APPENDIX.

THE following extracts from the Constitution given by Alexander to the kingdom of Poland, are annexed, to show how far the Russians violated the laws made by themselves. Both in letter and in spirit, the whole were arbitrarily abrogated.

PRINCIPAL ARTICLES OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CHARTER OF POLAND.

SECTION I.

Political Relations of the Kingdom.

ARTICLE 3.

The crown of the kingdom of Poland is hereditary in our person, and that of our descendants, heirs, and successors, according to the order of succession established for the imperial throne of Russia.

ARTICLE 8.

The external political relations of our empire shall be common to the kingdom of Poland.

SECTION II.

General Guarantees.

ARTICLE 11.

The Roman Catholic religion, professed by the greatest part of the inhabitants of the kingdom of Poland, shall be the object of the peculiar care of the government, but without derogating at all from the liberty of other forms of worship, which, without exception, may be followed, and enjoy the protection of government. The difference in Christian sects makes none in the enjoyment of civil and political rights.

ARTICLE 16.

The liberty of the press is guaranteed. The law will regulate the means of repressing its abuses.

ARTICLE 17.

The law equally protects all citizens, without distinction as to class or condition.

ARTICLE 19.

No person shall be arrested, but according to the forms and in the cases determined by law.

ARTICLE 21.

Every individual arrested shall be brought, within three days at furthest, before a competent tribunal, to be examined or judged according to the prescribed forms. If he is acquitted at the first investigation, he shall be set at liberty.

ARTICLE 22.

In cases determined by law, bail shall be granted.

ARTICLE 29.

Public employments, civil and military, can only be exercised by Poles.

ARTICLE 31.

The Polish nation shall have, for ever, a national representation; it shall consist of the king and two chambers. The first shall be formed of the senate, the second of deputies and delegates of the commons.

SECTION III.

ARTICLE 35.

The government rests in the person of the king. He exercises the functions of executive power in all their plenitude. All executive or administrative authority can only emanate from him.

ARTICLE 45.

All our successors to the kingdom of Poland are bound to be crowned kings of Poland in the capital, according to the form which we will establish, and they shall take the oath below:

66

I swear and promise, before God and on His gospel, to maintain and support the constitutional charter with all my power."

ARTICLE 47.

All the king's orders and decrees shall be countersigned by a minister at the head of the department; and who shall be responsible for every thing that these orders and decrees may contain contrary to the constitution and laws.

CHAPTER II.

Of the Regency.

ARTICLE 58.

The regent of Russia shall take the same oath in the presence of the members of the regency of the kingdom.

CHAPTER III.

Of the Lieutenant and Council of State.

ARTICLE 63.

The council of state, presided over by the king or his lieutenants, is composed of ministers, state counsellors, master of requests, as well as person, whom it may please the king to appoint specially.

ARTICLE 65.

The state council is divided into the council of administration and the general assembly.

CHAPTER IV.

Of the Branches of the Administration.

ARTICLE 76.

The execution of the laws shall be entrusted to the different branches of public administration mentioned below, namely:

1. The commission of worship and public education.

2. The commission of justice, chosen from the members of the supreme tribunal.

3. The commission for the interior and the police.

4. Commission for war.

5. Commission for finance and the treasury.

These different commissions shall be each presided and

directed by a minister named for that purpose.

ARTICLE 82.

The chief minister of the departments, and the members of the commissions of government, shall answer and are responsible to the high national court for every breach of the constitutional charter, laws, or decrees of the king, of which they shall be guilty.

SECTION IV.

National Representation.

CHAPTER I.

ARTICLE 86.

The legislative power rests in the person of the king and in the two chambers of the diet, conformably to the arrangements of the article 31.

ARTICLE 87.

The ordinary diet assembles every two years at Warsaw, at the time determined by the king's summons. The session lasts thirty days. The king can prorogue, adjourn, and dissolve it.

ARTICLE 93.

When the diet do not vote a new budget, the old one is to be in force till next session. Nevertheless the budget ceases at the end of four years, if the diet is not convoked during that period.

ARTICLE 97.

It rests with the king to lay the motions of the council of state before the chamber of the senate, or that of the depu