The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1872-02-13

The Government WIFI Firm
Opinion OF ouv De-
Hea0iS,
The Feeling at Washington.
LONDON, February 6.-The following
is verbatim report of the address of
Her Majesty the Queen, at the opening
of Parliament to day;
My LoRDs AND GENTLEMEN: | avail
myself Of the opportunity afforded bv
your reaSsembing for the discharge
OF your momentous duties, to renew
the expression of my thankfilness to
the Almighty Cor the dcliverance of my
son from most imminent danger, and
my lively recollection of the profound
and universal sympathy shown Ivy my
loyal people during tlat period OF anx
Iety and trial, 1purpose that on Tues
day, the 27th inst, colforuaIlv 10 the
good and becoming usagas Of former
days the blessings thUS received shajl
be acknowledged, on behalf Gf the ra-
ton, hT Thanksgiving in the MP;ropoii
tan Cathedral At this ceicls a ion it is
my desire and hope to be present. Di-
rection has been given to provide the
necessary Il, Communications for members
OF parliament
The assurances of friendship that |
receive from foreign powers continue
in | respects satisfactory And ! need
hardly assure YOU that my endeavors
will at all times be steadily dircc,ed to,
ward the maintenance Of these friendly
relations
The slave trade, and practices scarce
" to he distinguished from slave trad,
ing, are still pursued in more than one
quarter of the word, and continue to
attract the attention Of my Government.
In the South Sea Islands the name ef
the British Empire is even now dishon-
Orcd by the connection OF some If my
subjects with these netarious ractices
aud in one Of them the murder OF an
exemplary prelate has cast fresh light
upon some of their banefuI consequen
ces. A bill will be presented to you fot
facilitating the trial of otfenses of this
class in Australia. Endeavors will be
made to increase in other forms means
for the counteraetion of the evil.
Various communication have passed
between my Government and that oI
France on the subject of the CONNER
cial treaty concluded in 1860 From s
divergence in views respectively enter
tanned in relation to the value Of pro-
tective law, this correspondence has
not brought about any agreement to
modify that important convention -
Both sides, however, have expressed
their earnest desire that nothing shall
occur to impair the cordaIity which has
so long prevailed between the nations
The papers relating to these subjects
will he laid before you.
The arbitrators appointed pursuant tc
the Treaty of Washington for the pur
pose of amicably settling the Alabam;
claims have held their first meeting il
Geneva. Cases were laid before the
arbitrators on behalf Of each party tC
the treaty. In the case so submitted by
the United States, large claims are in
cluded which are understood on my
part not to be within the province o
the arbitrators. On this subject l have
caused friendly communication to b.
made to the Government of the United
States.
The Emperor Of Germany has under
taken to arhitrate on the San Juan wa
ter-boundry, and the cases of the Two
Governments have been presented tt
His Imperial Majesty.
The Commission to sit at Washing
ton has been appointed, and is in sess
ion. The provisions of the treaty
which require the consent of the Par
lament of the Dominion Of Canada
await its assembling.
Turning TO domestic affairs, I an
glad to apprise you that, with very
few exceptions, Ireland has been fre'
from serious crime Trade in that par
of the kingdom has been active, and tht
advance in agricultural industry remar
kable. | am able also, to congratulate
you, so far as present experience allow:
judgment to be passed, upon percept
able diminution in the number of botl
grayer crimes and habitual criminals il
Great Britain.
GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF Con-
MONS: The principle estimates for tht
coming year have been prepared, ant
they will at once be laid before YOU
| trust you will find them suitable tt
the circumstances of the country. Th'
state of the revenue affords fayorabl,
indications of the demand for employ
ment, and of the general condition o
the people. Indications which are cor
roLorated by decrease of pauperisn
are not inconsiderabIe.
My Lords and gentlemen, your atten
ton is invited to several measures ack
nowledged to be of national interest =
Among these are bills for the improve
ment Of public education in Scotland
for the regulation of mines; for th'
amendseut of the licensing system
for fixing the relations of superio
Courts of justice and appeal; in particu
lar, bill having for its main object tn,
establishment of secret voting, togethe
with measure relating to corrupt prac
tices at parliamentary elections, will b.
immediately presented. Several meas
ures of administrative improvement ii
Ireland will be laid before you; like
wise legislative provisions founded Oh
the report Of Sanitary Commission.
You, my Lords and gentlemen, will,
am confident, apply your well-knowl
assiduity to the work of legislatiol
which, from the Increasing exigence
of modern society, still seems TO grow
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