Page:Constitutional Charter of the Kingdom of Poland, In the Year 1815.pdf/47



The Diet many times petitioned for a law which might regulate the operation of this article, and repress the abuses arising from the ill-conduct of government officers; but no regard was ever paid to its entreaties. Once, indeed, a draft of a new law was laid before the diet, (in 1820), but it was rejected as being contrary to the Charter: it ascribed to the King alone and his lieutenant, the power of preferring an indictment against public officers of royal appointment; an arrangement which would render all responsibility a perfect delusion.

The royal authority was every day gaining ground over the legislative authority, by the promulgation of decrees which ought only to have been issued with the consent of the two Chambers. The fundamental laws of the kingdom were changed and modified perpetually, under pretence of interpretation. Royal ordinances decided the most important affairs, and the Diet was soon confined to the discussion of a few projected laws of secondary importance.

The responsibility guaranteed by this Article was a mere delusion. In spite of reiterated violations of the Charter and of the laws,—in spite of the acknowledged incapacity of some of the Ministers, and the loud cry of the people against them, they continued in place.

The most important affairs, and those which most nearly concerned our Nationality, were all determined at the instigation of the Grand Duke, whose organ Mr. Nowosylsoff sat in the Council of Administration.