par la Constitution, les lois et règlements en vigueur, continuent à être appliqués.

CXXI. La Constitution d'Etats du 12 October, 1841, est abolie. Toutes les autorités conservent et exercent leurs attributions, jusqu'à ce qu'il y ait été autrement pourvu, conformément à la Constitution.

Appartient à Notre ordonnance de ce jour.

La Haye, le 27 Novembre, 1856.

Par le Roi Grand-Duc:

Grand-Duché de Luxembourg, G. D'OLIMART.

Le Conseil des Administrateurs-Généraux,

SIMONS, WURTH-PAQUET, SERVAIS,

GUILLAUME.

EYSCHEN, DE SCHERFF.

SPEECH of the President of Chile, on the Opening of the National Congress.-Santiago, June 1, 1855.

(Translation.)

FELLOW-CITIZENS OF THE SENATE AND

CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES,

In opening your sessions, I have the pleasure of announcing to you that the Republic enjoys peace both at home and abroad; that her prosperity increases; that progress is made in the different branches of the public service; and that no calamity, no untoward accident has, during the past year, disturbed the peaceful and regular march of the administration, nor the enterprises and works which tend to develope agriculture, to give an impulse to industry and to encourage commerce. This state of things, and the flattering prospect which it gives, cannot be contemplated without feeling a lively satisfaction and a profound sense of gratitude to Divine Providence, whose favour and paternal protection are still continued to us.

Good understanding and harmony pervades our relations with the various States of Europe and America.

As you already know, political events have occurred in some of the neighbouring States which will doubtless have great influence over their internal situation. The Government has kept aloof from them, respecting in the most ample manner the independence of each State; and, faithful to those principles which for some time past the Republic has adopted, she has continued to cultivate international relations with the same interest, and animated by the sincere desire of rendering them more intimate and cordial.

My attention has been particularly called to a Convention

arranged at Quito, on the 20th of November last, between the Plenipotentiaries of Ecuador and The United States, on account of a protection, stipulated therein in favour of the first of those Republics, which would doubtless have affected in a serious manner the respective situations of the several States on the continent. I considered it of urgent necessity to represent to the Government of Ecuador the objections to this Convention, and to make friendly efforts to persuade it to adopt some modification by which they might be removed. This is the object of the extraordinary mission sent to Ecuador. Although from recent events there are good reasons for hoping that this Convention will not be carried out, nevertheless the mission will not be without result. We shall have given to Ecuador a proof of our interest and sympathy, and fulfilled a duty imposed upon us as members of the great American family.

In the month of November last, the sinking fund of the debt of 2,000,000, which Peru acknowledges in favour of Chile, was arranged in conformity with the stipulation of Article IV of the Treaty of the 11th of December, 1849, by agreement between the two Governments.

The Argentine Confederation has recently accredited a Chargé d'Affaires. Notwithstanding the many relations which exist between this Republic and the Confederation, and the immediate contact in which their geographical position places these States, it is now some years since their international relations have been cultivated by means of Diplomatic Missions. From the present mission I look for important results in favour of the interests of both countries.

I recommend to your early consideration the Treaty with Great Britain, and the Consular Convention with New Granada.†

I have made considerable use of my constitutional privileges in favour of those individuals who had suffered imprisonment and exile in consequence of the crisis of 1851, and have respectively set them at liberty, or allowed them to return to the country. In consequence of those measures there are now no persons detained in prison on that account, and the number of those whom the sentence of the tribunals had banished from the Republic has been considerably reduced. The same means will permit the Government to show indulgence towards the rest, making such differences as equity and the sacred interests of justice may render advisable.

By virtue of the authority which Congress granted to me by Law of 24th October last, a new demarkation of Departments has been made in the province of Chiloe, so as to meet the exigencies of a good administration.

In the present year the municipal law will first come into com⚫ Oct. 4, 1854, Vol. XLIV. Page 47. † Aug. 30, 1853, Vol. XLV. Page 766

plete action. It determines with precision the functions of the municipalities, and gives them that extent of action which the nature of the interests, on the one hand, confided to them requires, and which, on the other hand, it was impossible for the Government to exercise.

The roads and means of communication have been improved, in so far as the means at the disposal of the Government would permit, and it is satisfactory to me to state to you, that of the works of this class which were in progress, the following have been finished and opened for the public use, viz. the road from Tome to Chillan, that from Illapel to Pichidanque, that of the Barriales on the southern road, the coast of Prado; the bridge over the river Aconcagua, and others of less importance. The formation of this new road from La Higuera to Totoralillo, that of the Alto del Puerto, and that from Valdivia to Osorno continue in progress; the construction of the bridge over the Cachapoal and of one over the Pudahuel are going on, and a contract has been made for two more, one over the Choapa, and the other over the Puangue; and as soon as the preparatory works have been finished, proposals are expected for a bridge over the Maule. The formation of a new road from Tomè to Conception has been began, and other partial works, some of them very important, are being executed on different roads, both in the north and south.

The rails are now being laid on a part of the Valparaiso and Santiago railroad, and the rest of the work advances rapidly. Since the short delay caused by the abandonment of the line of Concon for that of Limache a great impulse has been given to its progress. The difficulties with which this enterprise has had to struggle have established it and secured the result; in addition to its immense advantages, it will be highly honourable to the country.

The formation of a company for the construction of a railway from Santiago to Talca has recently been promoted; the great advantages which a work of this kind promises render it worthy of all the protection of the Government, and I trust that when the time comes you will give it your support and encouragement.

The Commission of Engineers appointed to survey the port of Constitution and the River Maule, in order to determine how the first may be improved and the navigation of the second rendered easier, having finished their task, it is now intended to proceed with the execution of the proposed works, and for this purpose I count upon your voting the necessary funds. The same engineers have been commissioned to survey the Lake of Vichuquen, and to report whether it is possible to connect it with the sea by a navigable canal, and if so what will be the cost of the work. It is necessary that the Province of Colchagua should have a port for the convenient

exportation of its productions, and such a one as might be had in the Lake of Vichuquen would be of much general utility and the safest in the Republic.

The Statistical Office has been at work for the last six months with twelve extra clerks, in arranging the details of the census of the population, and in the formation of tables which will show the results by provinces, departments, and parishes, with all the particulars which the law requires.

The materials for the formation of a telegraphic line from Santiago to Talca have been sent for from Europe, and may shortly be expected, together with skilled persons to form it and to conduct the service. It is to be hoped that this new line will contribute towards bringing into action the one between Valparaiso and Santiago, and that, with some assistance from the national funds, it will continue to give its services with regularity to the public. This assistance, which I had granted to the line whilst in action, I am inclined to continue when it shall be re-established, and to augment it in proportion to the improvements that may be made.

The Minister Plenipotentiary of the Republic at Paris, in conformity with the orders of the Government, has invited the Brazilian Steamer Company to enter into a contract to prolong their liue as far as Valparaiso by the Straits of Magellan. The Company has explained that it cannot undertake this at present, but that when the temporary circumstances which prevent such arrangements shall have disappeared, proposals will be sent in.

The two hospitals in this capital are confided to the charge of the Sisters of Charity, and the result of this measure has amply fulfilled the hopes which were entertained of it.

Arrangements have been introduced into the Foundling Hospital, under the charge of the Sisters of Providence, which will insure good results to the institution. When the ideas in contemplation are realized with the assistance of the Sisters of Providence, the establishment will bring up and educate the children, and will so prepare them that they may gain an honest livelihood and become useful members of society.

Various benevolent establishments, both in this capital and other towns, have been attended to and assisted, both as regards the necessary buildings and their ordinary expenses.

A short time ago, a Commissioner left for Europe, in order to promote immigration to this country and encourage colonization in the south. The establishment of Llanguihue gradually increases, and is now ready to receive a considerable number of colonists.

The establishment at Magellan urgently requires the introduction of a new population. At present the colony, being composed of employés and of the members of the garrison, does not [1855-56.] 4 M

fulfil one of its most important objects, namely, the cultivation of the territory, the utilization of the forests, and other branches of industry which are held out to permanent settlers. To obtain this object, I have considered that the only measure is a foreign immigration from countries of a similar climate, and consequently the necessary instructions have been given to the agent for colonization. The revision of the Civil Code is zealously continued. Notwithstanding the deliberation with which the Commission proceeds, in accordance with the importance of the subject, there is only a small part remaining to be examined. The delay will be more than compensated by the greater perfection which will be given to the Code.

The reformation of the other codes is not less urgent; up to the present time the Commissions have been occupied in the necessary preparations for a work of this kind, and I trust that they will soon draw up and present their projects.

Last year, Congress met important public wants by laws regarding preference of credits, joint-stock Companies, and mining engineers; during this year, I shall call your attention to other projects of a similar nature and object.

The Penitentiary has been finished, and its internal government arranged. Of the prisons that are being built, some are nearly finished, others are more or less advanced. Besides the funds granted for these works sums have been decreed for urgent repairs in various prisons. At Juan Fernandez, the buildings indispensable for the security of the establishment and for the habitations of the garrison and prisoners are in course of construction.

The regulations for the prisons which have been gradually improved by isolated alterations, require a general law to fix the bases of the organization of establishments of this kind, and to give the rules the necessary force.

The Minister of the Republic at Paris ought, by this time, to be at Rome, on a commission to settle with His Holiness certain arrangements touching the interests of religion and of the State.

The religious service has lately received the special attention of the very Reverend the Archbishop, and of the Reverend Bishop of La Serena, who have continued the visitation of their dioceses.

The Bulls instituting the Reverend Bishop of Conception, have been put into operation, and he has now been for some months at the head of his diocese, to the great advantage of the religious interests of that part of the Republic. That prelate has already established the ecclesiastical seminary so necessary to provide duly educated ministers for the service of the Church. The Reverend Bishop has met with the requisite support and co-operation on the part of the Government in the foundation of so important an establishment.