MESSAGE of the President, relative to the Treaty for the Annexation of Texas to United States. Washington, 22nd April, 1844.. of the President, relative to Import Duties levied in Great Britain on American Rough Rice. of the President, on the Opening of Congress. Washington, 2nd December, 1845.. Washington, 30th April, 1844.. 1229 REPORT of the Secretary of War. 30th November, 1844.. France. Convention. Extradition. Washington, 9th November, 1843.. 1229 Texas. Treaty. Annexation (not ratified). Washington, 12th April, 1844 262 TREATIES with NATIONS and TRIBES of INDIANS, 1825-1842.. 1277 DECREE of Congress, approving Treaty of Friendship, Com- BRITISH AND FOREIGN State Papers. SPEECH of The Queen, on the Opening of the British Parliament.--Westminster, February 4, 1845. My Lords and Gentlemen, I REJOICE that I am enabled, on again meeting you in Parliament, to congratulate you on the improved condition of the country. Increased activity pervades almost every branch of manufacture; trade and commerce have been extended at home and abroad; and among all classes of my people there is generally prevalent a spirit of loyalty and cheerful obedience to the law. I continue to receive from all foreign Powers and States assurances of their friendly disposition. I have had much satisfaction in receiving at my Court the Sovereigns who in the course of the last year visited this country. The journey of the Emperor of Russia, undertaken at a great sacrifice of private convenience, was a proof of the friendship of His Imperial Majesty most acceptable to my feelings. The opportunity of personal intercourse thus afforded to me may, I hope, be the means of still further improving those amicable relations which have long existed between Great Britain and Russia. The visit of the King of the French was rendered especially welcome to me, inasmuch as it had been preceded by discussions which might have impaired the good understanding happily established between the 2 countries. I regard the maintenance of this good understanding as essential to the best interests of both; and I rejoice to witness that the sentiments so cordially expressed by all classes of my subjects on the occasion of His Majesty's visit were entirely in unison with my own. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, The estimates for the ensuing year have been prepared, and will forthwith be laid before you. The progress of steam navigation, and the demands for protection to the extended commerce of the country, will occasion an increase in the estimates connected with the naval service. My Lords and Gentlemen, I have observed, with sincere satisfaction, that the improvement which is manifest in other parts of the country has extended to Ireland. The political agitation and excitement which I have had heretofore occasion to lament appear to have gradually abated, and, as a natural result, private capital has been more freely applied to useful public enterprizes, undertaken through the friendly co-operation of individuals interested in the welfare of Ireland. I have carried into effect, in the spirit in which it was conceived, the Act for the more effectual application of charitable donations and bequests. I recommend to your favourable consideration the policy of improving and extending the opportunities for academical education in Ireland. The report of the commission appointed to inquire into the law and practice in respect to the occupation of land is nearly prepared, and shall be communicated to you immediately after its presentation. The state of the law in regard to the privileges of the Bank of Ireland, and to other banking establishments, in that country, and in Scotland, will no doubt occupy your attention. The health of the inhabitants of large towns and populous districts in this part of the United Kingdom has been the subject of recent inquiry before a commission, the report of which shall be immediately laid before you. It will be highly gratifying to me if the information and suggestions contained in that report shall enable you to devise the means of promoting the health and comfort of the poorer classes of my subjects. I congratulate you on the success of the measures which 3 years since were adopted by Parliament for the purpose of supplying the deficiency in the public revenue, and arresting the accumulation of debt in the time of peace. The Act which was passed at that time for imposing a tax upon income will shortly expire. It will be for you, in your wisdom, to determine whether it may not be expedient to continue its operation for a further period, and thus to obtain the means of adequately 'providing for the public service, and at the same time of making a reduction in other taxation. Whatever may be the result of your deliberations in this respect, I feel assured that it will be your determination to maintain an amount of revenue amply sufficient to meet the necessary expenditure of the country, and firmly to uphold that public credit which is indispensable to the national welfare. The prospect of continued peace, and the general state of domestic prosperity and tranquillity, afford a favourable opportunity for the consideration of the important matters to which I have directed your attention; and I commit them to your deliberation, with the earnest prayer that you may be enabled, under the superintending care and protection of Divine Providence, to strengthen the feelings of mutual confidence and good-will between different classes of my subjects, and to improve the condition of my people. SPEECH of the Queen, on the Closing of the British Parliament.-Westminster, August 9, 1845. My Lords and Gentlemen, I REJOICE that the state of public business enables me to release you from further attendance in Parliament. In closing this laborious session, I must express to you my warm acknowledgments for the zeal and assiduity with which you have applied yourselves to the consideration of many subjects deeply affecting the public welfare. I have given my cordial assent to the Bills which you presented to me for remitting the duties on many articles of import, and for removing restrictions on the free application of capital and skill to certain branches of our manufactures. The reduction of taxation will necessarily cause an immediate loss of revenue, but I trust that its effect in stimulating commercial enterprize and enlarging the means of consumption will ultimately provide an ample compensation for any temporary sacrifice. I have witnessed with peculiar satisfaction the unremitting attention which you have bestowed on the measures recommended by me to your consideration at the commencement of the session, for improving and extending the means of academical education in Ireland. You may rely upon my determination to carry those measures into execution in the manner best calculated to inspire confidence in the institutions which have received your sanction, and to give effect to your earnest desire to promote the welfare of that part of my dominions. From all foreign Powers I continue to receive assurances of their friendly disposition towards this country. The Convention which I have recently concluded with the King of the French, for the more effectual suppression of the Slave Trade, will, I trust, by establishing a cordial and active co-operation between the 2 Powers, afford a better prospect than has hitherto existed of complete success in the attainment of an object for which this country has made so many sacrifices. Gentlemen of the House of Commons, I thank you for the liberality with which you have voted the supplies for the service of the current year. |