Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-08

and but u mere chmera to those 20 whom they had
been guaranteed They became convinced that nm
der the shelter III these sacred names, IL was intend
ell TO reduce them 10 II scrvIlc degradation. and
weigh them down by all the infections of Il conlruea
deSpots., and the loss OF the dignity appr,annsr to
man. The measures token against tho army FIRST
drew aside the veil that covered this mysterious plan
The most cruel ontragcs--thG most infamous punish
H'ns--tic most refined prosecutions ordered bv the
= nluaHd.r'n- tssi, unl.- the prcte;,cc of main
tanning discipline, hut the real object of which was In
DC 'troy that feeling o hoaor, that national ,rn,.
which characterized troops we're invented ;,d
eriurced EauIS the H;Ost tr!:iur we're deemed and
treated most serious ufieuCcs-the SIN s,,s,i
cIon converted into proofs Of hrach of dsypl:u,-
and the commandments! BIZ his arbitrary CON
troll over the Courts martial rendered In tct M ,la
atoiter CT the lie aud honor o each individual soldier
The mutton behc!d with md'gnQ ION the DEGREES of
these courts repeaje eddy quasrd, until at length their
decisions attained the degree OF severity that was
CURED from them. Many memb-rs, in consequences
sent i'll their resignation; many, personally insulted
by the Commandcr-in-Chief purified BY Their o,,n
blood the outTagcs that had been committed I'd IN
them, and, at the same time, showed that It vyas not
the want OF true Courage, but the fear Of CONFRONT,
S;1g the future fate or their country that with,
held their arms from falling in vengeance upon their
oppressors.
"On the meeting of the first Diet Of the kingdom,
a renewal oil the solemn promises that the blcs-
sings of Constitution should be extend al tn mr.
bre'hrcn, who were to be united to US revived cy-
h5n!shed hopes, and caused moderation 10 reign in
cox CuhhdoclS WIlCN was tner only eIu and object
Inv freedom OF the press. and the publicity of the
proceedings OF the Diet only toera ed IN so ia
as they gave vent tn the hymns and praises Of sub
lugated people IN honcr Of their all powerful con-
Querur; but when, after that Diet was CLOSED tho
public Journals continued to discuss puelc affairs
severe censorship int; oduce,i and OF, The
meeting. of the following Diet, which proDoseo to
tSet the same objrct as the former, the Represen-
;atr's OF the people were prosecuted for tI, onin
IONS they delivered in The Chambers Cons,i.
tuonal States Of Europe will be Gstonisbej when
They learn What has Gil carefully Concealed frrIr
teii WheH, on the one hand, they behold the wise
~ moderate use The Poles have made Of their ibcr,v
The vcneratIon they have shown for their SOVEREIGN
ms fclig:on aud customs uniformly treated with res
pect and on the other the bad faith with which nop
has been used, not content with despuil!nr an un
happy people OF their rights, but nputis,r In, Lor
ror o! these violations 10 the umbrdcd exercise Of
their freedom. ~
''ihe placing in uHon npon one heal the Crowns
OF an Autocrat and of Constitutional King was one
oil tlSo po!!t!cal monsi roStIes which are never OF
long duration. livery man fofcsaw that III, kinn-
dom OF ROLAND must become either the nursery of
liberal institutions fer Russia or sink unda- tn. IRON
hahd OF us acspotsn This question was soon re-
SoiTeu. IL appears that, at OH; moment the EmDe-
rdr Alexander conceived he might consolidate. his
arbitrary Power with our liberal laws ana therebv
SECURE 'F hinSe! new influence the affairs of
Europe. But hp was soon convinced that Ehnrtv
could never become so dobased to be the blind in
srument ut despotlsi; aud from that time instead o
her defender, he became her prosecutor Russia
lost all hope of ever seeing the yoke by which she
was oppressed taken oft by the hand of her Sover
elg ard Poland saw herself success vev derived Of
al her privileges.
No time was lost in carrying this design into exc
/ c9tion. Public education was corrupted, system
OF conceaDeut and mystery was ataptcd The nennIo
were lett without means OF instruction, whole pa
Intimate was deprived of It's Representations and bo
Chambers longer allowed the faculty. of votinor
The supplies. New burdens imposed new m,,e
nopahes created to dry up The sources of natiorn1
wealth; aud The treasury cnricled nv tr,o-
s0:cs, becama the pasture OF salaricd sycoDhgnts
infamous hircl!ng inst gsto7S and vile and despics-
be spies Instead Of the economy SO repeatedly cal
lea for, pensions were augmented IN q Ia1st scand,
ou5 degree, to which were added enormous trratui
TICS and Offices created solely VI The view CT aug
mening the number OF government satraps
'Caluinny and espionage carried into the
secret circles OF private !an!!!cs and the freedom OF
private HE injected with their poison the ancinnt
hospitality of the Poles became snare for fbejr nno
cence. Individual liberty, which had been soleD,nlv
guaranteed vas violated and the prisons Of The state
became crowded; Councils of War were aut horized
TO pronou.-o Judgment in civil cases--anl c,,iZ.os
whose only fault was TO the spirit and charac
ter OF the nation from corruption were Subjected tn
infamous punsamontS 1t was in vain that some Of
The Authorities OF the kingdom and The Representa-
tlves OF The people, mid before the king faithful pic
ture 1.-THE abuses commit ed III his name for not on!v
were the abuses suffered to be unsuppressed but the
responsibility of the Ministers and the Adm,nsira-
tive Authorities was paraIyScd by the immediate
interference OF the brother Of the Enperor and by
the exercise ofthot discretionary power with uhlch
nc was invested. This monstrous authority. the
source of the greatest abuses, g. which might wound
the personal dignity of every individual bad become
so infatuated, that dared to call before il ct
z9ns OF every rank and condition. merely to load them
with insults, and at Zines To subject them TO dis
graceful public labours reserved for the ves con-
Ycts as Providence, by permitting them to carry
their ourages against the people to The very utmost
pitch, had destined their inordinate abuses Of author
lty 10 be the exciting cause FOUR insTrcction
AFTER so inaay atfronts aft er so manifest a vo
iatlon ct the guarantees sworn, violation which no
legitimate Government in any civilized country would
have allowed Itself w:th mpuny and which q f,y-
tt''l may Justify Or Instruction against All author
i;y imposed by furce who Will not consider that this
authority has broken oil all alliance with the nation
thai 1t has oppressed it beneath the yoke of slavery
That 1t has gwen the right at every instant to burst
Its letters ard forge them into arms
The picture of The disasters Of our bre,hen NAV
he snpcrflrons but truth f1rbds rs to pass 1t over
Iho Provinces formerly incorporated with Russia
nave MT been reunited To the kingdom. Our bre-'
tnrcn lave not been admitted to the enjoyment of the
tbcraI Institutions stipulated b. the Congress Of.
vienna: on the contrary the nation;I recollcctions
awakened IN them, first by promises and encourare