Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1815-10-07

defence of the State, permanent army
will be as it were the advance guard of the
"a militia, wisely organized, will al
WAYS be ready to fly to the defence Of the
country.
Tending the Country, we have called TO
mind two celebrated epochs or our his;o-
~. the pachcation of Client, which pre-
ceded the unhappy separation OF the Sc
venteen provinces. and the union OF u
tretcht, the basis.of the national indepeu-
dcnce. the sources of so much glory and
prosperity.
,,;.h inst pride these memorable days in
y.h;ch the Dutch and the Belgians before
they were formed into one nation, but al
ready united by the bonds OF esteem and
f.sternity. have, under the standards of
yonr Gallant sons, rivalled the bravest on
the banks of the Sambre, and on the plains
of Wsterloo-those days when worthy to
FIGHT under the Princes of the House of
Nassau, they have acquired the esteem OF
YOUR allies, some glory and laurels, which
are pledges of the intrepidity with which
thev will t all times d,fS nd their county,
th,i king, and social compact formed
under such happy auspices.
"'The independence of u nation worthy
70 be free, governed by family in which
,rudene and valor re handed down from
f,ther to son, will be respected by Its
ncighbors -,
.The Princes of your house will eXer-
else with prudence the right OF making
war. and peace, which is inherent IN well
constituted monarchy. We have not res
tricted it, but w venture to sly to your
Maiestv. that while we were employed
in settling the prerogatives OF the crown,
we never forgot how much you have at
heart the libsrty and the rights OF the ma
ton.
eve think that the project OF the funda
pental law gives to the crown all tie pow
err which the essence of 4 monarchcal gov
eminent, the extent of territory, and an ac.
tive and SAT. prote ton OF every righ-, of
every interest, may render desirable, and
that it duly fixes the limits which your ma
iesty would yourself wish to set to the au-
thority of monarch, who, IN the lapse OF
time, might not resemble you.
The reciprocal obligations and promi-
ses Of the king and of his people, will be
cemented by solemn oaths.
The Inauguration of the king shall be
accompanied by every thing that can give
to this grand act the character which be-
longs to it performed according to an
eient usages in public sceptre it will be
In the pr.sen- &c of great number OF his
subj scts. that the king will receive the cath
of allegiance, which will be taken to HIM
by the nation, that he will himself swear
to observe the fundamental law, to have
at heart the happiness OF his people, to
initiate the founder of the national indie
pendence, and the first king of the monar
chY-
g The transmission of the crown in this
ilussrious family has been regulated by
the conventions which have pacifed Eu-
rope. In inserting it in the fundamental
law, we have added to it the necessary de-
yelopements, to prevent, in all cases,
doubts aud interpretations which have
sometimes cost nations so dear
"Severai religious communities have
been attracted To Holland by the mildness
of its laws and by the protection which the
government afforded them. Ihis'protec-
ton will remain the same.
E" The laws might have stopped here.
and have left TO your majesty the care OF
proving how great is your care for the
ministers of reiigion---but il seemed to us
that the fundamental law might make 1t a
duty for your successors to take your no
duct, and contain besides the assurances
that no form of worship shall ever trou-
bic the interest of the rest, all being c.
qually guaranteed by the laws of the
State
1--WE think, Sire. that constitutional
law which cohsecrates all legitimate rights
whose principles arc derived from the
manners and the character of the nation,
may hope for longer duration than one
founded on mere theory--but time chang
es and modihes every thing, and means
of revision not foreseen nor fixed at GER
tain period, but possible, of the necessity Of
some changes should be strongly felt,
seemed to be useful, if attended with forms
that prevent or check all spirit of innova-
ton.
"The fundamental law had reserved to
the committee which has drawn it up,
the right of Interpreting its dispositions for
the three FIRST years. We have thought
that to law necessarily expressing the IL
unanimous sentiments of the king and of the
two Chambers of the States General, this
Interpretation must be left, which is no o.
Their than the just application Of the arti-
Giles Of the Constitutional Act of the king
dom.
80 To effect with prudent circumspec-
tion, without shock or collision, the changes
which the fundamental law makes necess-
AIRY, it attributes to your majesty, by organ
&c dispositions, the care of successfully in
Producing the divers institutions which are
created or re-established, to name for the
first time, the members of the two Cham
bers of the States General, and all the ma
gistrates, whatever may be otherwise the