POTTER United Families

pursued by him and his colleagues in the administration of affairs,
and also the necessity there was for harmony of deliberation and
independence of action.
Louis then wrote his letter of resignation to the Congress on
November 13. He also wrote to his partners in the Provisional
Government announcing his retirement. Both letters were read aloud
in Congress! Louis' leaving the Provisional Government was the end
of it, and the name of Louis de Potter was the only name which was
known outside Belgium. By his popularity, he had imprinted a
splendid freedom élan of Belgium for other nations all around, with
the new so called press and popular power.
On November 22, the Congress voted 174 to 13 in favor of a
"hereditary, constitutional and parliamentary monarchy." While many
voted “white”, Louis did not vote. Bologna thought this was to be
expected of a "censitary congress" whereas high representatives are
chosen in function of their financial capacity or their aristocratic
belonging and education.
It was altogether, a government of the propertied classes, for the
propertied classes, and by the propertied classes. While refusing to sit
in Congress, except as an observer, Louis made it clear to the world
that he intended to speak out on important issues related to
"universal voting rights" and "independence of locally elected
persons from foreign countries. Aristocratic families, in those days,
were even more international than today.
On November 23, he published the “Letter to his co-citizens”,
explaining his political conduct up to that point. He also continued
to write in the “Belgian Journal” with a remarkable ardent mind. His
son-in-law would pursue his career as Wing officer of King Leopold
to whom Louis was writing some advices too.
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