The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-01 00:00:00

The Speech of the Queen of Spain.

The following is the full text of the speech de-
livered by the Queen of Spain at the opening of the
Cortes on the 27th ult., a summary of which has
already been received by telegraph :
Senators and Deputies,—The opening of the
Cortes of the kingdom has at all times been a happy
event for the Spanish monarchy. Animated by this
thought, I always come with deep satisfaction to
inaugurate your legislative labours, both because I
have to associate myself with public satisfaction at
the prosperity of the nation, and to ask counsel and
assistance from you in its difficulties. My desire
for peace has not sufficed to prevent the outbreak
of hostilities against the republic of Chili, which has
obstinately refused to make honourable reparation
for the insults offered to Spain during her difficulties
with Peru. My Government will in due course
give you an account of the progress of the war, and
of any negotiations to which it may give rise.
Our relations with other Powers continue to be
friendly. Various reasons, based upon the perma-
nent interests and sentiments of the nation, have
induced me to recognise the kingdom of Italy.
This recognition has not weakened my feelings
of deep respect and cordial attachment towards
the common father of the faithful, nor diminished
my firm resolve to watch over the rights of
the Holy See, Constant in my desire to respect the
independence of the American States, founded on
the ancient colonies of Spain, I have concluded a
treaty of peace and recognition with the republic of
San Salvador. The crisis which, from various
causes, oppresses our commercial cities, increases
the embarrassments of the treasury; and although
the publie revenues are recovering from the acci-
dental decline they had suffered, it is necessary to
reform some imposts in order to augment the re-
ceipts of the treasury, and to introduce strict
economy in the public expenditure, so as to effect
within a brief period a real equilibrium of the
budget. The extinction ,or prompt liquidation of
old debts, the reduction of the floating debt to its
natural limits by gradually diminishing the balance
in favour of the Bank of Deposit, and other mea-
sures projected by my Government relative to credit
and the utilisation of the still considerable mass of
national property, will form the subject of several
bills which will be laid before you with the budget
and the general accounts of the state. The develop-
ment of the productive, intellectual, and material
forces of the country is the true means of augment-
ing the resources of the Treasury ; other means
must be regarded as artificial, and only proper for
periods of transition. The amelioration of the law
upon public education, by extending primary instruc-
tion, and propagating sciences useful to agriculture
and industry ; the facilitation of works for turning to
use the water of rivers which now run from barren dis-
tricts to the sea in pure waste ; the assurance to the
proprietor of the fruits of his capital and labour ;
the diminution of the restrictions upon chose indus-
trial pursuits which, like that of mining, aro still
subject to oppressive regulations and centralisation ;
and the multiplication of means of communication
bringing with it trade and consumption—all this
will give a stimulant and fresh outlets to production,
and will found upon the development of public
wealth a more agreeable future for our.finance.
The realisation of these projects will be facilitated
by the bills which my Government will propose to
you, and which your wisdom and patriotism will
complete and perfect. By uniting individual acti-
vity with the collective impulse of deputations
and municipalities, the progressive advance of
the improvements demanded by modern civilisa-
tion will be more rapid. This union of forces
I can only be effected by vivifying the spirit of
municipal liberty, which has never died out in the
different kingdoms which formed the Spanish
monarchy, and by concentrating itself in the real
interests of the local administration, by the aid
of laws whieh will place it in harmony with the
law regulating the government and administra-
tion of the provinces. Even were it not demanded
by the general interests of the nation and the par-
ticular interests of agriculture, manufactures, and
commerce, the colonial provinces would still be jus-
tified in expecting that the reforms required by each
according to its condition should not be deferred.
My Government will submit to you a bill for effi-
caciously punishing the slave trade in our Antilles,
while they will also prepare, after the consideration
indispensably due, special laws for governing them
in accordance with the constitution of the monarchy.
The-prompt and regular administration of justice is
the guarantee of civil and political rights and the
firmest basis of the principle of authority. Upon
this point there is a necessity universally felt for new
laws of organisation for the tribunals, legal proce-
dure and appeal in criminal matters, which the Go-
vernment contemplates submitting for your conside-
ration. The army, by its idelity and discipline,
merits my constant esteem and that of the nation,
as also the navy, which, in the distant regions of the
Pacific, defends the interests of the country and the
honour of our flag. Public tranquillity, disturbed
some time since at Lerida and Saragossa on account
of the octroi tariffs, was re-established by the inter-
vention of the military authorities and the troops.
The rioters were brought before the competent tri-
bunals, and order maintained in all the towns of the
monarchy. Happily the sad experience of
revolutions has taught the various social classes
that labour is the source of virtue and welfare for
individuals ; that the increase of national produc-
tion is with modern nations an incontestable proof
of their power and greatness, and that labour and
production cannot develope themselves where order
and liberty do not co-exist. My government,
actuated by these principles, and without being
disquieted by the incessant activity of political par-
ties, is confident of surmounting all difficulties, by
in con-
keeping within a legal sphere, and acting
cert with national opinion truly and legitimately
represented in the senate and congress. A policy
tolerant without being weak, capable of repressing
disorder without cruelty, and which, upon every
occasion, will have the firmness and the will to
realise its intentions, is the only one that can
smooth the difficult path of perfection and progress
which individuals and nations are called to follow.
If we all keep solely in view the public interest, take
national opinion as our guide, respect for law as
our rule of conduct, and constantly invoke the
name of God, there will never fail, so at least I
trust, that cordial understanding between the
powers of the State which will consolidate tran-
quillity, assure present progress, and prepare happy
and prosperous times for new generations.

BATII SAVINGS-BANK.—The certified accounts of
this bank to the 20th November last show that at
that date there were 9,934 depositors, the aggregate amount
of the balances of whose accounts was £336,624 11s. 2d.
The assets consist of £334,822 15s. 2d. in the hands of the
Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, on
general account, and £5,817 13s Bd. on surplus account, and
£1,990 Os. 6d. in treasurer's hand on banking account,
making a total of £342,630 9s. 4d.

RAILWAY ENTERPRISE IN THE EASTERN COUNTIES.
—The extension of the Tendring Hundred line from
Wivenhoe to Weeley is expected to be opened for traffic
next week, but the Camp extension to St. Botolph's, with
the new central station for Colchester, will probably re-
main closed till February 1, in consequence of the Board of
Trade requirements as to some more comprehensive ar-
rangement of signals than had been provided at the Hythe
junction of the Great Eastern not being likely to be com-
pleted before that date. The Lynn and Sutton line has
been inspected by Captain Tyler on the part of the Board
of Trade. The gallant captain suggested a few alterations
as regards signals, &c, but, upon the whole, the line met
his approval. Traffic) is expected to be commenced in a
week or two.