Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-15
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST IS, 1892.
POLAND.

An interesting debate occurred on the 29th
June, in the British House OF Commons, upon
the affairs of this much injured country. We
make such extracts from it as our columns will
admit of. 1t was introduced by a speech from
MIR. Ferguson, who reviewed the history of Po-
lands wrongs antecedent to her late desperate
struggle for independence, and then passed to
the ~cruelties and violations Of faith which had
been p~racticed upon her since that war was ter.
minated. lie sail:-
OF % Polish Generals, who then became in a
manner prisoners under the amnesty, the great
err norton were sent to distant parts of the Rus
sian empire. aud Of the whole number only four
had returned to Poland. Common soldiers also,
who were included in the amnesty, were march
ed by thousands to Siberia; the last accounts
which had been received pictured these brave
Poles as marching IN columns toward their place
of exile; they were met, day by day, in parties
of 10, linked together by the wrists to a bar OF
iron; and this was the mode in which the Empe-
ror Nicholas fulfilled the amnesty under which
they had surrendered. The Mobiles OF Poland
were treated in the same way. One anecdote
had come TO his knowledge, which he would state.
The Prince Slmonska. who was arrayed in the
rank of his countrymen against the despot's pow
or. was sentenced to Punishment into Siberia
The sentence was enforced on the day OF his
SAINTS festival, and the Emperor Nicholas wrote
on the sentence, in his own hand, the aggravat-
inc punishment that he must be sent into Siberia
ON foot. chained to the bar OF the common soldiers.
If this was doubted it would be proven, for the
document was in existence. The Princess, his
mother, urged by her natural feelings, sought TO
moderate the rigor Of his sentence. The Emperor
-. e.. .,Io,tol N = tn atlnv tho substitution nf n
mi!der punishment. on condition that the Noble
man would acknowledge he had been driven into
the rebellion by the loss Of reason, which had
befallen him in consequence of affection at the
death of his wife. The alternative was proposed
to him. He nobly refused to comply with the
tyrannical and base suggestion, urging as a rea-
son for his refusal the feelings which must asitate
the minds of his fellow countrvmen on seeing
him disavow the part he had taken in their com.
mon cause. Ga his refusal, no further applica-
ton on his behalf would be listened to, and he
was at that moment in exile, his mother discons0-
late and wretched, ignorant of what corner OF
Siberia his footsteps were directed to. But this
was not all. He left a daughter behind him
eight years old. The order of the Russian Go
vprnment was. that female infants of the Nobi.
lily should be taken away from Poland, and CARR.
ed into Russia. Her only protector was an old
soldier of 20, who had been the companion in
arms Of Kusciusko. When the Russian soldiers
were about to enforce their orders to convey the
infant awav, he seized her in his arms, and de-
clared he would not give her up but with his life.
HIS noble disdain of life SO terrified the Russians
that they retired and left him in possession Of his
Infaut charge.
The Hon and learned member then proceed
ed tn observe upon that article OF the ukase which
related to the abstraction of the children Of Poles;
and contended that it was with a view towards Fl.
na!ly rendering that nation more complete slaves
than they have ever vet bpen. and also that it
was in complete accordance with the proceedings
of the old Muscovite rulers. who stopped at no.
thing TO consolidate their power, anG who &C.
mented the component parts Of their empire with
blood. All the European powers who were par,
ties to the treaty Of Vienna, had a right to ex-
claim against the proceedings of Russia. The
object Of those proceedings was to denationalize
and to exterminate Poland: and this formed only
part Of the ultimate views Of universal monarchy
in Europe. which Russia. he was convinced, Sc
cretly cherished. His learned friend might
smile. and urge mentally as a reason for discre-
diting that assertion. the fact. that the Russian
empire was already SO large that it might fall to
pieces of its own weight; but let him recall to
recollection the immense size of the Roman en-
pire. which had gone on in an uninterrupted ca
reer Of foreign conquest to which even Britain had
succumbed; and the analogy which had existed
between the two cases, was quite sufficient to
warrant HIM in entertaining a belief that many of
the European states might fall victims to the in
sat,able thirst of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by which Rus
STA was actuated. ere that empire utterly fell in
to ruins. He hoped that England would never
suffer an attempt to denatlonalise Poland, with
out interfering. with the other European states,
to prevent it; and the first step towards this was
to put forth a solemn protest as against an act so
atroeious in its nature. He would not occupy
the tune Of the House any longer-thear! heart!
He felt aware that he had very imperfectly urg-
ed the claims hear which Poland had to the
interference of England, and he should therefore
conclude BY moving that an humble address be
presented to his Majesty. praying that he would be
pleased to order to be laid on the table copies Of