Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-09-23
HAGUE, July IS.
PROC[.4.N.4IIOyy.

gwen into our hanQS ny the ainSQ powers,
/ we had previously given our formal adhesi
on to the conditions of the unicn Ct Belgium
with the unj.cd provinces ofthe Nethei lands,
which had been agreed upon AT London by
! the pen potentiaries of tie SAID overs in
the month of June. 1914. andof which the
following is the tc0or:
Ara. /. This unOn IS to be intimate and
compl etc, SO tha; the two countries shah
form one and the same state, governed Ivy
| the constitution already established in HoI-
land, which SHALL be modified by common
! consent. according tothe new state Ok things.
eli. Ma innovation shall be made la the
articles of this constitution Which ensures
Equal favorand projection to all forms Cf
worship, and guarantees the admission Of
ali citizens to public Offices and employ
rnents, whatever be their religious creed.
III. The Belgian provinces shall be
duly represented in the assembly of the
states general, whose ordinary sittings in
time Of peace shall be held alternately
in a town III Holland, and i'll town in Bel
GUM.
"IV. Al the inhabitantso Of the Neither
lands being thus Constitutionallyassim
among each other, the several provinces
shall equally enjoy all commercial and O.
ther advantages, OF which their respective
situations are susceptible, nor can any OBJ
stacle or res. riction be laid upon one to the
disadvantage Of the other.
"V. Immediately after the union; the
provinces and towns of Belgium shall he
admitted to the commerce and navigation
of the colonies, upon the same footing as
the provinces and towns of Holland.
VI. AS the burdens must be IN COM
mon as well as the advantages, the debts
contracted till the time OF the union by the
Dutch provinces on the one hand, and by
the Belgic provinces on the other, shall be
chargeable to the public treasury of the
Netherlands.
"VI. Conformab'y to the same princi-
pies, the expences required for the estab-
hsbment and preservation of the fortresses
ON the frontier of the new state, shall be
borne by the public treasury, as resulting
from an object thatinterests the safety and
Independence Of all the provinces Of the
whclc nation.
"VII. The expence Of forming and
keeping up the dykes, shall be for the ac-
count Of the districts more especially inter
ested in this branch of the public service,
rcserving the obligation OF the state in Sc
neral to furnish aid in case If extraordinary
disasters ali as his been hitherto practsed
in do land.
The tr.aty Of Vienna. having since
confirmed upon these principles the formal
cession of tfe Belgic provinces, to form i'll
conjunction with the united provinces of
the Netherlands, one kingdom, we have
FASTENED TO appoint a special committee to
examine what modification it would be use
full or necessary to make in the constitute
on already established in Holland.
Citizens distinguished by their know
ledge, their patriotism and their probity,
have employed themselves in this impor-
tant work with zeal worthy of the great
est praise.
"The project which they have just laid
before us, contains honorable destinations for
the nobility ensures to all forms Of wor-
ship equal protection and guarantees the
admission of all citizens TO pubic Offices and
employments. 1t fixes the division of pow
er upon the basis of protecting institutes,
which have been at all times dear to the
people of Belgium. 1t recognizes, above all
things the independence ofthe judicial pow
er. 1t reconciles the integrity and the
strength Of the body polite with the indivi
dual right of each of its members and,
vitality, it contains the elements Of every
gradual improvement, which experience
and further study may show to be neces-
sary.
However, before we proceed to intro
dufe the new fundamental law,we desr to
convince ourselves of the assent of our sub
jects to its principal regulations.
For this purpose, deputies, (notables)
shall be assembled from every arrondise-
ment, in the proportion of one for 200 inlla-
bitahts. We have ordered that the choice
shall be made with impartality, among the
persons most estimable and most worthy of
the confidence of their fellow citizens. But
in order to be certain chat our intentions in
this respect, have been fulflled, and that
those who are going to be named dcpNtics,
are deserving Of the honor of being the or
gan Of the general opinion, we further or
der, that the list shall be Published and
deposited for eight days in the chief towns
Of the respective districts. At the same
time registers shall be opened, in which e.
very inhabuant who is head Of a family,
may come and insert simple vote of re
lection OF one OF more ofthe deputies nsm-
ed.
It is according to she result which
these registers shall afford, that the lists
will be finally determined, and the potabies
convoked in each ACCOMPLISHMENT to vote up
on the plan Of the Fundamental law, W hich
will be laid before them. Each ofttcsc as
semblies shall send its traces Uer6m 20
Brussels, and shall depute three Gifts mem
bers to attend IN a general meeting at the
opening of the froccs Uerbaur, Journals
of proceeding and at the collecting ct the
votes of the notlbles.
Such, Belgians, are the measures
which we have judged the most proper FOR