The 16th of September is the anniversary of the proclamation of Mexican
independence, and is the day appointed by the constitution for the
opening of the first period of the regular annual sessions of
congress.
On no previous occasion, however, since the adoption of the constitution
of 1857, has the session been opened on that day either a want of
promptness in the attendance of members has delayed the opening, or war
has prevented their assembling.
But this year, on the 5th instant, the day designated by the permanent
deputation for the commencement of their customary preparatory sessions,
for the purpose of organization, a quorum was already present in the
capital, and for the first time the annual session has been commenced on
the day designated by the constitution.
In the discourses pronounced on this occasion, no allusion whatever is
made to the foreign relations of the republic. It was anticipated that
some reference would have been made to the conventions recently
concluded with the United States, but they are not mentioned.
The address of President Juarez gives an authoritative, interesting, and
encouraging account of the political situation of the country; and that
of the president of congress indicates harmony between the legislative
and executive powers.
The opposition to the administration in congress, it is reported, has
been diminished in numbers during the recess by the course of events,
and it is hoped that its character may now be less violent.
The question of the material interests of the country appears, also, on
all sides to be receiving more attention, and a very general hope seems
to be entertained that the labors of the present session may be
productive of some positive progress in this regard.
Opening of the Mexican Congress, September 16, 1868.
Speeches of the
President of the republic and of the president of
congress.
[From the Diario Oficial,
Mexico, September 16,
1868.—Translation.]
SPEECH OF PRESIDENT JUAREZ.
Citizen Deputies: I congratulate you with
great satisfaction upon seeing you again assembled together to
discharge your high functions.
Without any of the obstructions of past times, which have rendered it
difficult for the representatives of the people to come from remote
points, you have commenced this new period of your labors upon the
precise day designated by the fundamental code.
Since the adoption of the constitution, for the first time has there
been united on this day two great motives of public rejoicing, and
of flattering hopes for the future.
We, to-day, jointly celebrate the anniversary of the proclamation of
independence, affirmed by the triumph in a foreign war, and the new
meeting of congress, which demonstrates the consolidation of the
republic, and the tranquil and regular march of our
institutions.
At the conclusion of the previous period of the sessions of congress,
the campaign in the sierra of Puebla, to repress those who had there
rebelled against the functionaries of the State, was pending.
For some time the executive employed prudential measures without
avail, having in the end to aid efficaciously the authorities of the
State in compliance with its constitutional duty.
This revolt was promptly suppressed, with the same success with which
before had. been combated those that had occurred in other States
against the local authorities.
These disturbances have been but few, and less than what was to have
been feared after a civil and foreign war, that so profoundly and
for so long a time had commoved the nation.
Now there only exists a band, few in number, that has recently
revolted in Tamauli-pas against the local government, and that
cannot occasion any serious danger in that State, where peace is
assured by sufficient forces of the federation.
All of the States now enjoy the constitutional regimen. The
difficulties that existed in Guerrero having been adjusted, the
people have been convoked that they may, with full liberty, hold the
special elections of the State.
Tepic is still continued as a military district by reason of its
special circumstances; but it is to be hoped that they will very
soon permit that congress should occupy itself with this affair, in
order to determine what it may judge convenient.
If the valor and loyalty of the military forces of the Union, which
have repressed the late revolts, merits just eulogiums, combating as
worthy republican soldiers, it is also just to observe that they
have been efficaciously aided by the good spirit of the people.
With great reason should we felicitate ourselves in view of the
energetic and unanimous aspiration of all of the people of the
republic to maintain peace and to enjoy its benefits under the
protection of the constitution and the laws.
Under these auspices we may be confident that no difficulty will
distract the attention of congress from its important labors in
issuing the laws that are required by various branches of the public
administration.
The government will co-operate towards this end by means of various
initiatives.
It will present one with reference to the protection of individual
guarantees, and another with reference to the establishment of
juries in the federal district for all criminal trials.
Another is being prepared with reference to public instruction, and
another with reference to the courts of appeal in military
trials.
With the earnest desire that our legislation may be soon improved,
the commissions charged with the formation of projects of civil and
commercial codes have been reorganized and are laboring
actively.
The commission charged with the project of the criminal code has
continued and is very far advanced in its labors.
An initiative will be presented with reference to reforms in the
ordinances for the mints, and another is being prepared with
reference to the ordinances for public surveys.
The government has received already two of the mints which were
rented, haying for some time had the determination to make now new
leases and to terminate those existing as fast as their stipulations
will permit.
With respect to the new routes of communication decreed by congress,
the necessary surveys have already been made, and work upon them
will very shortly be commenced.
The necessity of promoting and of stimulating material improvements,
by all possible means, being so fully recognized, congress, in this
important subject, will meet with the most zealous and efficacious
co-operation of the general government.
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Attending to the condition of some of the tax-payers who have been
unable to meet the extraordinary imposts which were decreed by the
general-in-chief of the army of the east, on account of the
circumstances in which they were placed before the termination of
the operations of the war, the government will present the
initiative proposing that the payment of what remains due shall be
made with recognized credits of the public debt.
The payment of all the branches of the administration has continued
to be made with entire regularity, and in conformity with the law of
appropriations.
Immediately that the latter commenced to be in force, all special
funds ceased, according to the provisions made by congress.
In the new organization of the corps of the military divisions,
difficulties have occurred in its immediate execution, a portion of
the forces being occupied in the campaign of the sierra of Puebla,
and others disseminated at great distances. However, it has been
directed that it be proceeded with, with all possible dispatch,
holding in reserve the initiation to congress of the modifications
that may be judged necessary, and without any expenditure having
been made above the sum approved in the appropriation law, which the
government has taken care, and will take care, shall be exactly
complied with.
The people that have defended with their blood our free institutions
have imposed upon the public authorities the constant and sacred
duty of faithfully observing the constitution and the laws, which
assure the rights and the guarantees of the citizens, and are a sure
pledge of the peace and the progress of society.
Receive, citizen deputies, the wishes that I offer for the success of
your deliberations, in which I have no doubt you will continue to
seek the highest good and prosperity of the republic.
SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT OF CONGRESS, MR. JUSTINO
FERNANDEZ.
Citizen President: The congress of the
Union, after a period of legal recess, has returned to meet again
to-day, as the day designated by the constitution, to continue its
legislative labors, and exercise the important attributes of its
elevated charge; this august ceremony of the solemn inauguration of
its sessions coming to crown the festivity of the day consecrated to
the memory of the glories of the country and those or its greatest
and most illustrious sons who have known how to sacrifice themselves
in its behalf.
The solicitous diligence and strict punctuality with which, to a
large number and from all of the States of the federation, their
representatives have repaired hither to take part in the
deliberations of the period now to commence, furnishes a new proof
that republican institutions are firmly established among us, that
such alone are the institutions desired by the people, and that in
them alone the nation founds its hopes of social reorganization and
of well being and of prosperity; and also furnishes a sure presage
that the citizen deputies, animated by the same patriotic zeal and
laborious activity as in the previous period of sessions, will
consecrate themselves in this to comply fully with the duties of
their honorable commission, with entire dedication to the same, and
guided always by the highest aspirations for the public good.
Grand, immense, and difficult in the extreme is the task that in the
present period of sessions congress has to discharge. Innumerable
are the affairs with which it should occupy itself, and varied and
complicated the subjects to which they have relation.
Without indulging the hope that all the work intrusted to its charge
will be fully finished, confidence may be entertained that the
important and grave affairs which remained to be discussed from the
previous period, and which only for want of time could not be
submitted to its deliberation, will now be the object of
preferential attention.
Such are the projects with reference to organic laws without which it
is not possible for the constitutional system which governs us
regularly and perfectly to perform its functions, or that the public
liberties can be preserved or individual guarantees be assured.
Such are those that refer to the maintenance and consolidation of
peace and the establishment of personal security; as is for the
first that which will determine the condition and fate of those
unfortunate Mexians who offended their country, lending aid or their
services to the intervention or to the empire; and for the second
that which will determine the proceedings of the trial and the
penalties with which highway-robbers and kidnappers shall be tried
and sentenced, that horrible leprosy of evil, implanted among the
most atrocious of the criminals by foreign adventurers who have
mixed in our civil dissensions.
Such are various projects with reference to railroads, especially
that which proposes to unite this capital with Vera Cruz, and that
which will establish the general basis and conditions under which
concessions may be made in the future to empresarios who shall undertake them; for these
improvements open a wide field to labor, and upon them depends very
directly the well-being of a multitude of persons, and they will
contribute to the greatness and prosperity of the republic.
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Such are also various projects which propose to encourage and protect
commerce and industry, mining and agriculture, which it is to be
desired should be treated of at the same time in order to provide
that all these branches of wealth shall prosper and be developed
equally, and that they be placed in the most perfect harmony the one
with the other.
Such are, in fine, various others of greater or less importance the
enumeration of which would be tiresome, and which will be taken into
consideration in the turn which belongs to them, or with the
preference which may be accorded.
Congress will also occupy itself with the very important initiatives
which have just been indicated by the citizen President, and with
all that may be brought before it in the course of its sessions.
In this respect congress should express how satisfactory it is to it
that the government makes use of the constitutional faculty of
initiating new laws, or asking the repeal or reform of those in
force.
This faculty, exercised with a profound knowledge of what may
prejudice or promote the public good, is one of the most solid and
sure guarantees of good administrative order.
Happily congress can dedicate itself to the discharge of its arduous
and difficult labors with the calmness and tranquillity which are so
necessary to deliberative bodies, in order that their labors may be
fruitful and their resolutions always bear the seal of the most
clear and strict justice. So at least this assembly is led to hope,
by the exposition which you have just made, citizen President, of
the orderly manner in which the affairs of the republic
progress.
You have assured us that peace is re-established in all its
territory; that in it the constitutional system rules; that the
appropriation law has been strictly observed in all the branches of
the administration; that the payments of the treasury have been made
with the greatest punctuality; that a considerable amount of the
public debt has been redeemed; that the labors are prosecuted with
zeal in opening the new routes of communication decreed at the last
period of sessions, and in repairing the old; and that, in fine,
there are already prepared many initiatives whose sole enumeration
with reference to what they embrace demonstrates the great and
decided desire which the government entertains to improve the
administration of public affairs and place it on a level with the
civilization and the requirements of our society.
All this is highly satisfactory; all this contains guarantees of good
success for the future; and all this, in fine, demonstrates
unequivocally that there is morality in the administration, and a
true and enlightened patriotism on the part of those who direct the
public affairs.
For this congress expresses its sincere congratulations, and it
offers the most ardent wishes that the most complete harmony may be
maintained among the powers of the Union, in order that they may
thus be dedicated to the consolidation of peace in all of the
republic.
This assembly confidently expects that the government will dedicate
all its efforts, and place in action all the preventive and
repressive means of which it can dispose, to preserve and
consolidate this peace, conquered at such a cost, and which is the
most inestimable good which is now hoped to be enjoyed by all the
inhabitants of the Mexican republic, as without it there cannot be
security or tranquillity, and all progress and well-being is
impossible.
The national representation, the faithful interpreter of the desires
and aspirations of the people, believes that it satisfies them,
making this energetic recommendation to the government, and offering
it at the same time its most firm and efficacious co-operation.
With positive satisfaction is accepted, citizen President, the offer
which you have made, to faithfully guard the constitution, and
comply with the precepts of the law.
This programme, strictly observed, will be, it cannot be doubted, the
bond of liberal union, and the flag under which there will cluster
at the side of the government all those who profess progressive
principles and desire the advancement of our society, and the glory
and grandeur of the republic.
