The Sun.
London, England, 1858-05-13 00:00:00

NING, MAY 13, 1858.

P_RINUM ADAM CZARTORYSKI.

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ship in the Church of the Assumption, and by a subse-
. .quent meeting at the Polish Library, L'Quai d'Orleans.
The liberal and monarchical constitution of 3d May,
1791, was, as it were, the dying song of independent
Poland. The remembrance of this act, which was ap-
plauded at the time by every respectable statesman in
Europe, is dear to the Poles, although the very benefits
that it promised in a certain measure accelerated the par.:
tition of the country by the Governments who, having
resolved its destruction, could not allow renovating re-
forms to be introduced in the state.
At the meeting Prince Czartoryski delivered a speech, of
which the following are the most remarkable passages :
"An important and fundamental change is about to be
under h
accomplished
tine dthaetunpnoiretutenufoßu
of our fatherland
rlaantdtetuhtaiutn of
has
fallen
Europe as well as of Poland is fixed upon an attempt, the
object of which is to elevate and ameliorate the condi t-on
of the most numerous class of the inhabitants—our brothers
as Poles and as Christians. On the invitation of the
supreme authority in the state, delegates representing the
proprietors of each province or government are formed
into committees to deliberate on certain proposed reforms.
Is it just, because thee deliberations are found to require
time and reflection, to accuse the delegates of placing ob-
stacles in the way of reforms which have long been solicited
by the class they represent ? Certainly those who do so
must have forgotten that which the present anniversary
gives ns the right to recall to their mind. In 1791,
as long as sixty-seven years ago, the last diet assembled
in independent Poland, in adopting certain mea-
sures laid before it, proclaimed a solemn engagement to
fulfil a duty the accomplishment of which bad already been
toe long postponed. Who can doubt that the reforms I
allude to, bearing upon the emancipation of the serfs,
would long ago have been quietly and peacefully carried
out in Poland had it not been for the Invasion and the
dismemberment which immediately afterwards set at
nought all the hopes and aspirations of the nation, had it
not been for the endeavours of hostile governments, who
by their ukases and regulations did their best to disor-
ganise society in Poland by perfidiously exciting one class
of the inhabitants egainstanother. Not only during the wars
of independence in 1794 and in 1831 did the Polish nation
again express its determination to establish free contracts
between peasant farmers and proprietors of land, but the
latter have since then repeatedly petitioned the. Govern.
ment to be allowed to introduce such contracts, but have
up to this day invariably met with a refusal. It cannot
therefore be doubted that the Polish provinces of the
Russian empire will hasten to prove under the present
circumstances the elevation and wisdom of their views in
relation to the reforms which they have at last been called
pen to propose. They will not fail to respond to the ap-
parently liberal views of the present sovereign. The com mit-
tees in these provinces know too well that nothing is more
painful than prolonged uncertainty when once a question
has been raised as to the existing relations between two
parties, one of which has been injured in its rights, while
for this very reason the interests of the other
also are endangered. In the face of so urgent a
necessity the wealthy classes of Poland will, I am
sure, be ready even to impose sacrifices on
themselves as soon as a thorough study of the subject
shall have opened their eyes as to the importance of the
object to be attained, and of the dangers to he obvi-
ated. The principal difficulty evidently arises not out
of the future pecuniary relations between the proprie-
tors and the liberated peasantry, but out of the circum-
stance that the Russian Government contemplates leav-
ing in the hands of the lord of the soil the cha-ge of
levying taxes and recruits, and of carrying out. the local
polioe. However, if the Government be really deter-
mined to respect the rights of property, all the instincts
of the heart and all the calculations of self-interest will
soon tend towards the establishment of a state of things
in which every man shall enjoy entire personal liberty
and equality before the laws. It is beyond all doubt
that that which ensures the liberty and the permsn-nt
well-being of the peasant-farmer must also ensure the in-
terests of the proprietor. GA has bestowed upon the
Polish race qualities and talents which have been re-
peatedly manifested in the course of ages to the glory of
the nation and the advantage of its neighbours. In ono
quality only we are failing. We have never been able to
persevere in spontaneous organisation for action, anil to
submit ourselves to the necessary discipline, and this has
been the source otall our misfortunes. The destiny of na-
tieus is in the hind of Providence. It is not given to man '
to precipitate its decrees ; to attempt to do so is to merit
defeat. But wha'ever be the future which God reserves
for us, there is one lesson which I would fain leave to my
country, a lesson applicable to every situation and
to every enterpi lee. Whatever be the task we wish
to accomplish, let us begin by placing ourselves under one
governing, direction. Un ler all circumstances we ought

to practise this, and, so to say, contract the habit (di t.
Would that each one of us would make it a point of
honour to implant in our nation tint spirit of die-
cipline which is the condition of unity, order, and
power, and which is the Bole virtue in which we
have been failing. Then whatever be the fate that
awaits us, our friends abroad. and even the powers that,
have been imposed upon us, will have for Poland an esteem
and a regard which, Li good fortune or in bad, will re-
dound to the advantage of the country. The noble orator
expressed his satisfaction at seeing the alliance between
the two great Western Powers maintained in spits of the
dangers that have threatened it, and then added :—The
prudent and assiduous cere which the two nations take to
"save the alliance," sufficiently proves that in their eyes
it is still necessary, and that the peace which was so hur-
riedly concluded does not as yet seem to them quite secure.
But between two powerful neighbouring states national
susceptibilities are easily roused, and soon acquire an en-
venomed character when a great object to be attained in
common no longer necessitates that co-operation which
holds all rivalries in check. The duration of this alliance
is desired by everyone, because, in reality, it can sutiQerve
no criminal project, no plan of conquest or of partition
detrimental to other states. It seems, on the contrary,
forced into combating evil, into protecting the wade, and
into promoting generally the well-being of the human race.
Were these conditions of its existence to be violated a rep•
tura would inevitably ensue, and fearful misfortunes be
the consequence. The Prince further did homage to the
devotion and excellent spirit manifested by a body of Poles,
who, under the command of an officer of rare merit, has
been organised, since the peace, in the Caucasus among the
Circesaians. He alluded, at the same time, to certain
European volunteers who, after having declare,l themselves
ilussulmans, in order to gain the confidence of the Turks
and the Circassians, have been detected in keeping up
secret comneenications with the enemy, and have confessed
that they had served Russia even daring the last war,
and that they had done so out of hatred to another power,
and out of blind love for their country. Such, gentlemen,
slid the Prince in concluding, Pre the acts of those who aro
bound by no human or divine laws. They trample under
foot the most sacred duties, they deny their faith, they
even emancipate themselves from the rules of simple pro-
bity, in their cold-hearted and blind perversity, they look
upon treason, assassination, and massacre, as virtuous and
ceover policy. Woe to those who would benefit them-
selves by acts which spring from a truly diabolical source.
Whether they be nations or governments, they aro sure to
reap malediction au-f opprobrium. Happily Poland rens
no risk of this kind. Her cause is inseparable from that
of justice and civilisation, and of the equilibrium and last-
ing peace of the world—for the peace of the world, esta-
blished on justice, cannot be conceived without the radio d
and perfect redemption of the crime which has deprived
Poland of her independence, but which has left her right
untouched under the guardianship of Him who is Eternal
Justice.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, WEDNESDAY MORNING.
EXECUTIONS FOR MURDER.

Yesterday the two brothers Cormack were exe-
cuted at Clonmel, pursuant to their sentence, for
the assassination of Mr. Ellis, under circumstances
of peculiar barbarity. One of these men actually
got himself placed upon the coroner's jury which
sat upon the murdered gentleman's remains, with
a view to intimidate by his presence the driver of
the car who witnessed the murder, and bad a pre-
vious knowledge that it had been decided upon by
the Cormacks.

Patrick Ley don was yesterday executed at Gal-
way for the brutal murder of his wife. He had mar-
ried her to save himself from the consequences of a
charge of violation, and shortly afterwards put her
to death by strangulation. The wretched man
having appeared on the drop with the rope round
his neck, proceeded to address the assembled
crowd in the Irish language, in a clear and full
voice, and as the report continues, apparently very
little affected by the position in which he stood.
His address was translated into English, as he de-
livered it, by the Rev. Mr. Commiu_s. It was to the
effect—that the woman who was now no more had
brought a charge against him, of which he was as
innocent as the child unborn (sensation.)
Eleven witnesses had sworn, and they had sworn
faliely, for they knew nothing whatever of what
he had done. He said it was not true that he went
for the woman, but that she came to where he
was. He confessed that he alone committed
the murder, but that no human eye saw him
do it, and that it was known only to God
Almighty. He said that neither brother,
cousin, or any other relation had any hand,
act, or Fart in it, and if they knew he was going to
do it they wouldn't let him. He then said t at he
forgave every one on earth, and ha hoped to be
forgiven by God ; and he besought the prayers of
the people for his soul that he might receive mercy
not alone for the crime for which he was now about
to suffer, but for all the sins of his past life. The
executoner then placed a white handkerchief over
his face and head, closed the door of the drop, and
in another moment the wretched being was in
eternity.

The steamship Lord Ashley wdl sail frcm Milford
Haven, on the 20th inst., for Auckland, New Zealand,
direct, with emigrants, and carry ship letter'.
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