Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-03-06


kind and At another the instrument of their OPP
preston but he preserved throughout hs whole
Career those noble principles which distinguished
him in its commencement which influenced him,
at an early period Of his lie, 10 leave his country
and his friends, aud in another hemisphere TO fight
for the rights Of humanity.
"Kosciusko was born and educated in Poland,
OF noble aud distinguished iamy-a country
where the distinctions in society arc perhaps car.
ried 10 greater lengths than in any other. His
Creator had, however, endowed him with a soul
capable OF rising above the narrow preudices OF n
cast, and breaking the shackles which vicious
education had imposed on his mind.
When very young. he was informed by The
voice of Fame that the standard Of liberty had
been erected in America that an insulled and
oppressed people had determined TO be free, or
perish in the attempt. His ardent and generous
m ind caught, with enlhusiasnl, the holy flame, and
from that moment he became the devoted soldier
Of liberty.
His rank in the American army afforded him
no opportunity greatly to distinguish himself But
he was remarked Throughout, his service for all the
qualities which adorn the humah character. His
heroic vaIor in the field could only be etuaed by
his moderation aud aflabilily in the walks of pr.
waite lie. lie was idozed by The soldiers Tor his
bravery, and beloved and respected by The officers
for the goodness Of his heart, and The great qua III.
ties of his mind
" Contributing greatly, by his exertons, to The
establishment Of The independence of America, he
might have remained. and shared The blessings il
dispensed. under The protection Of a chief who loved
and honored him, and in the bosom of grateful
and affecionate people.
Koscusko had, however, other views. 1t is
not known that, until the period am speaking of,
lie had formed any disIinc, idea Of what could, or
indeed what ought 10 he done for his own. But in
the Revolutionary war he drank deeply of the prin.
l~.r
with the intelligent of country he acquired
new views Of the science Of government and the
rights Of man. lie had seen, too, that, to be
free, it was only necessary that n nation should
will IT.; and. 10 be happy, ii was only necessary
that a matt should be free. And was il not pos
sible 10 procure these blessings for Poland, The
country OF his birth, which had claim to all his
efforts, 10 all his services ? That unhappy nation
groaned under complication iof evils which, has
scarcely parallel in history. The mass Of The
people were the abj ect slaves Of the mobiles The
mobiles, torn into factions, were alternately the
instruments and The victims Of their power (ul and
ambitious neighbors. By intrigue, corruption, and
force, some of its iairest provinces had been sepa.
rated from the Republic, and The people. like
beasts, transferred to foreign despors, who were
again watching for IA favorable moment for a Sc
cond ACKNOWLEDGMENT. To regenera,e people thus
delased, TO obtain for a county thus crcums,an.
ced The blessings Of liberty and independence, was
a work Of as much difficulty danger. But, to
mind like kosciusko's the difficulty and danger of
an enterprise served as simuianis 10 undertake it,
The annals OF 'hese times give us no detailed
account of the progress Of kosciusko in accom-.
pshIng his great work, from The period of his re.
turn from America TO the adoption of The new
Constitution of Poland. in 1871. This interval,
however, OF apparent inacton, was most usefuy
employed to i'lumne the mental darkness which
developed his counryme". TO stimulate the igno.
rant and bgoued peasanlry with The hope Of future
emancipation 10 teach proud but gallant nobility
that true glory ia only TO be found in the paths Of
duty and PATRIOTISM interest the mOst opposed
preudices the mos, stubborn, and habits the most
ie,era,e; were reconc'ed, dissi paed, and broken,
by the ascendancy of his virtues and example. The
storm which he had iOreseen, and for winch he
had been preparing, AT length burst upon Poland.
a feeble and unpopular Cover bent before its
fury, and submitted itself 10 the Russian yoke of
the invader. But the nation disdained 10 follow
its example; in their extremity every eve was
turned on the hero who had already fought their
battles, The sage who had eng hlened them, aud
the patriot who had the example Of personal
sacrifices to accomplish the emancipation Of the
people.
"Kosciusko was unanimously appointed general.
issimo of Poland, with unlimited powers, until the
enemy should he driven from The country. On his
virtue the nation reposed with the utmost conf
dence and it is some conso' ion 10 reflect, amidst
the general depravity Of mankind, that two IN.
stances, in the same age. have occurred, where
powers Of this kind were employed sO'ey for the
purpose for which they were given.
' 1t is not my intention, sir. to follow The Polish
Chief throughout The career of victory which, for
a considerable time, crowned his Efforts. Guided
by his talents, and led by his vaor, his undisc
plined, alarmed militia charged with effect the
veteran Russian and Pruss'an the mailed cuiras.
siers of the great Frederick, for the first time,
broke and fled before the lighter and more appro.
pirate cavalry of Poland, Hope filled the breasts
Of the patriots. After long night, The dawn of
an apparently glorious day broke upon Poland. But,
to the discerning eye OF Kosciusko, The light which
it shed was of that sickly and porIenIous appear.
ance. indicating storm more dreadful than that
which he had resisted.
"He prepared 10 meet it with frmness, hut with
means entirely inadequate. To the advantages Of
numbers, of tactics, of discit line, aud exhaus.
,ible resources, The combined despos had secured
a faction in the heart of Poland. And. If that
county can boas ofhaviog produced its Washing.
ton. it is disgraced also by giving birth 10 second
Arnold. The day at length came which was to
decide the fate Of a nation and a hero. Heaven,
for wise purposes, determined that il should be The
last Of Polish liberty. II was decided, indeed
before the battle commenced. The traitor POniski
who covered with a detachment the advance of
the Polish army, abandoned hs position TO the
enemy, and relraeled.
"Konscn,sko was asonished, but not dsmayed
The disposition Of his army would have done honor
10 Hannibal. The succeeding conflict was terrible.
When the talents Of the General could no longer
direct The ming led mass Of con,ba''an's. the arm of
the warrior was brought 20 the aid of his soldiers.
He performed prodgies of valor. The tabled
proves of Ajax in defending The Gracun ships
was realized by the Polish hero. Nor was he
badly seconded by his troops As long as his voice
could guide, or his example fire their valor, they
were irresistible. In this unequal contest Kos.
ciusko was long seen, and finally lost 10 their view.
Hope for season bade the world farewell,
'And Freedom shrieked when Kosciu,ko iell.'
He fell, covered with wounds, but still sur.
vved. A Cossack would have pierced his breasi,
when an officer inierposed. 'Suffer him 10 execute
his purpose said the bleeding hero Il am The
devoted soldier OF my country. and will not sur.
vve It's liberties The name OF Rose iusko struck
IN The heart of The Tarar like thai of NJ Don