The session was opened by Mr. Stanisław Małachowski, Speaker of the Sejm (Congress), who said: "If authority etc."

The text of the opening on pages 330-330v.

Lit.:

Mr. Jacek Małachowski, the Secretary of State for Poland-Ukraine reported that a note had been sent to the Foreign Affairs Delegation from Count Girolamo Lucchesini, as well as a note provided to Prince Czartoryski from the Prussian Cabinet in Berlin. Both requested to be read.

Secretary Jan Łuszczewski read these two notes in the following words:

Lit.:

Prince Adam Czartoryski, the Representative from Lublin, expressed:

Although I have the honor of wearing the title and Name of the Representative of the County of Lublin, I cannot forget that I am Lithuanian-Belarusian; to defend the freedom, security, and integrity of the rights and civil liberties of this province is my duty. Therefore, please forgive me for momentarily separating myself and standing as the representative of Lithuania-Belarus. We have recently written a law establishing extrajudicial courts in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but we have not clarified, as we should have, what kind of cases are to be introduced to these courts. The province of Lithuania-Belarus was further concerned because the register of pocket expenses has often been a source of oppression. Therefore, the proposed legislation, which was first read by Prince Adam Czartoryski of Lublin and later recommended by Speaker Stanisław Małachowski and read by Secretary Jan Ancuta of the Lithuanian-Belarusian confederation, was submitted.

After reading, Speaker Stanisław Małachowski declared that this proposal would go to Deliberation.

Mateusz Butrymowicz, the Representative from Pińsk, spoke, saying,

"Among all the activities we strive to accomplish, there is probably none without the aim of strengthening the nation's force. At the beginning of Sejm, we unanimously said: we want to have 100,000 Troops and consider taxes appropriate for their maintenance; today, when we have already established how much a starosta, a landholder, and a cleric should pay, taking the entire country's proportion, we probably won't see ourselves capable of maintaining the Army we intended to muster. I fear we might not even reach 60,000 when the desire for private gain will undermine our intentions. Here, our Homeland, having negotiated quarters on starostas and a sacrifice on landholders, called out to possessors of Jesuit estates yesterday, saying, 'I have given you Heritage. I have divested myself of my property right; now, I ask you to pay me back with a 7 percent interest on the Capitals.' It seems that this requirement is based not only on rightness and justice but also on practice because the Heritage possessors have paid significantly more for their acquisitions. Therefore, I assert that the Republic, having divested itself of its properties, granted the Heritage to today's possessors at an invaluable estimate—what did it gain? Here, a half percent was offered, and the path to seeking its property was forever closed. Turn to you now, who voted yesterday, who, while maintaining the payment from the Capitals at only five percent, have wronged your Homeland. Allow her to compensate in my Amendment, which I ask to be raised and read."

Stanisław Kublicki, the representative from Latvia, understanding that satisfying the Homeland's demand will occur once we remember that we should respect the laws we establish, expressed his opposition to the amendment proposed by the representative from Pińsk, which he claimed was contrary to the law passed the day before.

Therefore, Jan Łuszczewski, the secretary, read the law passed yesterday, stating that possesors of former Jesuit estates should pay five percent of the Capitals established for the Helicopter valuation of those properties. Subsequently, the amendment by Mateusz Butrymowicz was also read, suggesting that Capitals remaining in Jesuit estates should not be calculated according to the 1775 valuation but should be tallied in proportion to the recently discovered income by the Provincial Commission.

Speaker Stanisław Małachowski expressed his first opposition to the amendment proposed by the representative from Pińsk, not out of personal animosity but out of a duty to ensure consistency in law. He suggested an alternative or to abandon the proposed amendment.

...[Content Cut]...

The evening concluded with Speaker Stanisław Małachowski announcing the recess until the next session on Thursday, June 4, 1789.

Interpretation for Modern Readers

The critical takeaways from Tuesday's parliament debate in the union of Poland-Lithuania are substantial developments regarding national defense and financial legislation:

1. New laws on extra-judicial courts in Lithuania-Belarus face challenges in determining case classifications and past accusations of oppression.
2. Discussion of strengthening the military force highlights the goal of 100,000 troops, though realistic expectations suggest a maximum of 60,000 due to financial constraints.
3. Contentious issues regarding the ramifications of a new law for Jesuit estates, particularly involving tax and interest rates, spark heated debate on fairness and legal consistency.
4. Calls are made to consider carefully the past exploitation of national assets and the current necessity to manage Jesuit estate finances to support the country's military upkeep.
5. The proposal to amend laws on taxation of Jesuit estates is met with arguments that promote national equity over past agreements that were skewed under foreign pressure.

The session showcases a new paradigm in governance wherein laws are scrutinized and reformed to reflect the collective good and sustenance of national sovereignty, drawing attention to historical injustices and aiming for rectification in the service of state-building and national defense. This session reflects a departure from external influences and prioritization of domestic stability and progress.

Topics: Marshal of the Sejm Stanisław Małachowski; Deputation for foreign affairs; Diplomatic notes from Girolamo Lucchesini; Legislation project for establishing extrajudicial courts in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – Adam Czartoryski; Discussion on interest and capital of Jesuit properties – debate led by Mateusz Butrymowicz; Increase in interest rate on capital – proposals and debate; Verification of income from Jesuit properties; Military revenue – speech by Stanisław Kublicki; Walerian Strojnowski's speech on the need for military actions at the border with Russia; Jan Suchorzewski's stance on Jesuit properties.;