Year: 1867

with my kingdom by the events OF q great
epoch. I renew With confidence the expression
territories, inasmuch as 1 accept them with my
whole heart as my people, will also on their
70 me and to their extended fatherland. The
full power which the national representa-
ton conferred upon my Government TO pre-
vinces into the constitutional state OF things
existingin Prussia, ,hasbeen taken advantage OF
TO establish preliminary equilibrium In those
territories where IL appeared TO be absolutely
required by the common interests of the State.
principal inhabitants had been ascertained,
district and provincial constitutions, connected
as closely as possible with the institutions
already established, and which had become
dear to the population, have been called into
existence, Constitutions which, on being carried
to revive the interest OF the Inhabitants in the
regulation of their economical affairs, and to
prepare the way for the much-t0- be. desired
autonomy of the larger and communal cor
porattons. While the military institutions of
the North German Confederation have by the
Federal Constitution and by the law on liability
to military service, been established on the APP
proven pases OF tne ffusslan lnsCtuuons, the
Fatherland has been completed in its principal
features. The ground for the united efforts of
having been prepared, our joint and, please
God, unanimous exertions will succeed In
making that ground fruitful.


Honored Slrs-The work of national unity
which the Prussian Parliament was called upon
to sanction by its vote has now become a mat
ter of fact. II you have consented to transfer
portion of your privilege to the North German
Parliament, already does the testimony of his
tory bear witness that you have done the right
thing at the right time. By the organization
OF the North German Confederation the Prus-
sian people have acquired additional pledges
of security, and enlarged field for organic
development, while at the same time conjunc"
tion with our fellow. countrymen of the South
German States, the community OF all social in-
terests, and an effective protection of all the
higher blessings of national existence, have been
secured The treaties upon which the COM
munity of interests rest, have recently at
tanned a still greater i'm portance from the fact
that, while under discussion in the different
Parliaments, the national spirit victoriously
maintained ITSELF The relations of my Gov
ernment with foreign powers have not under
gone any change In consequence of the new
conditions in which Prussia is placed in the
midst of the North German Confedera-
tion. With a friendly character of those
relations, the personal interviews with
Germany and abroad, the Opportunity for
which was offered me last summer, perfectly
harmonize. The peaceful object of the German
movement is recognized and appreciated by all
the powers of Europe, and the peace ful endea-
vors of the rulers are supported by the wishes
of the peoples, to whom the increasing de-
velopment and amaIgamation of spiritual and
material interests makes peace necessity.
The recent anxiety respecting disturbance of
peace in one part OF Europe, where two great
nations, both most amicably connected with
as, appeared to be threatened by q serious
SaTtp9 SSomPcdflon may nGw Io0k OK upon as
of my Government as regards these difficult
questions which in that quarter still remain
unsolved, on the one hand 10 respond to the
my care for the dignity and the independence
of their Church, and on the other hand to
consequence of political interests and the nter.
national relations of Germany. In neither
before my Government any danger to peace.
Let us. then, the more confidently undertake
the task of the solution OF our internal develop.
ment, and may your labors for the welfare OF
the state be richly blessed.