STATE PAPERS. 
pressed ‘a sanction of the national 
will, stil] more imposing on the la- 
bours already accomplished, and au- 
thorized further proceedings. Ac- 
cordingly the spirit of the new was 
soon seen to assimilate with that of 
the old representatives. A union 
of will and of sentiment necessarily 
reinforced the system of patriotic 
views. In proportion as opinions 
were enlightened by discussion, and 
ideas generalized, men’s minds ap- 
proached faster and faster towards 
conviction, that the best laws would 
fall short of the good which was 
their object, if it were not made a 
point to perfect the means of put- 
ting them in execution, and to pre- 
vent those, periodical convulsions 
that exposed the best establishment 
to uncertainty. The consequence 
was a plan of constitution which 
was sanctioned on the 3d of May, 
and which is only the abstract of a 
plan of reform of government, or- 
dained by the diet, and submitted 
to its deliberation nine months 
before. 
In making the crown hereditary, 
Poland had felt all the reasons for 
so doing, in a Jong and unfortunate 
experience of the troubles insepara- 
ble from vacancies of the throne. 
She even served the interest of the 
neighbouring Powers by the sup- 
pression of an abuse which was con- 
stantly a recurring source of specu- 
lations and jealousies to cabinets, and 
exposed them to influences often 
involuntary and injurious to their 
own tranquillity. These internal 
and external advantages appeared a 
sufficient price for the sacrifice of 
an illusory prerogative, of which 
the nations the most enthusiastic in 
their zeal for liberty, andthe most 
attached to’ republican principles, 
Qui May 
341° 
have perceived the emptiness and’ 
the danger. 
It was by a calculation deduced 
from the same.experience, that the 
nation discovered the inconvenien- 
ces of the vicious composition of 
the executive power, divided in such 
a manner as to present imposing” 
forms and inefficient consequences. 
Deposited in the hands of the King, 
with proper modifications, it has 
acquired all the advantages of uni- 
ty, without leaving an opening for 
abuses of authority,—considering 
the responsibility of Ministers not 
remove ible at will, and subject to 
the superintendence of the legisla- 
tive body, which has always the 
power of preventing or repressing 2 
departure from their duty, Such a 
system, impressing on government 
all the energy compatible with re- 
publican principles, is equally fa-— 
vourable to external convenience, 
by the stability which it gives to 
the political connections of Poland. 
Thus the constitution of May 3d, 
resting on foundations wisely adapt- 
ed, is its own defence against the 
imputations of monarchical views, 
which the enemies of the prospe- 
rity and quiet of their country strive 
to make believed, to awaken the 
apprehensions of the nation and the 
attention of her neighbours :—in 
vain do they exert themselves to 
paint that memorable day in odious 
colours. 
If patriotic enthusiasm, titania 
by the importance of its objects, as 
well as by the fear of intrigue, in 
the slowness of the ordinary. forms, 
the means of making it miscarry, 
did not confine itself to the strict 
observance of some formalities, the 
following sitting of May 5th, most 
eminently’ compensated’ for this 
omission, 
