The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-30 00:00:00

Address of the. Reichsrath.

VIENNA, Nov. 26.
The folloWing is the draught of the Address to the
.EriterOr in reply to the Speech from the Throne,
broiled- into the LOwerHouse of the 'Reichsrath to.
' day by the comn;ittee charged with its preparation.
kolittlimary his been already forwarded by tele-
' grAti*:—
..:IYeurimperial Royal Apostolic Majesty--The noble Ad-
- drets:43ifich your Majesty has most graciouily deigned to
deliireirjo the assembled representatives of the country his
toupii4cl,Alpon the most important interests of the realm.
sTite•high importance of the words spoken from the throne
itripteeVupon•the Lower House the duty of submitting to
yi,otilsWjeoty with faithful; devotion and respectful frankness
fire viewitjakes of the great, questions affecting the pm pire.
' The common affairs of the kingdoms and the countries of
theirnpire, for the constitutional treatment of which the
representatives of this country have first been called together
as gepetul,Reichsrath,will be examined by the Lower House
with the care and devoted attention corresponding to their
high itapottance. Equal zeal and equal faithful duty will
tfewleii4ed.to the affairs of the lesser Reidjasrath, the action
ot,y4iol:: your Majesty has held out a prospect, will imme-
diately follow. The house feels itself, however, in 'duty
houfittll4bfierve that the regular annul re'eurience of the
idticsucif the lesser Reichsrath is a right )lased upon the
ooßstitlt,tion of the kingdoms and countries represented
therein,
-,that this regular recurrence constitutes a guarantee
tdi MsMatto:nil conditions in the samela nythat it cannot
be dispinsed .with for the fulfilment of!.sci many-important
pnd iteisitigsuljects.of their common legislation._
HYTliterlower House deeply regrets that constitutional
begun, or hasi been totally interrupted in a
Urge tiortionpUthe empire. Decisive stePicf the Govern.
ment,far, the removal of conditions so extremely hurtful ti
,thre interests' of the empire and its inhabitants would revive
zerrnfidence, arid'Ve greeted by the Lower' House with live)
ley; • • ,

. We entertain the hope that a national representation
stilling from elections will be introduced at no distant flit
iritg-the Loioliardo-Venetian kingdom, and consider it a,
cbject of grave .consideration for ..your 'Majesty's Govt
wont that the Diet of Galicia shall be enabled to resume

liest possible period.
The re-establishment of constitutional conditions in
two kingdoms of Hungary and Croatia is in particular

high importance to the whole empire. For it is only by
means that the Lower House considers it possible to ob.

an insight into the real necessities of the empire, and of all
its subjects, and to remove the obstacles which still stand in
the way of an effective cooperation of the powers of all for
the interests of the realm and its constituent parts.
We therefore consider indispensable the convocation of
the Diets of these kingdoms immediately after the conclu-
sion of the present proceedings in the affairs of the general
Reichsrath. A well-founded and just desire of those coun-
tries will thereby be met and prcof be afforded of the sincere
endeavours of your Majesty's Government to bring the
fruits of constitutional State life to speedy ripeness through•
out Austria.

We entertain confidence that the legal representatives of
those kingdoms will not exclude the conviction that the
common treatment of the common affairs of the realm is the
interest of all, and unavoidably necessitated by that interest.
The Lower House upon its part will not hesitate to contri-
bute whatever lies in their power, that, while persevering
in its integrity this principle laid down by the Constitution,
those countries shall receive the necessary guarantees in a
constitutional way for their autonomy in all matters reserved
for the consideration of their Diets. And if patriotism and
clear recognition of the interests of the State and its inhabi-
tants mutually co-operate, the labour will also succeed to
which we consider if the sacred duty of every man to con-
tribute according to his ability,

The nations of Austria have followed with hearty inte-
rest, as is their wont in all events affecting your Majesty's
illustrious and well-beloved house, the occurrences in conse-
quence of which an august Imperial Prince has been sum-
moned to establish a new Throne in a distant quarter of the
globe. May God's assistance lead his noble intentions and
disinterested labours to a fortunate end.

Your Majesty has announced from the Throne the high
value of general peace to Austria. The Lower House also
considers a secure peace, bearing in itself the guarantee of
duration, an indispensable condition to the welfare of the
Empire. The House admits that it must be the constant
aim of your Majesty's Government to secure and consoli-
date such a peace for Austria.
The peace with Denmark has put an end to a long oppres-
sion of the Elbe Duchies, from which it was not permitted
them to assist in delivering themselves. The struggle pre-
ceding the peace—thanks to the bravery of the Imperial
troops, and navy—had conferred fresh laurels upon the Aus-
trian arms. But the task is not yet completed, which your
Majesty has designated as the object of profund agitation
throughout the whole of Germany, and for which Austria's
valiant sons have shed their blood. The Duchies still await
the ultimate settlement of their position, and the Lower
House firmly believes that the Imperial Government will
most earnestly endeavour to crown the work it has com-
menced, and in co-operation with the Germanic Confedera-
tion assist the Duchies to their full rights in the succession
question, and in the independent regulation of their affairs.
The Lower House recognises in its fullest extent the high
value of the alliance with Prussia in the successful results
of the war just brought to a else. It cannot however re-
frain from expressing its thorough conviction of the equally
high value to Austria of sincerely cultivating Federal rela-
tions towards the other States of the Germanic Confedera-
tion. The House will therefore joyfully hail all efforts of
your Majesty's Government intended to oppose separatist
tendencies contravening Federal right, and by reforms of
the constitution of the Confederation to knit still more
closely the bonds uniting all the countries of Germany in
one great and powerful whole.
The lamentable occurrences in the kingdom of Poland,
which have necessitated the application of exceptional mea-
sures in a country of the Empire, have filled us also with
deep regret. The House awaits from your Majesty's Go-
vernment the explanation imposed upon it by the Constitu-
tion of the causes which necessitated the introduction of
these exceptional measures, which in part still continue, as
also of the results which have been thereby attained ; but
cannot, however, suppress its heartfelt wish that whatever
necessity may have hitherto existed will be removed in a
very brief period.
Your Majesty has deigned to call the special attention of
the Reichsrath to the finances of the Empire; and indeed
the financial position of the country is very serious.
The expenditure continually exceeds the revenue, the
heavy burdens imposed upon the taxpayer will hardly bear
increase, the property of the State has sensibly diminished,
and the continued use of the public credit, even in times of
peace, must lead to a serious encumbrance, and may ulti-
mately bring about a disastrous crisis.
The Lower House is unable to perceive in the mere at-
tempt at economy for the re-establishment of equilibrium
in the Budget at a reniote period a sufficient guarantee for
a lasting settlement of the State expenditure. It considers
rather a return to the -strict regulation of the expenses of
the State in accordance with the general revenue—save in
exceptional cases—as the step immediately necessary and
alone calculated to be successful in restoring that equili-
brium and in re-strengthening the financial power el the