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[Appendix Q.-Translation.]

Address of the Senate and House delegations to the King, and replies of His Majesty, January

1, 1873.

[From La Gaceta de Madrid, January 2, 1873.]

THE PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS.

Yesterday at noon His Majesty the King was pleased to receive the committee of the Senate appointed to congratulate him on the opening of the new year.

The president of the senate addressed His Majesty in the following words: "SIRE: With the opening of the new year, the third year of Your Majesty's reign begins under happy auspices, while the year just closed sees with joy that the work of the constitutional convention, recognized at once by all civilized nations, consolidates itself in a shorter time and fortifies itself with greater strength than institutions and dynasties of traditional origin.

"The senate confidently hopes that this third year of Your Majesty's reign will remain fixed among the glories of Spain by the imperishable achievement in humanitarian reform which will soon put an end to slavery in the beautiful province of Porto Rico, notwithstanding the opposition to it of certain egotistical interests and certain political ambitions, against which suffice that firmness of character which distinguishes Your Majesty and the vigor which the sense of right and the possession of liberty stamp upon the decisions of Congress.”

His Majesty the King was pleased to reply:

“Mr. PRESIDENT: I receive with the highest appreciation and with most profound satisfaction the congratulations which the Senate offers to me to-day, when grateful recollections engage my attention and grave reflections occupy my thoughts; for to-day marks two years since I began to rule in Spain-the commencement of duties in behalf of my new and beloved country, as arduous in their fulfillment as the honor is a high one I have received at the hands of the Spanish people, by whose will this throne was erected, upon whose love its foundations were laid, and by whose confidence it is to be strengthened and sustained. It is by such means that, while the country enjoys the fruits of the revolution, and while the work of the constituent Cortes is perpetuated, at the same time the energy of popular right manifests itself, in virtue of which new dynasties and modern institutions begin early to take root and acquire for themselves a robust maturity.

"I accept as a happy omen for the year just now begun the announcement which the Senate makes to me, and the hope they express that those men who now live as slaves in the loyal Spanish province of Porto Rico shall soon enjoy their liberty. A measure So humanitarian and so Christian will be a glory for Spain, an honor for the Cortes, a luster upon my reign, and a blazon for my dynasty. Civilized nations will find in this a new cause to congratulate themselves upon having recognized from the first moment the work of 1868. Spain will feel a natural pride at seeing herself esteemed and applanded by all the world, while they who have shown themselves distrustful will see that it is not reasonable to fear that an act of justice and humanity may be a source of danger to our prosperity and tranquillity.”

At a quarter past twelve the committee of the chamber of deputies presented their congratulations to the King, with the same motive.

The president of the chamber of deputies addressed His Majesty as follows: "SIRE: This day, which ushers in a new year in the evolutions of time, recalls to our minds the eve of a solemn moment in the life of Your Majesty, and a memorable epoch in the history of Spanish liberty. The chamber of deputies, the immediate representative of the people, lay with joy before the elect of the nation the homage of their love, of their respect, and of their unshaken loyalty.

"Fortunate it is for Spain, and a glory for Your Majesty, that here, in this place, where flattery has so often raised its voice, are to be heard to-day congratulations prompted by the purest affection, and commendations dictated by the most heartfelt sincerity. The Spanish people is now beholding the fulfillment of the hopes with which, two years ago, they greeted Your Majesty for the first time, in your august person every citizen sees and loves the faithful guardian of popular rights and the swift defender of popular liberties common alike to all Spaniards without distinction of party or of class.

"Thus in vain are the plots, the conspiracies, and assaults directed against the popular throne by those who act only in obedience to the baleful influences of party interest; now profaning the sacred name of liberty; now invoking aid from the empty shadows of antiquated institutions, long condemned by history, and now murmuring names which are made more hateful as we are vividly reminded of the intolerable abuses which they symbolize. Reaction, mobocracy, treason itself, if there be in this loyal Land any one capable of treason, shall be crushed under the weight of public condem

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nation, for Your Majesty, who so well understands and so wisely practices the sacred duties of your high office, will ever continue with unwavering firmness to assist all measures tending toward progress, and to lend an attentive ear to public opinion, the only counselor of popular kings and the only support of thrones founded upon the freewill of a nation.

"Listening again to that voice which you have never disregarded, Your Majesty has now immortalized your reign by authorizing the presentation of a bill which, as soon as it shall have been approved by the Cortes and shall become a law of the realm, will restore the rights of manhood to the thirty-one thousand unhappy beings weighed down to-day by the cruelties of slavery.

"And if, at the outset, the voice of disappointed interests or of hostile opinions should cry out against such a sublime act of humanity, its glorious results shall in the end allay all ill-will, shall calm every passion, and shall dispel every apprehension, and (let Your Majesty doubt it not) our most remote descendants shall bless the hour in which, following the inspirations of right, of justice, and of public good, you determined to wipe out forever the only blot upon our glorious escutcheon in the eyes of the civilized world.

"With hopes so well founded and under such happy auspices the chamber of deputies, in the name of the people whom it represents, implores the blessing of Heaven for Your Majesty, for the noble lady whose virtues adorn your throne, and for the royal children who, trained by so pious a mother in the sacred love of liberty, are to-day the hope of the nation, and shall one day be the honor of their family and the just pride of their country."

The King was pleased to reply:

"Mr PRESIDENT: Upon the solemnity of this day, the chamber of deputies reminds me that the beginning of my reign corresponds with an epoch memorable for the liberties of Spain. This recollection is to me as proud a one, and as worthy of my regard and appreciation, as is the homage paid to me by your love, your loyalty, and your respect.

"In guarding and defending public liberties and popular rights, I have only been true to the dictates of my conscience and to the oath which, of my own free will and in the sight of all the world, I took in the midst of the Constituent Cortes. Receiving the assurance, in the name of the chamber of deputies, that the Spanish people witness the fulfillment of the hopes with which they greeted me for the first time two years ago, I feel the greatest pride that a man may cherish and the most hearty satisfaction that a monarch may entertain.

"Full of the deepest love for this my adopted country, which, by raising me to the highest dignity, has placed upon me the gravest responsibility, I pray to God that He will grant to it, in the year which now begins, the peace and prosperity which it deserves. I am confident, as is also the chamber of deputies, that the conspiracies directed against liberty and progress will be fruitless in the time to come, as happily they have been up to the present moment. And I sincerely and ardently long for the day when, with all angry passions laid aside, every one may be persuaded that there is no opinion and no interest which may not thrive in the shadow of a throne founded upon the national will, and daily more and more identified with the people and more firm in its determination to seek counsel in public opinion and to give up in the interest of freedom every temptation to injustice and every pretext for violence.

"The words of approval with which the chamber of deputies, the immediate representative of the people, receives the proposition to abolish slavery in Porto Rico are to me a happy presage that very soon we are to give freedom and happiness to many thousands of men, joy to our Christain hearts, satisfaction to our country, and a just cause of praise to all civilized nations.

"Profoundly do I thank the chamber of deputies for the sentiments expressed toward my wife and my children, whom we shall train up in the love of liberty to the end that they may become worthy of their country."

No. 523.]

No. 378.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

UNITED STATES LEGATION IN SPAIN,

Madrid, January 27, 1873. (Received March 24.) SIR: I have the honor to report that on the publication of the royal order of December 26, 1872, a copy and translation of which are herewith appended, I pointed out to the minister of state, and subsequently, at his

suggestion, to the minister of Ultramar, the vexatious and objectionable clauses in the new customs regulations for Cuba. The colonial secretary promised to consider my suggestions. I asked if the representations in my note of November 27, 1872, had been considered. The minister assured me they had not been overlooked; that, on the contrary, a communication had been sent to the Intendente, embodying several of the reforms suggested, the purport of which would be made known to me. On the 15th instant I received the note from the minister of state, dated 2d instant, a translation of which is annexed. (Appendix C.) Not regarding the action taken by His Majesty's government as likely to be satisfactory to the President, I have made further representations to the minister of state on this subject, which I hope may be approved. They will be found in a copy of a note addressed to the minister, under date of January 27, herewith inclosed and marked Appendix D.

I am, &c.,

D. E. SICKLES.

[For the inclosures above referred to, see inclosures to No. 610, from General Sickles, post, p. 990 to p. 995.]

No. 379.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.]

MADRID, January 30, 1873.

In view of the frequent interruption of communications by telegraph and post between Madrid and the frontier, and having reasons to anticipate very soon a change in the form of this government, I beg you to instruct me as to my line of conduct in case the existing Congress shall declare itself a convention and appoint a new executive.

SICKLES.

No. 380.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.-Received Feb. 10-12.10.]

MADRID, February 10, 1873.

Events foreshadowed in my telegram of January 30 imminent. King has announced to cabinet his desire to abdicate. Revolution inevitable.

No. 381.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.]

SICKLES.

MADRID, February 11, 1873.

Chamber of Deputies declares itself in permanent session on motion of

Figueras, republican deputy.

SICKLES.

No. 382.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.-Rec'd Feb. 12-10.15 a. m.]

MADRID, February 11, 1873.

At half-past four this afternoon the two houses unite under presi dency of Rivero, and declare themselves in the exercise of sovereign. powers. Martos, in name of cabinet, presents resignations of ministers. Cortes accept unanimously abdication of King.

SICKLES.

No. 383.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.-Rec'd Feb. 11-7.30. p. m.]

MADRID, February 11, 1873.

At 9 o'clock to-night Cortes adopt republican form of government259 affirmative, 32 negative.

No. 384.

SICKLES.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.-Rec'd Feb. 12-10 a. m.]

MADRID, February 11, 1873.

Abdication of King read at 3 this afternoon in Chamber of Deputies. Senate and house go into joint session.

No. 385.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

SICKLES.

[Telegram.-Rec'd Feb. 13-9.50 p. m.]

MADRID, February 11, 1873.

Midnight. By authority of Cortes the executive government is con

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Secretary of treasury, Echegaray.

Grace and justice, Nicolas Salmeron.

Public works, Becerra.

Colonies, Francisco Salmeron.

Four of these have heretofore been prominent republicans. Four were members of late cabinet, and the present colonial minister was vicepresident of chamber of deputies.

Martos declined office.
Tranquillity perfect.

No. 386.

SICKLES.

Mr. Fish to General Sickles.

[Telegram.]

WASHINGTON, February 12, 1873. So soon as the republican government is fully established and in possession of the power of the nation you will recognize it. You will not fail to urge upon a government already committed to the principles and the expediency of emancipation and of political reforms the immediate enforcement of practical and efficient reforms and the abolition of slavery in the colonies. The present seems to be the moment when the government can accomplish great results. Endeavor to have the decrees selfacting, and not dependent upon future regulations, which have always proved inoperative and reactionary.

FISH.

No. 387.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.-Received Feb. 14-10 a. m.]

MADRID, February 12, 1873.

Castelar said to me to-night, with much feeling, that the Spanish Republic looked especially to our Government and people for sympathy and support, and inquired with solicitude whether our recognition would be delayed.

President and cabinet entered on their duties at quarter past 2 this morning. Cortes adjourned till this afternoon. Madrid is illuminated.

SICKLES.

No. 388.

General Sickles to Mr. Fish.

[Telegram.-Received Feb. 12-8.20 p. m.]

MADRID, February 12, 1873.

All parties in Congress accept the republic. Am officially notified of new government by Castelar, minister of state, to whom I have addressed

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