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


that &c accepted the sovereignty on the
express condition that a fundamental law
should sufficiently guarantee personal Ii
oersy, the security ofproperty, and, in
word, all those civil rights which charac-
terise people really free. From these
words, with jast dstrust Of theory, the
constitutional law adapted TO the situation
OF Holland at the commencement of the
18Th century has been dev sed. The COM
mittee it is observed has not had the pre-
snmptuous pretensions to foresee and regu-
tie every thing, but has left room for fu
ture experience to Contribute its part to the
work.
The report proceeds to state, that the
provinces OF the Kingdom have been placed
in the order which had been adopted previ-
ousiy TO their separation by Charles V. and
his successors.
The committee express wish that the
Grand Duchy of Luxembourg may never
upon any account, cease 20 make pars Of
the kingdom.
All the guarantees which the first fun
damental law had given to individual
liberty and property, have been retain
ed.
Every arbitrary arrest is torb den.
III on an urgent occasion the Govern
ment eau es an intlividu / to be arrested
he must be brought, within three DAYS
before the judge whom the law assigns
him.
No one can, under any juris LECTION what
ever, be Withdrawn from the jurisdiction Of
this judge.
The unjust penalty of con6scation is abo-
lishcd.
All jud cal sentences must be pronoup-
ced in public. Those in civil causes
mus contain the grounds on which they
ar founded in criminal ciuses, tn must
declare the circums ances OF the crime. the
law applied by til ulge.
no one can be d p ived OF his property
except tor the pu lie benefit, an for a rea-
son;blc in emn ty.
is invioable
The right of patitioning, duly regulated
is recognized by law. 1t admits of no pri-
vlege IL re rect to taxcs.
Every subject of the king is eligible to all
emp oyments, without distinction of birth
or OF rel gious belief.
The Liberty of the Press will have
no o'her restraint, than the responsible
~ OF nm who writes, prints, or d.stri-
bules.
The committee have placed amo,c the
first duties of the government, that of pro
teCtlng public instruction.
The most precious of all rights. that of
liberty OF conscience, is guaranteed as for
mally as it is possible to be.
lhe Committee. after the lapse of ten
years, propose to consider as definit;ve. and
as making a part of the fundamental law.
the dispositions of the Statutes elnanatinr
IRON the king, or approved by him relative
to the right of electing the members of the
several assemblies and the right of sitting in
them. -
The present number of deputies sent by
the Northern Provinces remain unchanr-
ed. That ofthe Southern provinces hss
been regulated in an equitable manner.
paying particular attention to their poou
la'lon, and to the proportional number of
deputies by which they have already been
represented.
The report then observes that there is a
part of the States General which OUGHT not
to be subject to periodical elections and
proceeds thus:
&" The Possessors of large fortune YES
tea IN iand, lent to the State or usefulIy
employed in supporting the national com,
merce, VIII arsfu,ly watch that none of
these sources of public wealth may not N.
obstrucled or drie' up. They would not
be sufficiently independent, if they were IL
able to be removed. We propose to nom.
mate them for life. This nomination must
come from the king.-The spirit of MOI
narchlcal government prescr bes 1.-THE
interest OF a nation demands il. Th;s nre-
rogAtive will give the sovereign an inGo-
ence over the higher classes of society.
whcl will be useful to all. II has been The
constant rule of our conduct-the invioIa
Die guide OF our labors, to bring orr in
stltutions to the essence OF a limited mo-
narchV
Fhe king proposes to the Chamber ..
iected by the Provincial States. the pro;ect
OF laws which have been dellberated nnon
in his council of state.
This chamber examines them and ba-
wing adopted them, sends them 70 tho
other chamber, which has to examine them
IN the same manner.
The chamber, whose members are
CHOSEN FOR life, receives and discusses tn.
propositions which the other thinks proper
to make to the King. 1t never makes am
itself.
" 1t adopts the proposition and sends
it TO the king, who gives or refuses its save
ton.
We have thought that to preserve
this precious advantage, it was necessary
to render the sitting of the States General
pubic, restraining, however, this publici-
ty within the limits which may prevent
the abuse of it, and remove ali kinds of
danger.
We have no need, Sire, to give any
reason for inserting in the project Of
the fundamental law the forms of several
oaths.
Your Majesty reigns over a people