bo ok t e rm s , a n d t o p u t a n e n d t o a n y d i e t u n f r i e n d l y t o t h e i r
J— 'v i e w s , b y t h e c o r r u p t i o n o f a l i n g l e m e m b e r .
The bad effects of the Liberum Veto were foon felt by the
nation to fuch an alarming degree, that all the members in
the diet of 1670 bound themfelves by an oath not to exert
it, and even paffed a refolution, declaring its exertion entirely
void of effe£t in the courfe of that meeting.' Notwithftanding,
however, thefe falutary precautions, one Zabokrziiki, nuntio
from the palatinate of Bratlau, interpofing his negative,'
brought this very diet to a premature diffolution *.
This Liberum Veto, indeed, has been always confidered
by the moft intelligent Poles as one of the principal caufes,
which has contributed to the decline of their country. From
the sera of its eftabliihment public bufinefs has continually
fuffered the moft fatal interruption ; it abruptly broke
up feven diets in the reign of JohnCafimir; four under
Michael; feven under John Sobieiki; and thirty during the
reigns of the two Augufti: fo that, within the fpace of 1 12
years, 48 diets have been precipitately dilfolved by its operation
; during which period Poland has continued almoft
without laws, without juftice, .and, excepting the reign of
John Sobieiki, with few fymptoms of military vigour.
Yet fo ftrongly did the motives above difplayed attach the
Poles to this pernicious privilege, that in the a¿1 of confederacy,
framed in 1696 after the deceafe of John Sobieiki,
the Liberum Veto is called the deareft and moft invaluable
palladium of Poliih liberty t.
The Poles, however, having fatally experienced the dif-
orders arifing from the Liberum Veto, would certainly have
* Zawodchi Hift. Arcana.
4
I Unicum et ipecialiffimum Jus Cardinale.
aboliihed
aboliihed it, i f they had not been prevented by the parti- ™ JAP-
tioning powers: and it ftill exifts in its full force % ; <— .— 1
I ought not to omit obferving, that neither the king or
the fenate,. but only the nuntios, enjoy the power of interpofing
this negative upon the proceedings of the diet t.
It will naturally ftrike the reader, that i f every reprefen-
tative poliefles the Liberum Veto, how can any tranfa£tion
be carried on ? or how is it polfible that any one bill
ihould, pafs into a law ? for no motion can be conceived
which is not liable to be oppofed by the intrigues of
party, or the jealoufy of the neighbouring powers. In order,
therefore,, to. avoid the anarchy attendant upon free
diets through the operation o f the Liberum Veto, .the Poles
have lately had recourfe to diets by confederacy; which,
though compofed of the fame members, and held under the
fame exterior forms as free diets, differ from them in the
effential circumftance of allowing bufinefs to be determined ■
* It would appear, at iirft light, as if, . When we • recoile£l the-..definition o f ftate -
by the following regulation, eftablifhed by matters (p. 98, note -J-), we cannot but per-
the diet o f 1768, the exertion o f the Liber- ceive, that the power o f interpofing a ne*
rum Veto was in fome inftances reftrained. gative ftill efFe&ually exifts. T o abate its
“ The abfence o f a nuntio, who has inter- exertion in fmall points, and to eftablilh it
§| rupted the proceedings o f the diet, ihall in the moft . important affairs, .is* no real
“ be no hindrance to the tranfaClion. o f prevention o f the evil. .
“ treafury matters.” Loix et Conib de-la In -fa£t, as a proof that it continues in ks
diete de Varfovie, 17<?8, p. .56. But this re- full force, we may obferve, that lince the
ftriClion o f the Liberum Vetox in effeCt, is year 1768, no free diet has bee-veonvencd j
of no validity. ‘ I-mean before I vifited-ToIand. An accounr
For among the cardinal laws*eftabliihed o f what has pa fled, f ia c e l quitted the conn—
by the fame diet, it is enaited, tc that mat- try, does not fall under my.p1 an. I recolleit
u ters o f ftate cannot be palled but by a indeed to have feen, in fome. foreign Ga~
“ free diet and unanimous c o n f e n t p . 18. zette, that a free ...diet had been lately af-
And again, “ that after the treafury bufi- fern bled, but that nothing material had
“ nefs, matters o f ftate ihall be brought been tranfaCted in it.
“ forward, when the oppofition’o f a Tingle f Lengnich fays, that the fenators have
“ nuntio ihall ftop all p r o c e e d in g s p . 56. the power o f breaking up the "diet; but ho'
And in another place, it is decreed, “ that adds, that they, never make life o f this pri-
“ in free diets, the Liberum Veto ihall hold vilege ; Juf. Pub. II. p. 46. which amounts
“ good in all matters o f ftate j.’ ’ p. 44, to the. fame as their not having :it.
b y