Mr. Koerner to Mr. Seward.
Sir:Despatch No. 75, enclosing communication from the Navy Department, was received last night. The instruction it contains as to expressing the thanks of the government of the United States to Spanish Admiral Don D. Pavia, through the appropriate channel, will receive my prompt attention.
The house of deputies of the Cortes have adopted the constitutional changes lately passed in the senate by a very large majority; by this proceeding hereditary peerage has been abolished, and the two houses are left free to prescribe their own rules, which, under the former enactment of 1857, were to be regulated by a law which required the action of both houses, and the assent of the crown. The effect of the recent changes is there-establishment of the constitution of 1845.
[Page 18]Mr. Mon, the president of the ministry, has expressed himself in the Cortes a few days ago, in the same manner, and almost in the same language, as to the question of St. Domingo, as Mr. Pacheco did to me in the late conversation which I had the honor to report to you. The houses seemed to acquiesce in his views. The independent press, nevertheless, denounces the annexation and the attempt to enforce it at the terrible cost of blood and treasure.
The steamer Princess, detained at Malaga, and of which I have spoken in several of my despatches, has been confiscated by the Spanish government, as I have been informed, though the information is not official.
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Very respectfully, your most obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.