The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1805-07-09
RE17o NJ FRANCE
OF TIE PROVINCE OF UTRECHT.

the Provipce of Utree5t asainf the Contribution
CONTAINS ingenious and fpirited pro;ef agann the
imroisi.n of thar form OF Government by the nand
Of foreign nation:-
+" III tie rrdyGgrrd eifizexs AMI iaLaj;isis II U;rect
to the Prsszsaf ard renbe,, Of tie Sats dsee1oy .,
! tie Batavian Republic.
/" FELLOW CI11zrNs-
"A new plan of Contribution being again propof-
ed to the Batavian people, in order otis being iub-
jeefed, without delay, to their an-nt rejection,
and as we have II not IN our power TO make known
the reafons for our diient the time of voting; we
take the liberty inform you that after minute in
velligation aud confederation of the fad plan,
the fame appeared to us, far from amending the pre-
! lent Contribution, to be, on the contrary, liable
; to produce much greater evil, which, fooner or
later, fnuR neceHari!y proceed therefrom the
: ton and we therefore feel difficulty in 1atpg
that the faid plan, according view of it, is
variance with the ntereft of the people of Beav;a
and Republican Libe,tr, for which auceiors have
| facrficed 70 much blood and reairre 1t appears
| from the contents of this plan, that
"i The Poiieions and property of the iuha5i-
tants are left AZ the mercy of the mott arbitrary DIFF
petitions of the political power, the experience
whereof has proved of great injury 70 many emf
nent inhabitants from the year 1895, down to
the prefent time. without ob,anin, any redreis,
notwithstanding their JUN complaint. have been
prefented aeain thei abutes which is the cauie Of
10 much dif1atisfadion this time.
ell. That by the faid plan, u(lice, and the courfe
of the law, that palladium, and facred irpporr Of Ii
berty, which lllle free by the prefent Contit-
and which ought always remain free unto all the
inhabitants in all cafes, is pedsd and be fborn-
ed in the mott arbitrary manner, which cannot be IL
mited by any contribution, Gnce is the incontro-
vertibe right of every Member of Society
| "lII. That the Supreme Power is placed above
every law, and moi unlimited nay defpotic author
ity is committed 70 one perfon as it were under the
old title OF Penionary of the Council; power much
greater and ex.envc than belonged TO the
ancient Counts of Holland and to the late Stadtho,
ders, nay which even exceeds that of Confitution-
al King, there being abandoned to him without the
leaf limitation
IL The whole fiipreme standardization OF the
national pecunary MEANS to difpoi. of them accor-
ding TO his peafure.
&c. The free difpofal of the whole military fores
| OF the country, as well by fea as land.
IS. The arbitrary nomination of all high funai-
aries and the free appointment of the administration
OF the place where the government relides to the
prejudice of the right of its inhabitants 10 the free
election of their own Magifrates
al. The executive right of alone making provo
fisions in the Anembly of their High Miehtinefes,
and the limitation of the power of that Afiembly,
which cannot deliberate on any other fube4s bu,
fuch as are Propofed TO il by him thus, when he is
tilent, all are filent and deadly ethargy enfues
IS. That he is made accountable TO no man. but
only to the Supreme Being, who is contemplated
with FAR too much loofenefs and liberty for there
being no ruling or dilfinguifhed religion eitabhed
furely wide door is opened for every boiy's con-
fcience. upon which the people of Batavia mun en-
tirely depend, and embark all their concerns
GA power, therefore, of which one of the Mem
bers of the Legislative AHembly has juRy obferv-
ed, that if the perfon who pofleGes it be Cato,
managing the Republic wifely and honenly the Com
monweash may poiibly be happy for the time being
hYto L. 70,
under his con,roul.
" And is it now eligible and prudent for the in
haoitans of this country adopt plan of eonli-
tuition OF that nature upon uncertainty and for the
nation to he hazarded upon the e5aaee whether Ca
to or Csefar fha be any time placed at his head
With great reafon did the aforefaid member exhort
the inhabitants of this country 10 watch diligently o.
Yer this point, that they nigh, deliver thenfelves
up unfortunately to defpotifn, and violence, and
thus fufer themelves to be fettered with bonds OF
! flavery.
| "Thefe are the reafons Citizens why we az
well for us as for our ponerity, are neither willing
nor able to refolve upon The acceptat on of conGu-
tion by which, under the pecios forms of old names
or titles, the moi arbitrary Government may be in
troduced.
Far be 1t, nevertheless, that by this our reec-
tion OF the propcfed plan, we fhouId be underf pod
to approve OF the exiting Contribution in the whole
and that fiould not be conidered as difpofed 70
agree with fou IN any wife Improvement OF a more
concentrated administration no. the contrary is the
fact for If we are to fpeak out what we think, and
what our hearts dictate, we have experienced none
but unfortunate years fnce the revolution of 1895 ,
and the founding words of Equality, Liberty, and
Fraternity, of Batavian Liberty Of Unity, and IN
divilbIity, Of pretended Pa:riot;fm and OF a far
famed and loud cry of love of Country have pro-
duced none but the bittere fruit the principal
OF the nation to thoie who have not enriched them
felves by the treaiures levied at 70 dear rate
"We long therefore, for a change, bur at the fame
time for an improvement and nothing will be more
agreeable to us (hs lpeak confidently in the name
OF the whole nation) than after being tod to and FRO
to fee For once good plan of contribution offered
refling fclely upon the BATS of Rights of EQUITY, &
of found Politics, by which Liberty and Divine Wor-
fhiP hould he maintained every individual protected
in the poielon of his lawful property, juice exer-
cited without impeachment 70 that even the n,eapeft
inhabi'ant may obtain his due right, and by which
the Supreme Power ihsll not be placed above the
law, fovereign and unlimited authority not en-
trufed to any Jingle individual whof ever he be- and
by whatever appellation he may be dininquifhed.
| "ADd how greatly is it to be lamented Citizen.
that in the prelent iDftance, inconiderae enthuG-
aim houd have deviated 70 Tar from, the Union and
placed every thing upon vague foundation from
the Union, by which our Republic, under the blef-
iing Of God had rifen to the bighe ummit of elici