Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1831-03-07

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DE established upon the cnsavcmcnt Of 5000 900 Of
Pcople--as # the annals of the world Ind not taught
us that even after interval of ages. nations redu-
ccd 10 foreign subsection did not always recover that
independence winch had been dest ned for them nv
the Creator from the beginning of time, by having
r'Par"'u 'hcm from other nations IN language and
cuStoms,-as 1t this lesson tnrgot IN by Govern
m"nis that people oppressed become the natural
allies oil whoever may iNbprn tn rise up against
their oppres>ors
But these conditions though arbitrarily imposed
were not fuliled the Poles were Tot long bcE,r,
they became convinced tina. the nationality aud the
title OF kin,dom given 10 Poland by the Emperor of
Eussia were but lure t. their bre'brcp subject 10
DINER but weapon against those same Sintps
and but mere chmcra To those To whom they had
been guaranteed They became convinced that un-
der the shelter OF these sacred names II was intend
| cd 10 reduce them IN servie drgradation and
weigh them down by all the lntlictons of n con,inued
despotisn, and the loss of the dignity appcrtanng TO
man. The measures taken against the army first
drew ASIDE the veil that covered this mysterious plan
The most cruel outragcs the mos, infamous punish
ments--thc most refined p"rsscu ordered by the
Commander -in- Chief, uni"r the prctcncc of main
tanning discipline" but the real object Of which 10
destroy that feeling of honor, that national tcni,y
which characterized troops, were invented and
ertorced Faulis the most triilInu were deemed and
treated rs most serious oienccs--he slightest ssp
cinn converted into proofs OF br ach OF tlIscp,n,-
and the Commsnder-in-Chrf,b by his arbitrary con-
troll over the Courts MARTIAL rendered N fact the sole
aToteT 81 The lite and honor Of each individual soldier
me nation oehcid with indignation the DEGREES of
hcs" conrts repeatedly quashc, until q, lcn,b rbsr
decisions attained tina dagtcc Of severity that was r.
/ CURED from them Many mcmb rs IN consequence,
sen, III te s'g"nto'i; many, personally nsulted
! by the Commnudsr-n-Chlef, purified by their own
blood the ouiragcs that had been committed imam
them and, at the time, showed that Il was no,
The w2-r OF trne courage, but the fear of comprom-
sing the future fate of their country TINT with
held their arms from falling in Vengeance upon their
opprcsSors.
"0n the meeting of the first Dict of the KINGDOM
Il renewal of the solemn promises that the ul,s-
Il ,I.,
brethren who Ia be rc-uned To us revived cy
unguished hopes, and caused moderation to reign IN
the Chambers which was their only end aud object
The freedom OF the press. md the publicity az tho
proceedings of the Diet, only tolerated IN So f,
as they gave 10 the hymns and praises of a sub
Jugatcd people in honor of their all powerful con-
qnsr"r; but when, after that Diet was cnscL the
pubic journals continued Ia discuss public alliI-s
s'verc censorship introduced; and on the
meeting OF the following Diet, which proposed to
itself the same object rs the former, the Roprcsen-
latvos of the people were prosecuted for the opp-
/ ions they delivered III the Chamocrs.-The ConsrI-
tutonal States of Europe will be astonishcd whom
they learn what has been carefully concealed from
them when, on the one hand, they behold the wise
81 moderate use the Poles have made of their hbortv
the vencratIon they have shown for their Sovereign
his religion aud customs uniformly treated with res
pect and or the other the bad faith with which mower
has been used. no! content with despoillnp an nm
happy people of their rights, but mpuinr the hor-
ror of these violations 10 the unbrd!ed exercise of
/ their f.Cedom.
| :" ne placing IN union upNn one head the Crowns
oil an Auiocrat and of Coustitu ional Knr vas one
of those political mous,r oslties winch are never NJ
long duration. Every forcsaw tin, tho I;inr-
! dom OF Poland must become either The nursery of
liberal institutions for Russia or sink under the IRON
hand OF ITS despotism. This question was soon re-
solved. Ii appears that, at m1m.ni the Empo-
ror Alexander conceived he might consol date his
arbitrary power with our liberal laws, and thereby
secure tor himself new influence the affairs of
Europe. But he was convinced that liberty
could never become dcbased as TO be the bland m
e'rumcnt of dcspo,ism; and from that tmc instead Of
her defender, he became her pcrsccuto- Rsss;,
lost ai hope bi ever seeing the yoke By which she
was oppressed taken of by the hand of her Soysr
e;sn ard Poland saw herself success vclv daprych Of
oil her privileges.
"No time wasl lost in carrying his design into eyc
cntion. Public education was corrupted a svs,cm
OF conccalmcnt and mystery was adapted the I-opn
were left without means of instruction. whole Pa
latinate deprived of s representation. and tho
/ Chambers no longer allowed the faculty of votior
I the supplies New burdens were inrosed new mo-
nopoies created 10 dry up the sources of national
wealth; and the treasury enriched by these inca
sures became the pasture or salaried svcopbnrts
infamous hrcing nsiGators, and vile and despicn
pie spies Instead Of the economy repeatedly CAL
ieu Tor, pensions were augmented IN most sea nda
io"S dcSrec, 10 winch were added enormous gratui-
ties, and offices created solely with the view, Of arr-
tDcntlnS the number OF government sa'raps
! "Cautnny and espionage c,rri"d into the
secret circles OF private families and tho freedom OF
private lie injected with their poison The ancient
hospitality Of the Poles became n snare for ther INN
cence. Individual liberty, which had been soIcmnlv
guaranteed, was violated, and the prisons Of he state
became crowded; Councils of War were authorized
/ 10 pronounce judgment IN civil cascs-aDd cItizcns
whose only fault was 10 the spirit and cha,ac.
Ter oil the nation ftom corruption, were subjected IN
infamous pnnlshmonts II was in vain that some Of
the Authorities ofthe kingdom and the Represents,
tves OF the people. mid before the king faithful MIC
turc olhe abuses commit ell N hi NAM for not Gnv
wcro The abuses suffered to be unsupprcsscd but Tho
responsibility OF the Ministers and the Administra-
hoo L.
interference of the bro her of the Empcror. and bv
the exercise ofthat Discretionary power with which
he was invested. This monstrous aa,boritv the
source of tho greatest abuses, g. which rnlpht wound
the personal dignity of every individual had become
so infatuated that IL dared TO call before il cit
Z2ps OF every rank and condition. merely 10 load them
WIN in5uIts' and at Zines to subject them to dis
graceful public Iabours reserved tor the v1lcst con.
vets as II PrOvldCnce by Permitting thcrn To carry