The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1814-08-06

diiN SFSiJ promises us, long calm
abroad, and durable felicity at home, will
| be the "a y fruits of the peace.
"A distressing recollection always tlisturbs
my Joy. 1 tiattered myself that was born to
remain for life Il faithful subject OF the best of
| kings aud this day occn =, MS place. But
he is not wholly dead. He lives again in that
testament which he destined for the instr,c-
ton OF The august an2 unfortunate child whom
l succeed.
With my eyes fixed on that instrument pc
netrated with the sentiments that dictated IT,
guided BY the experience and assisted by the
councils OF many among YOU, have digested
the constitutional charter, which is now TO be
read, and which places on ! solid basis the
prosperity OF the state.
Ny Chancellor will make known to you
nore'in detail, my paternal intentions.
1t would DC as difficult to describe with
what profound emotion, with what an impress
sion OF affection and gratitude, the speech of
his majesty was heard as il would be 10 give
a Just idea of the at once noble and moving
expression, the paternal accent, the impress
sive tone, and the Contagious sensibility with
which 1t WAS pronounced. Reiterated accla-
nations ct the assembly and new cries OF
| lang d1'e the King, arose from every side.
The King ordered the Chancellor OF France
20 make communication OF the constitution
al charter. The meeting then assumed new
Character. The nation was about to be ac-
| qnainte.! with ITS rights and duties. Tie
| most prot und silence reigned anew.
Aitcr a speech to the assembly, the
| chancellor handed TO Mr. Ferrand, minister
OF state, the declaration of the KING concern
| ing the constitutional charter. Mr.. Ferrand
read the declaration, of which the following is
a copy:
Louis, 6y the G;-oce If God, King Of France
and Gi1Oarrc, TO al 7olioDl these hreSents
| may cOsne--Grecting
Divine Providence, in recalling US to our
| states after long absence, has imposed upon
US great obligations Peace was the first
want Of our subjects to TINS we have been
devoted without relaxation and this peace,
| as necessary to France IS to the rest OF fu-
| rope, is signed. 4 constitutional che CT was
| solicited by the existing administration OF the
! Kingdom; we have promised one: and We now
| publish it. We have considered that atho'
| in France all authoJytU resides in thr htrSon
| u the King, our predecessors have not hest
tated TO modify the exercise of it, according
! to the variations of the times. Thus the pee
| pie owe their Acknowledgement 10 Louis The
| Fat, the confirmation and extension of their
rights to ST. Louis and Philip the Handsome ;
the order OF this Judiciary was established and
| developed by Louis ~. Henry II. s. Charles
! TX !; and in fine Louis XIV. regulated almost
every part of the public administration by diff
! tcrent DEGREES, the wisdom of which nothing
| has surpassed.
We owe itto the example of the Kings our
| predecessors TO appreciate the effects Of the
afzoays accei7afing advancement Of k7aozv-
| (edge, Of the 1e7U reign III luiich this Qll-
Voncemeat has Introduced into SocietU, ofthc
| direction eiOen TO the mind within huifu cen
| ti0y, and tie tmfortGnt alterations 7Vbich
| haUe resulted from il /; we have considered
that the desire OF our subjects for CONSTITUTE
! onal charter was the expression OF a real
want but yielding II this desire we have ia
ken every prccaution that this charter.
| should be worthy OF US ard Of tie people
| whom we are proud to command wise men
| selected from the first bodies in the state,
| have been united with the commissioners of
| our council, to labor upon this important
| work.
| Az the same time that we Acknowledge that
| a free and monarchical Constitution ought 70
! satisfy the expectation of enlightened Eu-
| rope, we ought TO remember that our first
| duty towards ourpeople was TO preserve, fol
| their own interest, the rights and prercgatives
OF our crown. We have hoped, that, instruc-
| ted by experience, it will be acknowledged
that supreme authority alone can give TO the
institutions which it establishes, the power,
! permanenCe and majesty with which il is il.
| self clothed that when the wisdom Of
| kings yields freely to the will Of the people,
constitutional charter may be of long dura-
| ton ; but when violence wrests Concessions
| from the weakness of government, pubic Ii
| berry is not less IN danger than the throne it
| self. We have in fine sought for the princi-
| pies Of the constitutional charterin the French
character and inthe venerable monuments OF
| past ages. Thus we have seen in the renew
al Of the pcerage, an institution truly nation
| ally, and one which ought to bind together ali
recollections and ali hopes, in uniting ancient
and modern times.
| We have substituted the House of Dcpu-
| ties for those ancient assemblies Of the
| CHAMP de DllTS and de Mi, and those clru,-
| bers OF the three SfatcS, which have so often
| given i'll sudden emergencies, proofs of zeal
for the interests of the people, and fidelity
| and respect for the authority Of kings IN
| endeavoring thus to renew the chain OF times
| which fatal err0urs had broken, we have Elf
| ced from our recollection. IS we wish il were
| possible to eifdce them from history, all the
| Calamities which have afflicted our country
| during our absence. Happy to find ourselves
in the bosom of the great family, We know
! not how to respond To the love e Which We
! receive so many testimonials but by pronouii-
| cling the words Of peace and consolation.--
| he wish nearest our heart, is that ali
| Frenchmen may live as brothers, and that no
bitter recollection may ever disturb the secu-
rity which ought to result from the solemn
act which we this day grant to them.