the path of progress and of
civilization.
