342, 
omission, by inapressing on the, work 
the imposing character of the unani-, 
mity of a reconsidered opjnion, soon 
did a uniform voice of. applause and: 
joy resound from one extremity, of, 
the kingdom to another; different 
national assemblies, different meet- 
ings. of individuals, successively 
transmitted to,the King in addresses 
dictated by a_ patriotic, enthusiasm, 
the publick homage of gratitude for 
the blessing ofa constitution, cal- 
culated to cement the national. pros- 
perity. This public:spirit, enlight+ 
ened with respect to: the true inte-, 
rests. of the country, ,.crowned. its, 
display in the general assembly of, 
the dietines, in a manner that asto- 
nished all. Earope—valuntary oaths 
to maintain, the constitution; ho- 
mages and delegations solemnly de- 
creed to the King,.and the states, 
proved at how high a price it, was. 
estimated by the nation... And this 
is not the solitary conclusion of a 
small number of districts. or palati-. 
nates, yielding. to. the impulse of 
some preponderating influence ;_ it 
is the general and uniform, expres- 
sion of profound sentiment, whose, 
towering flight pronounced, banisbes, 
all ideas.of intrigue, constraint, and, 
seduction; , it ,is the intimate ad- 
herence of the nation.to a work in 
which she sees with. conyiction, the 
confirmation of her liberties, of her 
happiness, and her tranquillity. 
This state of things, which is very 
far from being exaggerated, refutes 
the supposition of an existing faction; 
which, according to the terms offthe 
declaration,toaccomplish.its viewsof 
domination,at the expence of repub- 
lican equality, was striving,to inter- 
pret the,act by which the ancientcon- 
stitutions of Poland wereguaranteed, 
asa most heavy.aad degrading yoke. 
eimo 
ANNUAL REGISTER, 1792. 
The. Polish nation has but one and, 
the: same sentiment on.the nature of, 
guarantees... It is, conformable to) 
the known. ideas of the public juris+, 
prudence. of all ages and, countries, 
respecting acts of this.kind. Their, 
operation cannot. be. direcied, but; 
against. some third party, who would, 
infringe the rights of one body,por, 
litic guaranteed by, anothers and,in, 
this sense the guarantee becomes, the; 
respectable safeguard. of the public 
tranguillity.. Any other acceptation, _ 
of such political engagements would, 
present only the idea of a shackle, 
incompatible with the independence, 
of|a-nation, instead, of, that.of a sup- 
porter.. The example of the;Ger- 
man empire offers, no exception. to, 
the general axiom, . Composed, of, 
several states equally free, equally, 
independent, this federative -body, 
finds in the guarantee. a. solid con-- 
firmation of. the respective rights of 
each of its, co-estates, against any 
other.—The republic of Poland, 
forming but one and the same, body, 
politic, comes not within the appli- 
cation.. An. act, of guarantee shat 
should concern her, and that should: 
be entered into by herself over, here 
self, would. carry in, it a contradic-. 
tory idea, so much the more, as it is: 
only onthe. demand of. the legal au» 
thority of the republic that, the gua-. 
ranteeing power could. legally act, 
in consequence of iis engagements; 
otherwise, if a part of the citizens,) 
revolting against authority, could 
support their insurrection by: a) fo- 
reign, interference clothed, with,,an, 
appearance of law; it the solitary ery, 
ot a few individuals could usurp the 
rights,of a,natior.al reclamation, such, 
an abuse of guarantee would become, 
the principle. of a,subversion of all 
order,, of all tranquillity ;) a conse~ 
quence 
M 
tt 
