Year: 1864

Mexnm1110n's Reply
The following is an exact translation Of
the full speech Of the Archdukc Maxinil.
ian, of Austria, in reply to the deputation.
His Imperial Highness spoke in Spanish :


Mature examination of the acts OF ad-
hesion you have come to lay before me af.
fords me the assurance that the resolution
OF the Mexican notables which brought you
the first time to Miramar is confirmed bt
the immense majority of your compatriots,
and that / may with good right consider
myself the legitimate elect Of the Mexican
people. The FIRST condition expressed in
my reply Of October Sd is therefore fulfilled.
The guarantees which the future empire
requires to be able to consecrate itself il
peace to the first of it's missions s- the cstab.
lishnent upon firm ba 'es Of the indepen-
dence anil welfare Of the country-are now
secured, thanks to tho magnanimity of the
Emperor Of the French, who, throughout
the progress of the negotiations, has shown
himself constantly animated by q spirit of
loyalty and good will, of which shall ever
preserve the remembrance. The august
head Of my family, upon his part, has
given his consent to my taking possession
Of the throne offered to me. I am thus





you six months ago, and now solemnly
declare that, with the aid Of the Almighty,
l accept the crown at the hands Of tho
Following the traditions Of that new cont.
ncnt, so full Of strength and future, Mexico
has used ner right Of selecting govern.
ment in harmony with her wishes and her
requirements. She has placed her conf.
dence in descendant Of that House Of
Hapsburg which three centuries ago q
Christian monarchy upon her soil. This
confidence touches me, and will not be.
tray it, I accept the power Of organization
which the nation Of which you are the or
gans confers upon me, and l shall IN any
case retain it only so long as may be ceces-
sary to introduce settled order into Mexico
and to establish, wise and liberal Instructions
AS | stated to you, gentlemen, in my ad-
dress Of the SO October. l shall hasten to
place the monarchy under the safeguard Of
constitutional laws as soon as the country
shall be completely pacified. The strength
Of the executive power is, in my opinion,
secured by the precision equally with the
well defined establishment of its limits; it
is therefore my intention, in carrying orr
my government, to fix such boundaries as
may guarantee its stability. | firmly hopo
We shall prove that well-reguated liberty
is perfectly compatible with the reign Of
order. l shall know how to respect the
one and to cause respect to be shown to
the other. shall hold high the flag of in.
dependence, the simbol of future greatness,
with the same vigor. ask the assistance
of all MeXlcans who love their country to
aid me in accomplishing my splendid but
difficult task. Union will make us strong,
will procure for US peace and prosperity.
My government will never forget the grali-
tude it owes to the illustTious prince whose
generous support has brought about the
reg neratian Of our beautiful country. Up.
on the way to my new country it is my in.
tcntion to visit Rome, tc receive from tho
hands of the Holy father those bencdictions
so precious to all sovereisns, and winch are
doubly important to me, as called upon to
found new empire"