Stanislaus Augustus Quotes
Our new constitution is founded principally on those of England and the United States of America, but avoiding the faults and errors of both, and adapted as much as possible to the local and particular circumstances of the country
Apparently the “faults and errors” of England and the United States in their constitutions were not so bad after all and it was Poland who subsequently had to rewrite and adopt new constitutions thereafter until 1997 when they seem to have adopted most of the “faults and errors.”
Stanislaus Augustus, 1732-1798, Last King of Poland, Statement to Journalists on the Polish Constitution of May 3, 1791
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
The separation of powers concept was adopted from the American Constitution of the previous year. See {585394}.
To many of us the notion of liberty and aristocracy and nobility are contradictory. However, at the time, the nobility, unlike most Poles, were literate and educated and had followed the U. S. Constitution adoption. And this Constitution was created with the Nobility being one of the driving forces. See {585394}.
This was the second liberal constitution in the world following on the heels of United States Constitution upon which some of this constitution is based. See {585394}. This particular clause is noteworthy for its internal contradiction regarding freedom of religion. After making it illegal to convert any Catholic to any other religion, the constitution goes on to establish freedom of religion. So one was guaranteed the right to practice one’s own religion but if the religion advocated evangelizing and converting others, that part of religious freedom was banned when targeting Roman Catholics.
Stanisław August Poniatowski (born Stanisław Antoni Poniatowski, 17 January 1732 – 12 February 1798), known by his regal title Stanislaus II Augustus, was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania from 1764 to 1795, and the last monarch of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
