The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-23

"A correspondence HAS tdhcu PuaSS
between my government and that OF the
United States with respect to injuries
inflicted on American commerce ny
cruisers under the confederate nag
Copies of this correspondence VIII Dc
laid before you.
The renewal of diplomatic corresPon-
dence with Brazil has given me much
satisfaction. and / acknowledge with
pleasure. that the good offices of my ally
the King of Portugal have contributed
essentially to this happy result.
1 have to regret the interruption OF
peace between Spain and Chilli. The
good offices of my government, in con-
junction with those of the Emperor OF
the French, have been accepted by
Spain, and it is my earnest hope that
the causes of disagreement may be re-
moved in a manner honorable and sat
isfactory to both parties. ~
The negotiations which have been
long pending in Japan, and which have
been conducted with great ability by
my minister in that country, in con-
junction with the representatives of my
allies in Japan, have been brought to
conclusion which merits my entire APP
probation. The existing treaties have
been ratified by the Mikado; it has been
stimulated that the tarifl'shall be revised
i'm a manner favorable to commerce, and
that the indemnity due under the terms
of the Convention of October, 1854, shall
be punctually discharged. m
Ihsve concluded a treaty of COM
merce with the Emperor of Austria,
which l trust will open tD that empire
the blessings of extended commerce and
be productive of important benefits to
both countries.
The deplOrable events which have oc-
Cured in the Island of Jamaica have
induced me to provide at once for an
impartial inquiry, and for the due main
tenance of authority during that in
quiry, by appointing distinguished
military officer as Governor and COM
mander of the forces. have given him
the assistance of two able and learned
commissioners, who will aid him in eX-
aiming into the origin, nature, and cir
cumstances of the recent outbreak, and
the measures adopted in the course of
its suppression. The Legislature OF
Jamaica has proposed that the present
political constitution Ofthe island should
be replaced by a new form of govern
ment. A bill upon this subject will be
submitted for your consideration.
Papers on these occurrences will be
laid before you.
Papers on the present state Of New
Zealand will be laid before you.
] have given directions for the return
to this country of the greater portion of
my regular forces employed in that
colony.
watch with interest the proceedings
which are still in progress in British
North America with view to n closer
union among the Provinces, and con-
tinue to attach great Importance to that
| object.
have observed with great concern
the extensive prevalence during the
| last few months of very virulent dis
temper among cattle in Great Britain,
and it is with deep regret, and with sim
cere sympathy for the sufferers, that l
have learnt the severe losses which it
has caused in many counties and dis
tricts. 1t il satisfactory to know that
Ireland, aud considerable part of Scot
land, are as yet free from this calamity
and trust that by the precautions sug-
gested by experience, and by the Divine
blessing on The means which are now
being employed, its further extension
may be arrested.
The orders which have been made by
the Lords OF my Privy Council, by vir-
tue of the powers vested in them by law,
with a view to prevent the spreading of
this disease, will be laid before you, and
your attention will be called to the ex-
pediency of an amendment of the law
relating to q subject SO deeply affecting
the interests of the people.
Gentlemen of the House of Commons:
have directed that the estimates of the
ensuing year shall be laid before you.
They have been prepared with due re-
gard to economy, and are at the same
| time consistent with the maintenance
of efficiency in the public service.
The condition of trade is satisfactory.
| NV Lords and Gentlemen: A conspi-
racy, adverse alike to authority, proper
ty, and religion, and disappr,ved and
condemned alike by all who are inter-
ested in their maintenance, without
distinction of creed or class, has unhap-
PLY appeared i'm Ireland. The cOnsti-
tutionalpower of the ordinary tribunals
has been exerted tor its suppression, and
the authority of the law has been firmly
and impartially vindicated.
A bill will be submitted to you found
ed on the report of the Royal Commiss-
ion, on the subject of Capital Punish
ment, which 1 have directed to be laid
before you.
Bills will be laid before you for amend
ing and consolidating the laws relating
to bankruptcy aud for other improve
ments in the law.
Measures will also be submitted to you
for extending the system of public audit
to branches of receipt and expenditure
1t 4. H.. a., 49,
for amending the provisions of the law
with respect to certain classes of legal
pensions.
Your attention will be called to the
subject of the Oaths taken by Members
of Parliament, with a view to avoid I'M
necessary declarations, and to remove
invidious distinctions between members
of different religious communities in
matters of legislation.
/ have directed that information
should be procurted in reference to the
rights of voting in the election of mem
beers to serve in Parliament for counties,
cities, and boroughs.
When the information is complete,
the attention of Parliament will be called
to the result thus obtained, with a view
to such improvements in the laws which
regulate the rights of voting in the cleo
ton of members of the House of Com
mons as may tend to strengthen our free
institutions and conduce to the public
welfare.
In these and in all other deliberations
l fervently pray that the blessing of
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