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5KV TRENCH CONSTITUTipN.
fnasIteJ tor the New-York Commercial A4
vcfuscr fcom lYtath papcrt.
Js eff addition to the Constitution
of "the i Empire. . ' i .
WtpOLTON", by hc Grace of Cod and the
(Wituiious, Eaipcror or the" French, to
prtinitaiidtococici grettinjf :
I smce wc wre called, fifteen rears
'bv the wish pfFrance. to. the gory
, !?meat of tlie sUte, Ve endeavored to
oiul forma, accordinto the wants
jri the desires ,of the nation j' and pro
j.j0r by the lessons oft experienced
Xb?r constitutions" of the rlmpirc'are
tlas formed bj a serien of acts .which
jTe been clothed with the approbation
d the people. r ,;"":
We nad then Tor our end, to organize
i Rrit European federative system,
hich we had adopted as being confor
sible to the spirit of the ae, and fa
rjribleto the progress 6f cirilization'.
Tobrinj it to completion, and to tivc
t ill tiie extent and all the stability
tf which it- was susceptible, we had
fastened the establishment of many
Sterior institutions , inore . especially
jitcnJed to protect the liberty of the
titiilns. . Our end henceforth .is only
t increase the prosperity of France,
Hthe strengthening of public liberty.
Ileoce results the necessity of many
ipvrunt modifications in tJie consti
tutioas, senatusc6nsultaand other acts
?i!ch govern this empire. 1
Tor these reasons, wishing "on tlie
cr.f side, to preserve whatever is good
ind salutary in the old, and, on - the
other, to render the 'constitutions of
sr empire conformable in every re
?pect to the national wishes and wants,
a veil is to the state of peace which
t desire to maintain., with . Europe,
e haie resolved to propose to the
people a series of arrangements tend
ta modify and perfect their consti
ul acts, to surround the rights of the
citiieas with all their piarantce3,' to
peto the representative system all
h extension, .to invest the intermedi
vjt bodies with the desirable respect
itl power j in a word, to combine the
Liest point of political liberty ' and
bliudual safety, with the power and
eLfrrr necessarr to cause the inde
vatience of the" f'rench people and the
'iipitr of our crown to be respected
bj foreicr.crs. , In consequence,' the
flowing articles, .forming a supple
mentary act to tlie constitutions oi the
Empire, will be submitted. to the free
11 boieran approbation of all the citi
wss throughout the whole extent of
fnnce. . ' , V
Title I. Gentral Jlrranzcmente
Art. i.t The Constitutution of the
Hapiie,to wit, the constitutional act
the 2 Frimaire, in the -year 8; the
eaitus Consulta-of the I4th and 6th
, ilermidor. in the year 10, and that of j
f easth Fiorear, in tlie year 12, shall
modified b? 'the. following arrange
Kr4ts. All the other arrangements
confirmed and maintained.
- Hie legislative power is'exercised
3 me traTeror oc br the two Houses.
inc Lrst nouse, caiiea inc Mouse
-reers, ih hereditary. ! '
The EmnrnfflnnoinfQ tTnV mm
who arc irrcmoVabre. they, and
eirmale descendants, from the eld?
!t to the eldest in the direct line
Jije namber of the Jeers is nnlimitc.
Adoption dees net transmit the difli-
V of a Peer to him who is the object of
ine reers.take their syat at the
cf 21 years, buthavc not a deter-
urj; o:cc until i.- , . , :
, 5. "flic House of ' Peers is nresided
? the ArcIWchancellof of theEmnirc.
5 m the case prorideil by the 5thr-t-f
tl.e Senatus Coruultum of the
, x TlorV Jwr 12, by one of the
i;wtrs of this ' House, esneciallr de-
W hy the Emperor. '
The members of the Imperial fa:
J1?? mthc order of inheritance, are
rcfri-ht. 'rheysitaJterthePrei
They take their seat at eigh.
uoui 21.
'ft
u. vcoiiu nouse, raucatne
i tie
it J'- ' :
v!'k . -re of this house are in
r M nundreM and iwentvhine.
.e) ")M:be '25 years old at fcask
? - v ircsuucnt oft'c House of
cuTativcsNS apnohited; by, the
a; the opening of theTrst fies-JJ
lie remains in ''office until the1
renewal of the house. "-Ilia nomination;
is submi tted to the approbation of the'
Emperor. . , ; , 7
!-10. The House of IlepreSentatives'
verifies the powers of its members1, and
pronounces upon, the validity of con--tested
elections , A. ki j
-11.! The members of the llouse of
Representatives receive for . travelling
expences, and during the session; the
compensation determined by the con
stituent assembly. . " ,
12. They are re-eligible indefinitely.
13. The House of Representatives
is renewed of right, wholly, every five
years. . '
14. No metnberof either !house can
be arrested, except in the case of fla
grant jprime, nor prosecuted on a cri--jnina
or correctional charge, except
by virtue of a resolution of the house
of which he is member, !v !
15. Nd'bne can. be arrested or de
tained for debts, from the lime'of their
departure to attend their 'dutv in the
Xcgislature .'a partir tie In con
xoaitionj nor for forty days after the
session " . r
16. The Peers are judged by their
house, on a criminal or correctional
charge, accordinj'to, forms which shall
be regulated by law; , -ir.
The quality of Peer and of Re
presentative is compatible tvith all pub
lic functions, except those of matters
of accounts. However, ho Prefects
and sub-Prefects are not eligible bv
the electoral colleges of ; the depart
ment or; the arrondissement which they
administer. A
13. The Emperor sends to the Hou
ses spme ministers of state and some
counsellors of state, who have a seat
therevcc take a part in the discussions,
but who have not a determining voice,
except when "they are members of the
House of Peers, or elected by the peo
ple. 1 9. Hie ministers who are members
of the House of Peers r or of that of
Representatives, or who have a scat by
mission of the government, gjvc to the
house the illustrations which are judg
ed necessary, when their publicitv does
not compromjt the interest oT the
state. . .
20. The sittings of the two Houses
! arc public They may, nevertheless,
, lorm themselves m secret committee ;
the House of Peers upon 'the request
of ten members, and tnat of Represen
tatives upon the request of twenty-five.
The government may likewise require
secret committees to make communi
cations. In every case the determina
tlon and the votes can only take place
in-public sessions. r
. 21. The Emneror mav Drorojnic,
adjourn and,dissolve the Houseof lie-
prcseniauyes. ineprociamauon wnicn
pronounces the dissolution, convokes
the electoral colleges for a new elec
tion, and indicates the assembling of
the representatives in six months at
the farthest. , . . ' ' 1
2, During the interval of the ses
sions of the House of Representatives,
or in case ofa dissolution of this House,
the House of Peers .cannot assemble
themselves.' J - . i
23. Tie government hasi the propos
ing of the law ; the house niay propose
amendments ; it these-amendments are
not adopted by the government the
house is pound to vote upon the law as
it was proposed. ' K
24. 'lTie house have the right to re
auest thecovernmcntto. Dronose alaw
upm a specified subject," and to' digest
that which appears , to' tliem proper to
insert in the law, ' This request ixiay
be made by either of the houses. I
. 25. AMienever a bill redaction j is
adopted in one of th6 two nouses, it is
carried to the other ; and if It is there
approved it w carried to the Emperor.
26. No written discourse, except the
reports of committees,' the reports of
the ministers upon the laws Which are
presented 'and the accounts which are
rendered can be read in' either of the'
houses.;, 4 1. v : A:
Title I lirOf th e Electoral Colleges
and the mode of Election: .
. 27, The electoral colleges' of a de-
partmcnt and oi an arronaisscment are
maintainbd cortfonhablr to the Senatuis
Consultuiiiofth e '1 6 th Thermidbryear
io;, txccpt'as in thk following jhodifiV
cations i C-r - v ' - ;l
' - 28. The assemblies ofactmton shall
fell up every year, by annual elections,
all the vacand&lotrthe electoral -col
leges:--'-- ;VV '
: 29. . Froia the yearlSlCi a member
stoni
Mitog House of Peers, designated by
r-..T"mxM 7 0411 uc.i rcsiuem ior
life, and irremovable of every electoral
tollege of a! department. .. ; ( : V-V
SO. -Fron the sames peTiodthe eleci
toralxollege of each 'department shall
appoint frOm among the 'members of
each college' of an arrondissement." a
President and two yice-Presidents.-i-To
this end, the meeting of the college
of a department precedes, fifteen days
that of the college of arrondissement. i
31. The colleges of fc. department
and of an arrondissement, shall,appoint
the number of representatives est'ab--Ii3hed
for each, by the act and the ta
ble subjoined. Nol 1. :
32. ' The representatives tniy bo cho
sen indifferently,' thrqughout'the whole
extent of FranceEvery 'college of a
department or arrondissement, ' shall
appoint" a substitute who; must neces
sarily be! taken from the department
or arrondissement. : . ' ; , -,
33. IThe manufacturing and commer-!
ciai industry and propertv shall! have
a special representation. "The election:
of the 'commercial and manufacturing
representatives shall he made by the
electoral colles of a department out
of a list of eligible persons prepared fay
the chambers of commerce and the
consultive chambers 'assembled toire-
ther, according to the act and the table
subjoined; I NoV 2. i
Title nil Of the Lh w of Imports.
34. The generaldirect tax, whether
on land or on moveables, is onlv Voted
ior one vear : the indirect taxes mav
be voteeffof several vears. In cases
of the dissolution of the House, of Re
presentatives, the taxes, voted in the
preceding session are! continued until
ine meeting oi tne itouse. '
' 35.' No direct or indirect tax, in mo
ney, of in kind, can (be collected, no
loan can take place, no inscription o'f
creuu can uc maoe in ine; reat dook
of the public debt, no domain can be
alienated; or, exchanged no levy of
men tor the army can be decreed, no
portion of the, territory can fofc exchan
ged, but by virtue of a law.
36, Every proposal for a taxj for a
losn, or a iCvy of men, can only be
made to the House of Representatives.
377 It is also to the House of Re
presentatives that are first brought,
1st. the general budcet of the state,
containing the, sketch of the receipts
and the proposition for funds, to be
assigned Tor one year to every depart
ment of the ministry j 2d. the account
of the receipts aid expenditufea of the
year, or years preceding. : ; j
Title IV. Of Ministers and respon
, I . sibility.' :( ' .' r
58. All ,the acts of government must
De couniersignca oy a minister noia
ing the department. , . '
59. The ministers are responsible
for the acts of government, signed by
them i also, for the execution of the
laws.' .' ; : j -
. 40.' They, may be irnpeached by the
House of Representatives and are tri
ed by that ot the Peers,
41. Every minister, every command
ant of an army by landOr sea may be,
impeached by the House pf Represent
atives, & tried by the House' of Peers j
for having compromised the safety or
honor of the nation. K. '.'I - .,j .
42. The House of Peers in this case
exercises a discretionary power, both
in characterising the crime and infligt
injrthe puiiishm ent. , . '
43. Before pronouncing a minister
to De in a state oi irapeaenment,' tne
House of Representatives must declare
that there (is ground for investigating
a proposition ior, impcacnment. -
44. This declaration cannot be made
until after the report of a. committee of
sixty members, drawn by lot. ; This
committee! does not .make its report
until ten days at soonest,7 alter, its ap
pointment r V . ti r-
45i'Wlieii. the house has declared
that there is, grounoV fbi investigation',
it may ; call the' minister1' before ;it to
recjuire of him explanation. , Thia'cal
cannot iako place until ten days after
the report of the committee .c- H
' .46. In i every - other caseV thel'ttinisV
icrs noiuiii a ueparunqai caunox
be called or eommahdeu by'theliousesi
; 47 Yhen the House 'of IteDreseuif
; atiyes' has declared thatj there is ffround
ior an myesugaion againsi a minister.,
a ,ne w f committee is fdrnied .of 'sixty
members; 'drawn I by iotts? the first,4
and h hew report is made bj ihc com
'mitteejrpoa the act of Impeachment.
This committee cannot report Until ten
days after its appointment. ! ;
4 act Of impeachment cannot
be pronounced until ten days after the
reading and xlistributipri or the report
!,49.The ! , impeachment ITeing pro
nounced, the House of Representatives
appoints five commissioners out of its
body, to prosecute'' the', impeachment
before the House of Peers.' V.
j 50. The Article 75 of Title VIII, of
the constitutional'act of the 22d xFri
maire, year 8j declaring that the agents
of the government cannot be prbseciif
ed,' but by' virtuel6f a : decision of the
cduncil 'or stati, hairbe modified by
Title tthericialwe,
' 51. The Emperort appoints all the
judges. They are irremovable andTor
life, from the time of their appoint-;
ments, except ine juoges OLTne. peace
and the judges of commerce, who shall
hold as formerly . -Tli e present judges,
appointed by the Emper'or, i according
to the terms oHhe Senatus Corisultum
of the 12th October, 1 807, and ! whom
he shall , deem proper tp retain, jshall
receive provision for life befare the 1st
of next January. ' .
1
52. The institution of jurie3 is mairi
taine'd. - ' ; ' ; ''; ' '
52. The discussions in crimihat ca-.
:54. Military crimes alone are4udg
ca by military tribunalsi ; ! ;
j 55. All Other crimes, even commit
ted by military men, are to be edgnii
ablfe in the civil tribunals; - :
56. All the crimes & offences-which
were referred to tlie highjmperial court,
and whose judgment not' observed
by the present act, of the Hous of
reer3 shall be trieclbefore the ordinal
ry tribunals. . -
571 The Emperor has the right -of
nardoiU even in the correctional mat
ter, and of granting amnesties.
. 58i , The interpretations of the laws
required by the court of 'appeals (cas
sation J shall be given in tbi form :'qf H
law. ' V :-. v. ' ; :
Title Vk Rights of the PeOpk.
59t Frenchmen are all equal jn the
sight of the law, whether for contribu,
tion'of. the. public taxes' and charges i
oror admission to civil and military
'employ. ' ' ' "'.. '
60. No ohe can, under any pretence,
be deprived of the judges assigned to
him by law. V ": ," .. y...
61. No one can be -prosecuted, ar
rested, detained or exiled, " except ill
cases provided by the law, and accbr
dine to the prescribed law.
62. Liberty of Worship is gUaran
teed to all f v'-
63. - All property ' possessed or ; ac
quired , by virtue of the laws, and all
the debts (creanccsj of the state, are
inviolable. - -' ''' '.
64. Every citizen has the right : of
printing and publishing his thoughts,
by signing them ; without -'any.' previ
ous censure, except legal f espoiasibni
tyj afte the pubneation, by tlje triaf
by jury,?even' when thfcrewouldhe oh
ly cause for the applicatipn of a cor
rectional punishment. .. "
65. v The riffht of petition is assured
to the citizens. 5 Every petition is an
individftal one. These petitions niay
he addressedeither to the government
or to --.tne two nouses j 'ne veruiei ess j
even" these last ones ought to bear the
title to his. majesty the Emperor.VThey
shall be presented. o the houseCnhder
the guarantee of a member whqiecOm
mends the petition. . They are read
publicly ; and if the H6u"seiiridertakes:
the consideration of them, Hey are
carried to the Emperor by the Presi-:
denu , . 'Jv- ' ' S:'
" 66. No place' no part Of the-tei tito
ry, can be declared m a state of siege
except in case fan-invasion by a fo
reign: force, 'o'oubles.' In the
first case tlie declaration is made,' by.
an act of tlie jroverhmeht. " In these
cond case it can only be done. by , law. I
iiutib t vt) it a .vase ). wviu wutu vuy.
houses are not'lin session, .the act: of
the goverhmjt dedaring; the state. of
.siege must bVcohvCrted into, a prOpo
siuon ior a law, wimin tne Mrsi ui veji
davs of the meetfnjr of the housesV
67. ,Thel French people declares
moreovefthat in the deleatiOnwluch'
it has matle : and which it lakes.of is;j
powers,' it nas poirinienueu anu uoea
not tnteiid tofgie Ae rightpf p-opos
in thef xeestabiishment of ;the 3pnr
bons, o'r. of afiy . Prince cfthafaraUy;
upon the throne eveh' in4ihe Case of
an extinction oi tneimpenai aynastyj
nor the riit of esUblishinc either the
ancient nobility or the teuaal or sei
norial rights, or the tithescr any pn-
vileKed br dominant worship, nor ' thb :
tionalMornk.aUriierdicts ,
tolthe rovet-nment,;jo the Houses, and . h
to? tne citixens eyery yivvmu. ' j
this respect ,
1he M'mJster:oCl?bito, Xli U ..'
,Ofthe JT(rrthWaroHnd:Bipnst Society r jf ;
Fjoxxus' ikjra BinM pry.
nrE Alm!gl
JLias cUsdasuisHe'iept
rtf this- C fob'e. tin several tJdrtktOarsyi r y -)
llthis 5?ction of tirl4 liepUaPara; : . - V
dise and created " jwK tmht God; t t f
married witLilhe rloiotit;Lt:-Ci. Co - -i
of Heatftenisdatoess;
Mahometan : supwtitioh;iJh tks4,e Ujir- J,
ter of the earth, &creare &t eas4t fx bundrel
m,mit& f mtilffrwlih ihiistlsnend aua-cUroity'--
-of exfluisite hahbiaesr orn .enable misery: -
upojl their havgi or ftot4Vjiffv on interest'
in the blood othrist,5 fhe.r,s. nor
other name linear Heavenif crt among? in ctv
wheifiy we must He vcl 'e awful dari-5-ge
to which they afe exposed tapctiously de
n inkf in i v nhfTh f.nti!uhich has been ah asvluiu
to those wIkj knred tyt'aWi
cdesiiastical persecution ,He has genUs . '
happy republican fonfc of gbverhinent, tihicj, , ;
secures to our'itizenjs tlie,t .lifccrtV' gt cpnv
sconce, die,r prpFe',a pfT lei.-vHa
what is inore thanMli' hBhas u-nV luf Gospel ;
among us! and given' it diviiSeacce&i r j- y '
? Crtituddtopod,; andvpmevcJence .to manri
chrtiitfl trnnstrain tts ta rehevd the m!serie.' and -
promote hapness fe Jujnuil tfniUy '
That tne
means
have Hved 'ithbut revciafecmii ahd -hive iufv
fered al that ignorance anrl .supeiticnxqVild'
united their eiforta in -sending the -Gjospel ;to
the hethjeh nations irt Asia: lr91jMis- ;
sjonary iSociely was JnstjtUted j in ,Enlsinh:
which sent Missionaries .toctfE'ehfye'
since bdrne. the,' glad tidifesi .'-ot , stibh to ' -other
aceikhatiOraiK A fewv-ears titce, the
plous'in AnSeric -ifiuliiehyMe-'aames
ered spirit, fbrmei liionf ry; Societies fo '
die same pupose TwejTie tjf the ; tTnitedi
States (incluin. thi Distrjct of Columbia) '
hare openly espoused the cause of JVIissiohs. s .
Xorth-varolina hasbt heeh neutral jn so -ld-
vlioxt? a ;cause ; but has ybluntarlly ebme for
ward and ofTeredh aid iti sipport of these
charitahieinstiltions'v'i njt-
God hai raisedtip; Uafied ind influeeciSi
h61y xtkvg tt'U.eaye;tfielrptite ' .Coiih. ;tv'';v.
brave tKe dangers of' a boiSttrdus :ccean aqd ;i
the inclemeneiei of 'Sicfclj clime; bear the
Gpspel- of salration tp perishm.5 h eathenic c
enable them to execute so arduous taski rfeV '.'
aUires gre&t pecUmjary aidr Ahapptalis tliere; :
fore nude to the' charity of our Citizeni Th&&
are reraatfully" invited ttf participatelh the
joy which results from so goeda causey That -
UWJiVlw. . v . ' v w HMV .iUiJU -DI
some, . tnerei -can ne Bo.,aouovx?.iut they sre'
which wbe caused hr th i a.h live vanished
1- -h
liOspcoi,aniSJui.-oesipQssiDje ;
iinre evinced. . Tbos riitIonswoi""eh
GodllencedjtheJ
rpropeUecLthe xtendh g With ' destruction,.
wliich hovered around us .ajodoncfe tpreiii-''-.'
tended thfedliy hVch bfpcjice, to ouV bleed
ing" couiitly Aieidture commerce again
lift ihelidroopuigr heao arid re-al wth i
smilesof plentte tods 6f their'otarjes.-r
Out field's ; (we .trust) will isoon " be crowned, i v-:
with; plenteous httcvests.w . '.
an 51se hinOT
riches pCforeigpnclimeir, - "v. '
Thaffifidefi,: whi? belVtve the tendency W f
the clirisaiijehgitflto darken bdfeewil : -der
the imdejtandin, to interrupt the plea- . '
surescfjthiS life, to ccmbund human afiauT, to
deh?e th e minct by )spmVtli; atA to mike
; toefifctetyj&vtA.crstl, should withhold their ;
aid,'aW evet-ommencfiiacg
not tb be wondered aC -Itttl; ihateristiaiu.
Vhi are better acuaihtM wjth its niure, and '
who believe iti terulency If to enlighten tho '
mind, td Lpuriry the afjecticml,! al to prepare
men to heir up ud Vr-the eVii,t uhd ehjoy.th ;
.blestin -fife; st4d.iiip1'theirsifti V ?
tance, and especially ccaimenc , ' , ;
tion,is truly wonderful and unaficouatahie, s1g " ' '
; 1u(st pmers'are active in doiflgooclVlet
ua not be idle aNfniich -uless active in do'mg v r
evilr,l5utlet iis. cheerfiilly give bur mites in 1
support of the Cofpel, Fbr Ood leveth the
chterfld. Jer : l'o itiwitbhold it from.
heatheil iiationsfbr t is the injunction of HeaJ -
vewaat u nouia- pc preacoea to au nataons4
for,ihe obedience of faith-rAnd -by notneani
let uidpposejti let 4 we 'he' found fa figjn
: prderof the6ociety,'
'' or? The Rev, Me&rs. Jesse ReacL !vtilliaM
(anastcr, Sobert T. Daniel, Behianiin BarJ
Klisha Battle, i 6enjamin Jbyner, VrnJ, P.
i. : . - -. a .: .
die, jocancx Barrow, auuc a. xtanaioson And -Josiah
Crudup 1 alsoj Messrs. Abner CJop ton
and John Campbell, vrere appoillted to receive
contrihuUons, c.
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