History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the CampaignHordynski, Joseph
History
History of the Late Polish Revolution and the Events of the Campaign
Hordynski, Joseph
Poland -- History -- Revolution, 1830-1832
King, who, far from being willing to hear their complaints, far from
guarantying the rights secured by the constitution, went the length of
insulting that national honor to which all history has borne testimony.
To what a future must Poland, under such a king, have looked forward.
Better were it to risk the bloodiest conflict, nay, to be buried under
the ruins of our country, than to remain the vile slaves of a man,
who, relying on the force which he could control, was willing to take
advantage of his strength to be unjust.
The Diet demanded of general Chlopicki an account of his trust, in
regard to the military and civil administration generally, and in a
particular manner in regard to the preparation of the forces. The
result of this inquiry was to satisfy them that there had been a
general negligence of his duties, especially in regard to the increase
and organization of the army. On examining the military reports, it
was found that only the fifth part of the amount of force ordered
to be levied, was as yet enrolled. Two months had been wasted. The
Dictator, as has been already stated, occupied himself principally with
diplomatic affairs, and seemed to forget that the country was to be
defended. The Diet saw that general Chlopicki was hoping to finish the
war by conferences, and that his eagerness for peace was betraying him
into a forgetfulness of what was due to the national honor. In fine, a
correspondence with the Emperor Nicholas was found to have been carried
on by him.[28]
The Dictator, it was seen, had been equally neglectful of the different
fortifications. Except at the principal points, Praga, Zamosc, and
Modlin, no works of defence had been constructed. The important places
of Serock, and Zegrz, the former on the Narew, and the latter below
the confluence of the Narew and the Bug, were forgotten, as were all
the positions on the great road which leads from Warsaw to Brzese,
upon which, or in its vicinity, our principal operations were to be
executed. No point on the frontier was strengthened. The country was
left entirely open. The Diet, considering all these circumstances,
resolved to send a deputation to the Dictator, to demand of him, for
the last time, what his intentions were, and to require of him to
take the field forthwith. As the Dictator would not submit himself to
this expression of the will of the Diet, and even opened to prince
Adam Czartoriski, who was one of that deputation, propositions deemed
inconsistent with the national honor,--the Diet deprived him of his
trust.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account