Du Buque visitor. [volume] (Dubuque, Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1836-1837, 1836-06-08

At ten o'clock, military escortpro-
ceeded to the state-prison, and deman-
ded, in the name Of the Grand Duke,
the military students, confined on a
charge Of treason. They were imme-
diately surrendered. A few moments
brought them before the tribunal of the
tyrant.
Platter, with firm step and digni6-
ed air, first assembled the platform, be-
fore his judges. Witha contemptuous
expression Of countenance, he gazed a
round on this mockery Of justice, as the
chief commissioner exclaimed, i de-
nounee Casimir Platersa traitor to his
emperor and his country!'
Poland has no traitor among her free
born nobles,' replied the undaunted
youth. Behold thy companions con-
.tinued the commissioner, pointing to-.
ward the military students who had
assembled in the hall of the tribunal,
sthey shall testify against thee
The bosom Of the young soldier heav-
ed with indignation: he exchanged a
glance with his comrades; twas enough.
Then, casting look Of disdain on his
.oppressors, he replied: NO Pole ever
committed dishonor.'
Chou hast been sworn against, as a
rebel and traitor, mutterd the Duke.
Show me my accuser, retorted the
youth.
sThe mines of Siberia are not yet fill
Eed,' continued Constantine; sadescend-
ant of the noble house Of Platter would
grace the earth-wrought dungeons Of
lTobolsk.,
prince, replied Casimir, there is a
point at which resistance becomes a
virtue, and silence crime. Posterity
lwilldcn1and at your hands retribution
for the wrongs Of Poland History
viii record this, military tribunal, where
power usu1ps the sestToof Judgment, and
vengeance the throne Of nercy-from
which the 0ccuse7 is banishcd, and the
accused condemned. The future asser.
tiers Of the rights of nations and Of mcr
will re-echo from Warsaw to st. Pc.
Itersburgh this unholy mockery of the
fgreat attributes -of. Justice in the court
of kings. They will record their YER
dict against the faith of princes, on the
ruins Of Poland's freedom, incharaeters
of blood
I Gould alone continued Casimir,
'be offered as a propitiatory sacrifice
between Poland and her wrongs-couid
the yawning CULTS of your northern ca
tpital receive me as the last of their Po-
Elish victims, | would, like another Cur
thus, plunge into the lake, and save my
country. But the descendant Of the
house. Of Platter is fraction in the vast
unit of destruction. Where is the an
Icient house Of Warsaw, that mourns
not some inmate whose groans rever-
berate through your Siberian dungeons,
until the genius Of misery shrieks af-
frighted~ at the sound? the youth in the
full yigor Of manhood who enters to-
day, and he whose head has grown hoa-
Try in your subterranean prisons, as the
eternal SHOWS which cover their unhal.
lowed SUBMITS
Let the youthful hero be shorn Of
his hair, scourged, and sent off for ST.
IBERIA, said Constantine, as Platter con.
|cluded his address; away with him
my guards!' 3
At this moment Polish lady, ele-
gantiy attired in garb sc deep mourn.
ing, rushed through the crowd, and
threw herself at the feet Of the Duke.
in the hall Of the tribunal. 1t was Lo.
doiska, the mother of -Casimir Platter
/ The council stood in mute establishment
until Constantine exclaimed: who
thus presumes to obtrude herselfin the
courts of Warsaw
4, the mother of the youth thou hast
butsnow doomed to slavery, replied
4 Lodoiska. Great Duke, the noblcst
element Of greatness is mercys the
greatest exerciseof power-forgiveness
Let daughter ofunhappy Poland plead
before YOU in behalf of an unfortunate
but noble son!'
MY guards, remove this maniac from
the hall, exclaimed the tyrant; a wo-
mans tears cannot washD out the black
mess Of guilt, or obstruct the inAiction
| of its penalties
Thou hast truly spoken, tyrant,' re.
plicd I.edoiska: "a wolnans tearscai
not wash out the stains Of guilt; an an.
gels could not cleanse the foul pollu.
i ton Of thine. Humanity instinctiyely
l shrinks at thy presence; the flowers
wither at thy approach; nature recolls