French Peerage Abolished

French Peerage Abolished

The work presents a discourse on the potential abolition of the hereditary peerage in France, articulating the responsibilities and moral obligations of the peers in the face of such a significant political change. The speaker emphasizes the distinction between personal feelings and collective duty, arguing that if the peers are to be abolished, it should be through a legitimate constitutional process rather than a mere act of popular sentiment. The peers are portrayed as guardians of the constitution, tasked with defending the institution of the peerage, which they believe is integral to the governance of France. They express a commitment to their roles, asserting that abandoning their position would equate to treachery against the nation. The speaker suggests that if the abolition is genuinely desired by the populace, it should be enacted by the king and deputies forming a constituent assembly, thereby legitimizing the act as a collective decision rather than a unilateral one. Furthermore, the peers propose a method for gauging public opinion on the matter. They advocate for a thorough examination of the arguments for and against the abolition, to be disseminated widely, allowing the public to engage in informed discourse. After a period of reflection, the deputies should seek fresh instructions from their constituents, ensuring that any decision made reflects the true will of the people. The peers also make a firm declaration regarding their future: they will not accept any newly created peerages for life, reinforcing their commitment to the traditional hereditary system. This stance underscores their belief in the value of the existing peerage and their unwillingness to compromise their principles for the sake of political expediency. The work ultimately serves as a defense of the peerage system while advocating for a democratic process in addressing its potential abolition.

By Samuel Taylor Coleridge · First published 1834 · Genre: Political Essay, Philosophical Discourse, Historical Commentary · 514 words

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I cannot say what the French peers _will_ do; but I can tell you what they _ought_ to do. "So far," they might say, "as our feelings and interests, as individuals, are concerned in this matter -- if it really be the prevailing wish of our fellow-countrymen to destroy the hereditary peerage -- we shall, without regret, retire into the ranks of private citizens: but we are bound by the provisions of the existing constitution to consider ourselves collectively as essential to the well-being of France: we have been placed here to defend what France, a short time ago at least, thought a vital part of its government; and, if we did not defend it, what answer could we make hereafter to France itself, if she should come to see, what we think to be an error, in the light in which we view it? We should be justly branded as traitors and cowards, who had deserted the post which we were specially appointed to maintain. As a House of Peers, therefore, -- as one substantive branch of the legislature, we can never, in honour or in conscience, consent to a measure of the impolicy and dangerous consequences of which we are convinced.

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French Peerage Abolished is listed on Textopian as an essay by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, dated 1834 CE.

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French Peerage · Abolition · Samuel Taylor Coleridge · Hereditary Nobility · Political Philosophy · Constitutional Debate · Legislative Authority · Revolutionary Ideas · Peerage Defense · Civic Duty · National Identity · Historical Context

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