POTTER United Families

Strangely enough, his argument that a Protestant sovereign was
perfectly able to govern a nation of Catholic citizens and deputies,
applied equally to both William I of Holland, and Leopold I, the
future king of Belgium, also a Protestant.
It was significant that Catholic Belgium, having divested itself of one
Protestant sovereign, did have enough faith in the strength of its
constitution to risk choosing another Protestant king.
The next month, August 1829, Louis felt impelled to write still
another pamphlet in defense of his Unionist position. This
widespread publication was called, “Last word to the Anonymous of
Ghent”... A person who might even know Louis…?
Louis' own tolerance had evolved a long way from his early days as a
graduate of the French system of education who had enthusiastically
supported King William's “Philosophic College of Louvain”.
These three pamphlets of the summer of 1829, accomplished what
their author intended.
By the end of the summer, all of the leading Catholics and Liberals
of Belgium shared Louis' Unionist idea.
While in prison, Louis also wrote articles for the Courrier des Pays-
Bas, September 23 and 26, firmly opposing the annexation of
Belgium to France, which had been suggested by General de
Richemont.
He was becoming a disturbing national hero to whom even public
songs and poems were dedicated!
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