Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/119

Rh caue of all were the foreign powers, intereted to foment confuions in the Polih councils. Before this, they were obliged to ecure a majority, afterwards, they might put an end to any diet, unfriendly to their views, by corrupting a ingle member. This veto broke up even diets in the reign of John Caimir, four under Michael, even under John Sobieki, and thirty during the reigns of the two Auguti. In conequence of this neceity of unanimity, which they call the dearet palladium of Polih liberty, Poland has continued above a hundred years almot without laws.

But as the king till betowed the taroties, or royal fiefs, which are held for life, and conferred the principal dignities and great offices of tate, he was till the fountain of honour, and maintained great influence in the councils of the nation but this lat branch of the royal prerogative was lately wreted from the crown at the etablihment of the permanent council.

Thus it appears in the hitory of Poland, as in that of Venice, Genoa, Berne, Soleure, and all others, that the nobles have continued without interruption to cramble for diminutions of the regal authority, to grap the whole executive power, and augment their own privileges; and have attained a direct aritocracy, under a monarchical name, where a few are above the controul of the laws, while the many are deprived of their protection.

The preent wretched tate of the towns, compared with their former flourihing condition; the poverty of the peaants, whoe oppreions have increaed in proportion to the power of the nobles, having lot a protector when the king lot