Oui, je crois, comme je l'ai dit, que le
despotisme abaisse les caracteres, les intelligences, les consciences.
Oui, je deplore le systeme qui rend un seul homme tout-puissant et seul
responsable des destinees d'une nation de 36 millions d'hommes; et trouve
que cela ressemble trop au gouvernement russe, contre lequel nous allons
en guerre, et trop peu au gouvernement anglais, dont nous prisons si haut
l'alliance.']
'I am told again, and the accusation is sanctioned by the _requisitoire_
of the Procureur-General, that my letter is inconsistent with the
fidelity which I have sworn to the Emperor and to the constitution. When
a man swears fidelity to a sovereign and to a constitution, his oath
engages him only as to matters within his own power. He swears not to
conspire against them. He swears not to attempt to subvert them. He
cannot swear to approve the acts of the sovereign, or the working of the
constitution, for he cannot foresee what either of them will be. I have
kept, and I shall keep, my oath to the Emperor and my oath to the
constitution. I have not attempted, and I shall not attempt, to overthrow
either of them. But my approbation of either of them does not depend on
me.
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