Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/577

 Europe after tJie Congress of Vienna 539 we have had to remember that our first duty toward our people was to preserve, for their own interest, the rights and prerogatives of our crown. We hope that, taught by experience, they may be con- vinced that the supreme authority alone can give to insti- tutions which it establishes the power, permanence, and dignity with which it is itself clothed; that, consequently, when the wisdom of kings freely harmonizes with the wish of the people, a Constitutional Charter may long endure, but that when concessions are snatched with violence from a weak government, public liberty is not less endangered than the throne itself. We have sought the principles of the Constitutional Charter in the French character and in the venerable monu- ments of past centuries. Thus we perceived in the revival of the peerage a truly national institution which binds memories to hope by uniting ancient and modern times. We have replaced by the Chamber of Deputies those ancient assemblies of the March Field and May Field, and those chambers of the third estate which so often exhibited at once proof of their zeal for the interests of the people and fidelity and respect for the authority of kings. In thus endeavoring to renew the chain of time which fatal excesses had broken, we effaced from our memory, as we would we might blot out from history, all the evils which have afflicted the country during our absence. Happy to find ourselves again in the bosom of our great family, we could only respond to the love of which we receive so many testimonies by uttering words of peace and consolation. The dearest wish of our heart is that all Frenchmen may live like brothers, and that no bitter memory should ever trouble the tranquillity which should follow the solemn decree which we grant them to-day. Confident in our intentions, strong in our conscience, we engage ourselves before the assembly which listens to us to be faithful to this Constitutional Charter; with the intention of swearing to maintain it with added solemnity before the altars of Him who weighs in the same balance kings and nations.