The Sun.
London, England, 1863-11-11 00:00:00

The Speech of the King of Prussia.

BERLIN, Nov. 3.
The Ring opened the Session of both houses of
the Prussian Diet in person, at one o'clock this
afternoon, in the White Hall of the Royal Castle.
His Majesty made the following speech
"Illustrious, noble, and beloved Gentlemen of
both Houses of the Diet,—The Diet of the
Monarchy in its last Session was closed before the
termination of the deliberations on the Budget, and
the Lower House was subsequently dissolved be-
cause a satisfactory result could not be expected
from further discussion after the declaration ad-
dressed to me.

" It is my urgent wish that an end should be put
to the discussions which have arisen between my
Government and a portion of the representatives of
the country. My Royal duty enjoins upon me to
maintain and protect the power and rights of my
Crown, no less than the constitutional privileges of
the representation of the country. Conflicting
conceptions have been brought to bear upon the ex
tent and limits of the uncontested right of the re-
presentatives of the country to co-operate in the
legal establishment of the Budget. In order to effect
its settlement a bill will be presented to you, which
is intended to regulate the rights of the Government
in case the Budget does not obtain a legal establish-
ment, and to meet the fear that my Government in
such a case intend to lay claim to an unlimited con-
trol over the State funds without regard to the
eight of the representatives of the country.
"I have, however, to care not alone for the inte-
rior welfare, but also for the exterior security of the
State; and I must be able to reckon on your co-
operation in both respects.
The new formation of the army arose from wants
which could not be neglected if we were to keep
pace with the increased armed force of our neigh-
bours, and to take into account the economical in-
terests of our own population by a more just distri-
bution of military service.

,4 The army is, after its reorganisation, as I already
said in this place in the year 1860, the Prussian
people in arms, and this, indeed, with greater truth
than before, for while the strengthened organisation
of the Line renders an alleviation possible for the
elder classes of the Landwehr, the united strength
of the Landwehr remains unaltered. This formation
has grown in past y ears, on the basis of the approval
of the Diet the Sessions of 1860 and 1861, into a
permanent institution of the State, the continuance
of which can no longer be brought into question
te.
without serious danger to the most important in
rests of the country. The knowledge of this danger
imposes upon me the duty of giving my consent,
requisite in accordance with t heConstitution, only
the maintenance of
to such a Budget as
Trill e
l secureme . In order at length
the existing army arraingl
to bring this affair legally arrangements.
to a closes,eravree willmode belled
Bill on the obligation to military
service
laid before you.
n
carrying resent, the expectation that the
«up to th-
A
out of the reorganization of the army
would meet with no obstacle in the financial re-
sources of the State has been fulfilled.
it Last year the revenue, as is known, was so
large that it not only sufficed for the complete
e diture, bat even a
overing of the Stat
cconsiderable surplus, for the employment ofgave which
proposals will be made to you. This year's revenue
allows of similar hopes ; it will, as far as can be now
seen, present ample means to cover the whole State
expenditure of this year without having recourse to
the State treasury.
66my Government will present to you without de-
lay the Budget for the current year, together with
a supplement. In the Budget for the year 1864,
which will also soon be ready for your examination,
the apparently existing deficit is, it is true, not yet
removed. It nevertheless presents the agreeable
proof that the revenue, without departing from
sound principles in its estimate, might have been
put down as considerably higher, and would offer
the means to satisfy in all branches of the admini-
stration numerous and fresh requirements.
"The estimate of the new ground and house
taxes has already been so far proceeded with that
its conclusion may be looked forward to with cer-
tainty at the beginning of the year 1865. The sur-
plus revenue expected therefrom will shortly afford
the means to close without deficit the Budget for
the year 1865.
" The general accounts of the Budgets of the
years 1859, 1860, and 1861 will be submitted to you
for the approval of outlays in excess of the Budget,
and for the voting of the bill of indemnity. A bill
for the establishment of the revenue and expendi-
ture of the year 1862 will likewise be submitted to
you as the basis of the general Budget of this year.
" The agricultural condition of the country is
satisfactory. The position of the working classes
has been alleviated by an abundant harvest, and
cultivation of the country is making gratifying
gress in consequence of the growing assiduity of
the landowners.
d opportuni-
" Activity of trade has increasf33,t
been wanting.
ties for remunerativellabour haven°.
The traffic upon railroads also continues constantly
developing itself. My Goverenment has unceasingly
th
endeavoured to promote
further extension of
this means of communication.;:oeworhilve
ormaielrwilanyiacohtnas-
munication with the
lately been 01,911'
ed other equally important lines
and new bills Nsitb. reference
have been commences.,