Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-03-21

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in virtue of primogeniture. Scarcely had we dis
charged this sacred duty when we were appraised
by the Senate that there had been deposited in their
hands, on the 18th October, 1923, letter, with |
the seal of the deceased Emperor, and with the
supcrscription in the own handwriting of his I'm
perial Majesty: "T'o be preserved by the Senate
until my further commands; in of my death,
however, this packet is TO be opened in an Extra
ordinary Sitting, before any other act is proceeded
m:'' that this most gracious command had been
complied with, and the following documents were
contained in the packet:
/. A letter Of the Cezarowi,sch Grand Duke
Constantine, dated 18th January, 1922, addressed
to his Majesty the deceased Emperor, by virtue of
which his Imperial Highness renounces the
cession TO the Throne, belonging TO him by primo
geniture.
2. A Manifesto, dated August l6, 1923, bearing
the autograph signature of his Imperial Majesty,
whereby his Majesty, after the ratification of the
Deed of Abdcation of the Cezarowitsch Grand
Duke Constantine, establishes that we the next in
age, Heir to the Crown, according to the funda-
mental laws of the Empire.
| We further informed, that documents of
| the same tenor had been deposited with the direct
! ing Senate with the Holy Synod, and in the
Cathedral Church of the Ascension at Moscow.
These informations could not alter our resolution
once taken. We observed in these documents only
a remuneration Of his Imperial Hghness during the
/ lie OF emperor, ana confirmed Oy the consent
of his Imperial Majesty but we had neither the
wish nor the right 10 consider this abdcatisn
which when it took place, was not proclaimed
! publicly, and had not received the power Of law
! as iueyocable. We would manifest by this our
veneration of the first law Of our coun-
try and of the unalterable order of succession and
faithful 10 the oath had taken, we insisted that
the whole empire should follow our example.
e, Under these momen,ous circumstances, it was not
our intention 10 dispute the validity of the resolu-
! ton pronounced by his Imperial Highness, much
less was 1t our intention to bring ourselves in op-
position to the will of the deceased Emperor, our
! common father and bcncfactor, which will always
! remain sacred to us. We endcavoured solely TO
protect the law, regulating the succession to the
throne from every infringement, to shew the purity
of our sentiments, and not TO leave our believe
! country one single moment in uncertainty re-
speeding its legitimate sovereign.
/ This resolution, taken with pure conscience
and before God the Almighty, was blessed and APP
proved by her Majesty the Empress Maria, our
much beloved mother.
Meanwhile, the nournful account OF the decease
of his Majesty had reached Warsaw, direct from
! Tagsnrok the 25th No vember, and consequently
, two days prior 10 It's being received here. Firm
in his resolution, the Cezarowitsch Grand Duke
! Constantine confirmed the same on the following
| day, by two Acts, dated Goth November, and COM
missioned to our beloved brother, the Grand Duke
| sisted in:
, l. A letter TO her Majesty tie Empress, our
| much beloved mother, in which his Imperial High
ness renews his former resolution, supports il by
| the copy, Of Rescript of the deceased Emperor.
! dated the I'd February, 1922, serving as an answer
| TO the Act of Abdication, and finally renounce,
solemnly all his claims to the Throne, and recoe.
nized the same as transferred TO and our sue
cessors, according to the appointment contained in
| the fundamental Law Of the Succession.
! < a letter drectedto us, wherein his Imperial
iiighness, anew, declares his fermer resolution.
gives US the title of Imperial Majesty, and reserves
Tor himself, only, the former OF Cezarowitsch,
and calls himself the most faithful of our subjects
However decisive these acts were, and although
they proved to occular demonstration, that the re-
solution of his Imperial Highness was irrevoeably
fixed, yet our own sentiments, and, the situation
OF affairs, induced us TO defer the publication of
the aforesaid Acts, until the will of his Imperial
highness, with reference to the oath taken by us
and the whole empire, should be declared.
Whereas we have now also received on The part
OF his Imperial Highness this last declaration of his
will, we communicate the same to our subjects, ac-
compsnying it by the following documents
i. The letter OF his Imperial Highness the Ce-
sarowtsch Grand Duke Constantine 10 the dec ceased
Emperor Alexander.
2. The Answer of his Imperial Majesty.
3D.. The manifesto of the deceased EMPEROR
Imperial h.
ness, and recognizes us successor 10 the throne
4. The letter of his Imperial Highness to her
Majesty the Empress, our much beloved mother
D. The letter Of his Imperial Hghness directed
to u.s.
In conformity with all these documents. and
with the fundamental law of the Empire regard
ing the order OF succession full OF veneration for
the impenetrable DEGREES Of guiding Providence
we now ascend the throne OF our ancestors, the
throne OF the EmDre of all the Russias &c
the thrones inseparable ihererom that of the king
dom of Poland, and the Grand Duchy Of Finland, |
and command. That the oath of allegiance be |
rendered TO us and the heir of our throne the Grand
Duke Alexander, Imperial Highness, our much
beloved son. 2. That the period of our ascension
TO the throne be calculated from the 10Th Novem-
Der, 1925.
Finally, we call upon our faithful subjects to
join US in iervent prayers 10 the Almighty that he
will grant strength to bear the burthen he has.
in his Divine Providence, laid upon u.s. that he |
may preserved in us the finn resolution to live sole
ly Tor our beloved country, and to tread in the
footsteps oil the Monarch whom we now deplore !
May our reign be nothing but continuation of
bs, and may we fulfill all the wishes for Russia |
happiness, which animated him, whose sacred me-
mory shall preserve in US the endeayour and the
bore, TO merit the blessings of Heaven, and the
love OF our people.
Done in our Imperial residence, St. Peters
burgh, the l2th December, in the year of Sal
walton, 1928, and First of our reign
(Signed) NICHOLAS.
FIRST SUPPLEMENT.
Letter Of His Imperial Highness the Cesoro-
IcitSch Grand Duke Constantine to the En-
peTor alexander the First.
' Most IIusirious, SIC. &c.-Encouraged by
the manifold proofs OF affection Of your Imperial
Majesty towards me. l venture once more TO
claim them and to- Law the footyipo subnissive re