Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1815-05-13
NEw.YoRx, May S.
lTIdsslated for the COMMERCIAL advertiser
COUNCIL OF STATE.

The Council of State, in resuminC its func-
tons, believes that it ought to make known the
principles which form the rule of its opinions
and ito conduct.
The Sovereignty resides in the people. They
are the only legitimate source of power.
in l7SS the nation reconqucred its righ, 3.
usurped or misunderstood for n long time
The national assembly abolished the feudaI
monarchy, established constitutional monar-
chy, and the representative government.
he resistance of the Bourbons TO the wishes
of the people brought about their fall and their
ban'shnent from TIE French territory.
1w.ne the people consecrated by their votes
the new .orm OF government, established by its
represent .tves
In the year, 8. Bonaparte, already crowned
by victory, was raised to the government by
the consent OF the nation a reconstruction created
she consular magistracy.
The decree OF the Senate of the 18th Their
inidOr, N the year 10, appointed Bonaparte con
sui foriife. .
The decree of the Senate Of the 2sth Fioreal,
IN the year IL, conferred en- Napoleon the i'm
perlai dignity, and rendered it hereditary in his
family.
These three solemn acts were submitted TO
the acceptance OF the people, who consccrated
them by neartour millions OF votes.
Thus, during % years, the Bourbons had
ceased TO reign IN France. They were there for.
gotten by their contemporaries strangers to our
laws, 10 our institutions, to our manners, to our
glory, the present generation only knew them
by tue recollection of the foreign war whieh
they had excited against the country, and som.
intestine dissentions which they had kin6Ied
up.
In 1914 France was invaded by hostile ar
mics, and the capital taken.
Foreigners created pretended provisional
government They assembled the minority of
the Senators, and compelled them, contrary IN
their power and against their will, to destroy
The existing constitutions, to overturn the i'm.
Psrial throne, and to recall the family of the
BourboRs.
The Senate, which had only been Instituted
TO preserve the constitutions Of the empire, &c
knc@ledged, itself, that it had no power tn
change them. i decreed, that the project of n
constitution which it had prepared should be
submitted to the acceptance of the people, and
that Louis Stanisiaus Xavier shall he procIaim
ed aiRg OF the French as soon Is he shall have
accepted the Constitution, and sworn to observe
At, and cause IL to be observed
The abdIcation of the EMPEROR Nsnoleo,,- wac
only the result of the unhappy situation TO
which France and the Emperor had been redu>
ced by The events OF the war, by treason, and by
the occupation of the capital. The sole object
OF the aodication was to avoid civil war and
the effusiob OF French blood, Not being con- |
secraie0 by the WISHES of the people, this act
could not destroy the solemn contract wh;ch
was formed between them and the emperor and |
even though Napoleon had the right personally |
OF abdlc@tipg the throne, he could not sacrifice |
the rights OF his son VINO was called 10 reign af-
ter him
In the meanwhile, Bourbon was named |
Lieutenant General of the kingdom; and as |
suroed he sins of government
Lou- ct 4 iaus Xayl r arrived in France - |
Ate nhd Ia sntry into the capital; he took \
possession OF the throne according to the rules |
est iish ID in the accent feudal monarchy.
lie had not sccepted the constitution decreed |
by the senate he had not sworn TO observe IL |
and TO cause A TO be observed; it had never 1
been set forth for the acceptance of the people
the people subJugated by the presence of for. |
elgn armies, could not even express their wish. |
ss freely, or in valid manner |
Under their protection, after having thanked |
iorelgn prince tcr enabling him 10 mount his |
throne Louis dated the first act of his authority
IN the 18th year of his reign, declaring also the
acts emanatlng from the will of the people were
only the fruits of long revolt; he granted |
voluntarily and by the free exercise of his royS
authority, a constitutional charter, called TIL |
ordinance OF reformation; and its only sanction !
was ITS beng read in the presence of new bo-
dy, which he had created, and of an assem-.
blage OF deputies who were net free. who did
not accept it, and none of whom had the power
ct conserving TO this change, and two fiiths of
whom had not even the character of represent
tatives.
All these acts we're then unlawful Done in
the presence OF hostile armies, and under for
eign domination, they are only the work of VIC.
lence, they are especially nullities, and done in
contempt OF the honor, the liberty and the rights
of the people.
The adhesions given by individuals, and by
Unauthorized iunctionaries, were not of force,
neither TO annihiate, nor to make up for the
consent of the people, expressed by their votes
solemnly called for and lawfully given.
If even fh6ge adheeioua and oil he
had ever been obligatory upon those who
made them, they would have ceased to be so,
from the moment when the government which
had received them had ceased 20 exist.
The conduct of the citizens, who, underthis
government have served the state, cannot be
blamed, they are'even worthy of praise. Those
who lisys taken advantage Of their situation, 70
defend the national interests, and oppose them
selves 20 the spirit of recreation, and of conn
ter revolution, which would have desolated
France.
The Bourbons themselves had continually vi.
olsted their promises they favored the preten
sions Of the feudal nobilty they shook the
sales Of national property of all kinds they re-
paired the re-csiabhshment of the feudal rights
and tythes3 they menAced all the new institu.
fions they declared war against liberal opini-
Ons they attacked all the Institutions which
france had acquired at the expense of her
blood, chusing rather to humble the nation than
60 unite themselves to her Dry they spoiled
the legion Of honor of It's endOwments and ofits
political rights; they we're prodigal of its de.
cOratIOns Tor the purpose OF abaslnp IL fhev