Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-07-20

hng'y misre presented the fact for, during
| the deliberations of the National Assembly,
in the year 1899, respecting that very code
which LOUIS XVI. had sworn to support.
there was frequent ailusion to the English
constitution and repeated attempts made to
obtain its introduction into France. When
| the question was under discussion, whether
/ the legislative power should be formed into
| one or two chambers, It was ststedby Lally,
that three powers were necessary to form
a balance. England (said he> affords an
example of this since the national ACT in
| 1858 no where are liberty, property and
| political equality more respected. The SCI
cond chamber should have separate inter-
est. otherwise it would be animated by the
same spirit. The lexis a. 1--WE body should be
composed of the representatives of the ma
| ton, a Senate and Kihg. The first ciiaa-,
Der viii DC more cei II "a deliberations I; the,
second will correct IT'S err,.ss; and the King
ireciprocally keep both the Senate and Re-
preventative Body in proper bounds by
| means Of each other.' To this plausible
theory, it was answered by Vilieneuve 50
1--WE hear of nothing but boas,ings of the
English government but its enthusiastic
admirers conceal from you its defects. You
are perpetually told of the wonderful ma
| chinery of its two chambers, and three pow
ers but under this general eulogium, they
hide from you the faults of the House of
Peers, the manner of composing it, the mon.
strous inequality of the popular representa-
ton, the absolute veto of the Monarch, and
ether errors seen and iamented by every
| good Englishman.''
This answer, even at this day will be -
| gardcd as sufficient to overthrow the vain
bcasting, and fulsome papegyric of those who
are INCREASINGLY praising the British Con-
stitution, and ofiiciously endeavoring to
! thrust it upon the notice of all other nations
as model Of perfection as the only poiiti~
cal system calculated to secure public hap.
ppess prosperity-But Ihave been told by
some that am somewhat capricious that
when all the world are congratnlating the
| Frenctl nation on the great blessing of hav-
| ing been delivered from military despot-
| ism. !. being but a solitary individual, ought
to give way to the general impulse ought
| TO join in the servent exclamations, piously
| uttered by the Courier, of "God save the
| Aiag-God prosper the reign of Louis the
XVIII, aud ct the Primes Regent" Others
| again have dem anded, what will satisfy me ?
where can find j constitution SO well a.
| dapted to the condition of man, as that
| which is now offered 70 the French people ?
WISH regard &c my ideas being at variance
with those of the great mass of mankind,
shall only say, that there s 10 noTe'ty in this !;
\
| seldom rorres 3oist J ,ftu my ilgliss:un, ana
l am afraid, this wiisalwaysbe the case
| AS to the Constitution which / consider best
calculated to promote human happiness,
! have no hesitalioDin stating, that the one
| promulgated by the National Convention af
| France, on the I'D Of August, 1895. appears
| to me entitled TO the preference over all
constitutions that have yet sscr. 1t was
! not The work of a day nor were those who
/ framed 1t, u0der the impulse OF fear, while
| deliberatipg on us important articles. Al
! tno' the transfer of two thirds of the conven,
| itch Into the legislative body, without first
! obtaining the consent Of the people, and
which afterwards led 10 much serious a
buse. was feature in this constitution,
\ which no real friend to liberty can approve /;
still, 1t was founded upon PRINCIPLES so con-
| sonant with sound reason, so cor.formabie
| TO the present improved state of society, ard
! SO well adapted TO aie wants, customs, and
habits of an enlightened aeople, that never
1 turn my attention TO IL bat with feelings of
\ admiration AID regret "a ,.DiIation of the
| splendid taleats displayed III is formation,
| and regIet that it should have so soon owed
/ IT'S subyersion to the Crimes Of any set Of men
I, TO whom France had unsuspecsingly given
| IN charge SO sacred a trust--Ihe constitu-
ton of 1875, however, though it gave way,
bition, was Afterwards greatly defaced by
| the establishment OF q military government,
and has finally received it's death blow
from the hands OF sadcrs, will live in the re.
membraDce of all WHO respect the freedom
! and Independence OF nations. Ishould have
willingly endeavored 10 ssst in preserving
this recollection, by inserting it in the Regis.
ter ); but its Create ngth precludes the Civ,
ing itin detail, at least I'D enc number
shall therefore, conclude this article with
! tue introductory part ot II, which will enable
the reader, by a Comparison with tho outline
/ OF the Flew French constitution already pub
l'.hed, to determine which fthem deserves
the preference /; and, ii it is afterwards
thought expcdient, shall give the conc,u-
! dug articles IN subsequent numbers
Z. Tie French Constitution, aiobfed by the Conoen.
fiOn, 6nsuss 90. 1875.
/ New Declaration Of the Fights and duties of
man, and OF CITIZEN. The French people.
| proclaim IN tie presence ofthe supreme Being,
J the following declaration OF the rights and dul
| ties of man, and OF citizen RIoHTs-I The
rights OF man IN society are--liberty. equality.
security, property. II Liberty consists in the
! power of doing that which does not iniure the
rights OF another. III. Equality consists in this
| that the law is the same for all, whether il
protect 9r punish equality admits no distinc-
ton OF birth, no hereditary power Nv. Secu
! rity results from the concurrence OF all to Sc
/ cure the rights of each V. Property is the
| right Of cnl2ying and disposiog of mans own
! goods. HIS revenues the fruit Of his labor and
his industry. Vi.rbe law is the general viii ex.
| pressed by the majority, either OF the citizens. or
\ a lrt sfsl. a.t.t tues