POTTER United Families

With a vibrating voice, Louis did the speech of independence of
Belgium in front of thousands of citizens gathered on the Grand’
Place: “Dear fellow citizen, here I am, at last, among you all. Your welcoming
screams moved my heart and they will never escape from my memories. I will do
everything to serve you and the homeland the best I can. Brave Belgians, you have
gloriously won, now be prepared to take advantage of your victory. Your coward
enemies are running away. I declare you free from the Nassau who are banned
forever. Let’s all gather around a popular government which is your
accomplishment. No more hesitations, we have to repel forever the assassins of our
families. Let’s be united, let us keep order to our independence. Freedom for all,
equality in front of the supreme power, the Nation, and its will: the Law. Dear
Belgians, what we are, is because of you. What we will do, will be done for you!”
Louis' career as a statesman was the shortest episode of his life,
consisting of less than two months. When he inaugurated the
National Congress, as oldest member of that assembly, he also
stepped down as chairperson, dismissed of active political life and
remained an ordinary member.
Disappointed by the overruling of the Provisional government by a
number of powerful persons, supported by neighboring nations, he
did not want a Kingdom of Belgium without a leader elected among
its population.
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