Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/578

 540 Readings in European History For these reasons we have voluntarily, and by the free exercise of our royal authority, granted and do grant, con- cede, and accord, as well for us as for our successors forever, the Constitutional Charter, as follows. Public Rights of the French 1 Article i. All Frenchmen are equal before the law, what- ever may be their title or rank. 2. They contribute without distinction to the impositions of the state in proportion to their fortune. 3. They are all equally eligible to civil and military posi- tions. 4. Their personal liberty is likewise guaranteed; no one can be prosecuted or arrested except in the cases and in the manner prescribed by law. 5. All may with equal liberty make profession of their religion and enjoy the same protection for their worship. 6. Nevertheless the Roman Catholic and apostolic reli- gion is the religion of the state. 7. The ministers of the Roman Catholic and apostolic religion, and those of other Christian forms of worship only, shall receive subsidies from the royal treasury. 8. All Frenchmen have the right to publish and cause their opinions to be printed, if they conform to the laws destined to check the abuse of this liberty. 9. All property is inviolable ; that known as national property forms no exception, since the law recognizes no difference between that and other property. 10. The state may demand the surrender of property in the interest of the public when this is legally certified, but only with previous indemnification. 11. All investigation of opinions expressed or of votes cast previous to the Restoration is prohibited; oblivion of these is imposed upon the courts and upon citizens alike. 1 To show the permanence of the first achievements of the Revolu- tion this list of rights should be compared with the Declaration of the Rights of Man drawn up in 1789 (see above, pp. 409 sqq.).