No. 310.
Mr. Francis to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
[Extract.]
Legation of
the United States,
Lisbon, January 5, 1884.
(Received January 21.)
No. 107.]
Sir: After a brief prorogation from the 29th
December, His Majesty Dom Luiz opened on the 2d instant the new session of
the Cortes with all the form and ceremony invariably observed on this
important occasion.
I have the honor to inclose a copy of His Majesty’s speech delivered at the
opening of the Cortes, with a translation thereof, and enumerate briefly
such of His Majesty’s remarks as appear to me important.
His Majesty mentions the continuance of friendly relations with foreign
powers; alludes to the recent conclusion of a treaty of commerce with Spain;
speaks with gratitude of the reception His Majesty and family met with on
their recent visit to that Kingdom, and as well for the universal evidence
of sympathy exhibited for his son during the prince’s recent journey.
[Page 442]
His Majesty enumerates various projects of law and conditional contracts
which were under discussion during the late session; among them are
prominent the measures tending to constitutional reform, and several
concessions for railways, that of Lourenço Marques, which formed the subject
of my No. 103, being mentioned in common with others.
His Majesty further announces the intended presentation to the Cortes by his
Government of other important measures, such as the revision of the penal
code, the reform of prison discipline, the work of improving the port of
Lisbon, the reform of the military system, and finally the financial
condition of the country.
* * * * * * *
The prime minister, Senhor Fontes, at the session of the Cortes to-day
presented the annual budget for 1884–’85, which I summarize as follows:
|
Millreis. |
| Estimated ordinary expenditures |
31,967,000 |
| Estimated ordinary receipts |
31,095,000 |
| Showing a deficit of |
772,000 |
To meet extraordinary expenditures Senhor Fontes asks for authority to borrow
4,500,000 millreis.
The deficit of 1882–’83, which was estimated at 917,000 millreis, is now
ascertained to amount to 1,000,000 millreis.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure in No.
107.—Translation.]
king’s speech on opening session of the
cortes.
Worthy Peers of the Kingdom and
Deputies of the Nation:
In fulfillment of the requirements of the constitution of the monarchy, I
come with pleasure before the national representatives to open the
legislative session of the present year.
Our good relations with foreign powers are without change.
In the interests of our commercial relations my Government concluded a
treaty with that of his Catholic Majesty, in which an effort was made to
protect the interests of Portugal. My minister of foreign affairs will
bring it before the Cortes, and I hope it will receive your
approval.
After my visit to the adjoining Kingdom, accompanied by my beloved
consort, to thank their Catholic Majesties for the visit which in the
previous year they had made to Portugal, this day is the first
opportunity I have had to speak of this fact before the national
representatives, and I avail myself of the occasion to declare how
thankful I am for the unequivocal proofs of friendly feeling which I
received while there, not only from the sovereigns, but also from the
Spanish people, as shown to my person, to my family, and the Portuguese
nation. These proofs of reciprocal sympathy, while they attest the
mutual independence of the two countries, contribute to the
consolidation of the ties which unite them in the interests of their
business relations.
The demonstrations of which the queen was the object during her journey
call for equally sincere gratitude on my part.
Having in view the completion of my dear son’s education I directed that
he should visit various countries of Europe. During this journey now
terminated, the prince received in the various courts he visited such
cordial reception from their respective sovereigns that it calls for my
public acknowledgments. I also here record my most grateful memory of
the sympathy with which he was entertained by many private individuals
of different nations.
[Page 443]
Public tranquillity has been maintained, and the renewal of the
administrative bodies throughout the Kingdom was effected with
order.
There remained undiscussed at the close of the last session of the Cortes
various projects of law, the most important of these being the reform of
the charter and the electoral law. Above all others I call your
attention to these, that measures of such importance may be sanctioned
by the Parliament with that emphasis which the patriotism of all may
give them.
Employing the power granted, my Government lately contracted a loan to
meet the extraordinary expenses of the state. My minister of finance
will give you an account of this transaction and the conditions under
which it was made.
During the last recess concessions were made by public competition for
the construction of the Beira Baixa, of the Foz Tua to Mirandella, and
of the branch to Vizeu, railways. The concession for the termination of
the railway system of the south and southwest was not granted, although
it was offered for public competition; accordingly the work on these
lines has been undertaken by the state. The Government will lay before
the Cortes the acts to which I refer, some of which require legislative
sanction. My Government has also concluded with the Royal Company of
Portuguese Railways the final contract for the construction of the
railroad from Torres Vedras to Alfarellos and Figueira. An agreement has
been come to between that company and the Beira Alta Company—which has
received the approval of the Government—by which the branch to Coimbra
will be undertaken by the former company; the latter withdrawing its
claim to the construction of the branch to Alfarellos.
Of various other measures made public by the different ministries
employing administrative authority, an account will be given you in due
time. The concession for the construction of the new port at Leixões was
offered for public competition in conformity with the terms of the
law.
In virtue of power granted by Article 15 of the additional act of the
charter, various measures of a legislative character were adopted during
the recess. The most important referred to the building of a railroad
from Lourenco Marques to the frontier of the Transvaal. All of these
measures were submitted to the Cortes on one of the last days of the
recent session.
Some proposals with reference to subjects of public administration will
be presented to you by my ministers, and I mention among them the
revision of the penal code, the additional enactments indispensable to
perfect the penitentiary system, the improvement of the port of Lisbon,
and army reform. With these and all others pending, you are sure to
occupy yourselves with your accustomed devotion.
The finances as ever demand the serious attention of the public
authorities, and within the prescribed time there will be presented to
you by the respective ministers the budget of receipts and expenditures,
as well as various projects of law intended to improve the financial
condition of the country. The maintenance of credit denotes the
confidence which capital feels in the resources of the nation. With the
diminution of certain taxes, which by this measure will become more
productive, and by some other measures to be presented to you, with a
scrupulous and well-considered economy, my Government is confident that
it may establish equality, between the ordinary receipts and
expenditures.
The subjects to which I have invited your attention, and which are
subject to your disposal during the present session, are the most
serious that can be considered by a parliament. However, they are not
superior to your wisdom and to your devotion.
The confidence with which you inspire me is at least equal to the serious
task you have to discharge.
With this confidence, and convinced of your patriotism, and trusting in
Divine Providence, we shall co-operate in preparing the measures
intended to secure the continuance of peace and the future development
of the country. I declare the session opened.
