Congress Debates Defense and Budget as External Tensions Rise

January 8, 1789: Today, Speaker of the Congress Stanisław Małachowski held an intense session focusing on national defense and budgetary concerns amid escalating international tensions. Representatives fervently discussed the necessary steps to ensure the stability and sovereignty of The Union (Rzeczpospolita).

Speaker Małachowski stressed the importance of future-oriented legislation, hinting at defense reforms and financial sacrifices for the longevity of the nation. "We feel insufficient in managing our internal affairs," he stated, emphasizing the urgent need for competent magistrates to execute laws more efficiently, without waiting for Congress to convene.

Wojciech Suchodolski, Representative from Chełm, revisited his proposal for the army to swear allegiance to The Union, highlighting the importance of national security. His concerns were echoed by other members, including Adam Poniński, the Polish-Ukrainian Secretary of Treasury, who reported that the Treasury Committee is working diligently to provide financial transparency and aid military maintenance.

In a formidable address, Ignacy Wybranowski from Lublin recounted the Union's historical struggles and recent expressions of patriotism, such as significant financial contributions from Lithuanian-Belarussian statesman Prince Karol Radziwiłł and Polish-Ukrainian General Szczęsny Potocki. Wybranowski's passionate pleas for a well-funded and dedicated defense force highlighted the growing tension in the area and the Union's eagerness to avoid past trappings of inaction.

The session adjourned with growing consensus on increasing military strength but also highlighted the need to balance its impact on the national budget. Calls for drastic fiscal measures, such as doubling household taxes and seeking foreign loans, were considered necessary evils to avert potential external threats.

As external pressures mount, particularly with the reported occupation of Latvian territories by Russian forces, the Congress's discussions reflect a Union at a crossroads, determined to maintain sovereignty while cautiously navigating the volatile geopolitical landscape. The next session is keenly anticipated, with further deliberations on financial strategies and military preparedness set to continue.

For more details on Congress members' historical backgrounds, visit [Genealogia Potomków Sejmu Wielkiego](https://www.sejm-wielki.pl).

Topics: overview of main topics of the Sejm sessions; legislative activities and reforms; military and its financing; improvement of public treasury management; military oath; international relations and diplomacy; security of the Commonwealth's borders; evacuation of Russian troops; taxation and methodology of setting taxes; obligations of parliamentary commissions;