The Sun.
London, England, 1848-04-01 00:00:00

HANOVER.

The Chambers were opened on the 28th, by Corn-
mission. The following is the Speech from the

Throne :

" His Majesty the King, our Most Gracious Sovereign,
being prevented from appearing, this day, in the midst of
you, has been pleased to entrust me with the honourable
mission of opening the present Assembly of the States,
and of making the following communication to you in
his royal name :—At a time when astonishing changes
in neighbouring countries have altered all the relations
even of this land—when, together with the entire form
of government of Germany, even the whole basis of our
state of affairs is brought into question—and when the
danger incurred by a neighbouring country, a member
of the Germanic Confederation, may, at every mo-
ment, call for military assistance, his Majesty has
received no slight satisfaction from the fact that
already, in the ordinary course of business, the
legitimate representatives of the land have as-
sembled round his royal throne. His Majesty, feeling
assured that the hitherto existing institutions of the
country are not of a satisfactory nature, either for the
royal house or the land at large, has not hesitated to
accord voluntarily and without reserve whatever ap-
peared necessary for creating a new and more powerful
national existence. His Majesty is only desirous that in
every respect the way which the constitution (in which
his royal person is associated with the state) as well as
the law points out, should be scrupulously adhered to,
in the conviction that any apparent advantage which
may be sought for in any other way can only lead to
general ruin. With these sentiments his Majesty has
already taken measures, whereby the constitution of toe
Germanic Confederation (on which the security of Ger-
many closely depends) may be developed in greater
stability (in the form set forth in the Act of
Confederation), and may be even brought to com-
pletion through the representation of the German
people in a confederate assembly. Not less has his
Majesty been pleased to order that the internal ad-
ministration and constitution of his royal kingdom
should be settled in such a manner as to elevate the
mind and increase the welfare of the people, through
liberty of the press, through the right to assemble in
public, through the independence of the civic and com-
munal authorities, through the publicity of their pro-
ceedings, the removal of ell privileges (respecting ex •
emption from taxation, &c. &c.), through the restoration
of the original power of the tribunals, through the sim-
plification of the system of state economy, and through
the responsibility of all his royal servants. Through
such measures his Majesty also hopes that the cus-
tomary disposition of the people to uphold the law and
maintain order will be strengthened. It is his
Majesty's will that these his royal promises may,
without inordinate haste, but quickly, be carried
out and faithfully observed. Together with the impor-
tant task of realising those principles, his Majesty will
leave it to the States to propose whatever the
usual course of business requires for the maintenance of
the security, order, and welfare of the country ; and he
will willingly attend to all the wishes which may be ex-
pressed by the States respecting the common weal, as
the shortness of the time and the pressure of circum-
stances (der dranyder Umstande) render it impossible
for this Government to prepare independent propositions
of that nature. Thus has his Majesty, our Most Gracious
King and Lord, opened for the States a pathway to glo-
rious and beneficial labours ; and it is for you now,
Gentlemen, to tread that path, and to keep firmly to
it. Through this noble and royal mission the
States have in their own hands the entire fu-
ture prospects of the country. That mission im-
plies a responsibility if it be uselessly employed.
Thanks to his Majesty's wisdom we can look on the
present important time without the pain which in so
many other lands embitters both joy and hope. The
country possesses unexhausted sources of power and
happiness; its people are rich in upright earnestness of
character, in the love of fatherland, and in
the spirit fidelity.
•
Nought can be wanting to us, if only of union,
which again, for the first tirne;since centuries, powerfully
pervades all the members of our great German father-
land, prevail also in the narrow circle of our own
country. It is upon this spirit of union that his Majesty
relies. It is in this spirit of union, .which stops at no
sacrifice, even t,f ones own views and opinions, that his
Majesty has already presented a brilliant example to
his States. May the latter follow such eminent leader-
ship (so erhabener Fuhrung). God save the King!
In the name and with the full authorisation cf his
Majesty I now declare the General Assembly of the
States opened.