FRANCE. 345 



of emperor, which he exercised in the most arbitrary manner. The 

 present constitution adopted at the restoration is as follows : 



The French people are equal in the eye of the law, whatever other- 

 wise are their titles and ranks. They contribute without distinction 

 in proportion to their fortune to the expenses of the state. They are 

 all equally admissable to civil and military employments. Their in- 

 d.vidual liberty is equally guaranteed; no person can be prosecuted 

 and arrested, but in cases provided by the law, and in the forms which 

 that prescribes. Every one professes his religion with equal liberty, 

 and enjoys the same protection in his worship. In the mean time, 

 the Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish Religion, is the religion of the 

 state. The ministers of the Catholic, Apostolic, and Romish reli- 

 gion, and those of other modes of Christian worship, receive support 

 from the royal treasury alone. The French people have the right to 

 publish and print their opinions in conformity to the laws which ought 

 to repress the abuse of this liberty. All property is inviolable, with- 

 out any exception of that which is called national, the law making no 

 distinction. The state can demand the sacrifice .of individual pro- 

 perty for the public benefit legally proved ; but with a previous in- 

 demnity. 



The person of the king is inviolable and sacred. His ministers are 

 responsible. To the king alone belongs the executive power. The 

 king is the supreme chief of the state, commands the forces by land 

 and sea and declares war, makes treaties of peace, alliance, and com- 

 merce, appoints to all employments of public administration, and 

 makes the regulations and decrees for the execution of the laws and 

 the safety of the state. The legislative power is exercised collec- 

 tively by the king, the house of peers, and the house of deputies of 

 departments. The king proposes the law. The proposition of a 

 law is carried at the will of the king, to the house of peers, or to 

 that of deputies, except laws for raising revenue, which must be first 

 addressed to the house of deputies. Every law must be freely dis- 

 cussed and voted for by a majority of each of the two houses. The 

 houses have the right to supplicate the king to propose a law upon 

 any subject, and to point out what it appears to them proper the laws 

 should contain. This request may be made by each of the two houses, 

 but after having been discussed in secret committee, it shall not be 

 sent to the other house by that which proposed it, until after a delay 

 of ten days. If the proposition is adopted by the other house, it shall 

 be submitted to the eyes of the king ; if he rejects it, it shall not be 

 again brought forward the same session. The king alone sanctions 

 and promulgates the laws. The civil list is fixed for the whole dura- 

 tion of the reign by the first legislature assembled after the acces- 

 sion of the king. 



The house of peers is an essential part of the legislative body. It 

 is convoked by the king, at the same time with the house of deputies 

 of departments. Every assembly of the house of peers which shall 

 be holden out of the time of the session of the house of deputies, or 

 which shall not be convened by a decree of the king, is unlawful and 

 entirely null. The nomination of peers of France belongs to the 

 king. Their number is unlimited. He may vary their dignities, 

 name them for life, or make them hereditary according to his plea- 

 sure. The peers have admittance into the house at 25 years of age, 

 but have not a deliberative voice until 30. The chancellor of France 

 presides in the house of peers, and in his absence a peer named by 



Vol. I. - Y y 



