Aug.] 



CHRONICLE. 



107 



subjects our intention to give to 

 our Grand Duchy a representative 

 constitution, we cherished the 

 wish and the hope that all the 

 members of the Confederation 

 would agree upon a fixed and 

 invariable basis for that institu- 

 tion, which has been promised to 

 all the nations of Germany, and 

 which, in the developement of 

 the established principles only, 

 each single state vnight, having 

 regard to existing relations, 

 apply to. its particular wants. 



As, however, after the last 

 votes emitted on this object in 

 the Diet, the period cannot be 

 precisely foreseen when the form 

 of the representative constitutions 

 may become the subject of com- 

 aaon deliberation, we consider 

 ourselves bound to carry into 

 effect the assurance given by us 

 to our subjects, in the way and 

 manner corresponding with our 

 firm, free, and intimate conviction. 



Penetrated by the most sincere 

 desire of drawing still closer the 

 bonds of confidence subsisting 

 between us and our people, and 

 of bringing, in the way pointed 

 out in these presents, all our 

 political institutions to a higher 

 degree of perfection, we have 

 granted the following constitu- 

 tional act, and hereby solemnly 

 promise, in our own name and in 

 that of our successors, to main- 

 tain it, and cause it to be main- 

 tained, faithfully and religi- 

 ously : — 



I. Of the Grand Duchy, and the 

 Government in General. 



1. The Grand Duchy forms a 

 constituent part of the German 

 Federation. 



2. All organic decrees of the 



Diet, which relate to the consti- 

 tutional relations of Germany, to 

 the relations of German citizens 

 in general, form a part of the 

 Baden public law, and shall be 

 binding on all classes after the 

 same lias been notified by the 

 head of the Government. 



3. The Grand Duchy is indi- 

 visible and inalienable in all its 

 parts. 



4. The Government is here- 

 ditary in the Grand Ducal family, 

 according to the dispositions of 

 the declaration of the 4th of 

 October, 1817; which declara- 

 tion, as the basis of the domestic 

 code, forms an essential consti- 

 tuent part of the Constitution, 

 and is to be considered as ver- 

 bally adopted in the present act. 



5. The Grand Duke unites in 

 himself all the prerogatives of 

 State authority, and exercises 

 them under the provisions con- 

 tained in the Constitutional De- 

 cree. 



His person is sacred and invio- 

 lable. 



6. The Grand Duchy has a 

 Representative Constitution. 



II. Civil and Political Rights oj" 

 the People of Baden, and par- 

 ticular Securities. 



1. The civil rights of the people 

 of Baden are equal in every 

 respect wherein the Constitution 

 does not particularly and ex- 

 pressly make an exception. 



The Grand Ducal Ministers 

 of State, and the whole of the 

 Administration, are responsible 

 for their strict obedience to the 

 Constitution. 



8. All Badenese contribute, 



without distinction, to all public 



charges. All exemptions from 



^ direct 



