■158 SERVIA, AUSTRIA, TURKEY, AND RUSSIA. 



the condition that whilst he could refuse assent to laws passed by the 

 Skuptschina, he could make no change in the existing laws or 

 statutes recognised in the Constitution, and that formed its National 

 Charter. 



As the head of the State and the Army, he exercised the right of 

 selecting his Ministers and officers, the appointment of judges, and 

 all other officers of State ; and in civil and criminal jurisprudence 

 he dispensed the clemency of the Crown towards criminals and 

 offenders of the law. 



At the same time the Prince governed through his Ministers, 

 who were responsible forhis political acts, and in Foreign Affairs he 

 acted as the representative of the Nation in the negotiation of 

 Treaties, in the declaration of war, and the conclusion or mainten- 

 ance of peace. 



The great principles of religious equality, and liberty of con- 

 science, were accepted, by which the free exercise of worship and 

 religious profession were guaranteed ; Civil freedom, the equality of all 

 citizens before the law, were also recognised ; and that none should 

 be deprived of their civil rights or personal property, and that for all 

 private property absorbed by the State for the public service, the 

 owner should receive a just compensation. 



Every subject of Servia had the right of liberty of the Press and 

 freedom of speech granted to him, within the prescribed limits of 

 loyalty to the Constitution, the Crown, and the King. 



The establishment of municipal institutions, and of a national 

 militia, measures of finance, a uniform system of taxation, these, 

 and many others, constituted the chief reforms, and received their 

 authority and force by the legislation of the National Assembly, 

 convoked in 1870. 



Servia had now entered on her career of national independence 

 and prosperity, won after centuries of cruel sacrifices, and for an 

 interval of five years, order and tranquillity prevailed within and with- 

 out her frontiers, and under the dynasty of Obrenovics in the person 

 of Prince Milan, Servia made great progress in Civilisation and 

 Freedom 



THE SERVO-TURKISH WAR, 1875. 



The next event in Servian history which claims notice, was her 

 armed intervention in 1875 on behalf of the liberation of the 

 provinces of Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Bulgaria from Turkish rule. 



