The things we do!

These two
obligations could not be canceled without indemnity; if it were
done, more than one-half of the proprietors in France would be
dispossessed in favor of the farmers. Hence the distinction which
the Assembly makes in the feudal dues. -- On the one hand it
abolishes without indemnity all those dues which the noble receives
by virtue of being the local sovereign, the ancient proprietor of
persons and the usurper of public. powers; all those which the
lessee paid as serf, subject to rights of inheritance, and as former
vassal or dependent. On the other hand, it maintains and decrees as
redeemable at a certain rate all those which the noble receives
through his title of landed proprietor and of simple lessor; all
those which the lessee pays by virtue of being a free contracting
party, former purchaser, tenant, farmer or grantee of landed estate.
-- By this division it fancies that it has respected lawful
ownership by overthrowing illegitimate property, and that in the
feudal scheme of obligations, it has separated the wheat from the
chaff.


Pages:
355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379