I was suspended, and condemned to dishonouring imprisonment, without
a hearing--without an opportunity of defence, or proof adduced of my
culpability.
It is unlawful that any German or Prussian citizen should be imprisoned
for a crime, by any other than the civil executive power. It is only the
Catholic priest that is liable to be coerced without appeal to his civil
rights, or the ceremony of a trial. The Apostle Paul laid claim to the
privileges of a Roman citizen; while the Roman Church herself denies to
her followers the exercise of the most ordinary civil rights. I did not,
therefore, submit to the sentence!