“THE CONSTITUTION ACT”, 3rd MAY 1791
From the morning of 3rd May the Sejm (parliamentary) chamber was filling with a curious audience. On hearing that the constitution act was supposed to be deliberated upon in the Sejm that day, everyone ran to find out what the fate of the homeland was to be. Worrying about the good people and terrified by the threats from the evil ones, the citizens went from fear to hope, impatiently awaiting the moment which would remove that uncertainty, so hard to bear. The majority of the audience, however, finding all available seats already taken, filled the castle’s halls, stairs and porches. It should not be forgotten that, beforehand, the “champions” of the Moscow option took their seats, designated for them by the chiefs, inside the Sejm chamber. They were permitted to do this, as if no one realised what they were up to, but soon all those small groups found themselves surrounded by people whose commitment and courage were already proven, and so those “champions” quickly realised that not only violence but not even a shadow of it would be allowed. This was the only precaution taken on that day, in order to prevent any indecent scene in the Sejm that would diminish the sanctity of that day.
“On the establishment and fall of the Polish Constitution of 3rd May 1791”
The deliberations of the Four-Year Sejm began against a favourable international background. Among other things, the Russo-Turkish war broke out (1787) and Russian troops were withdrawn from the Commonwealth. There was also a decline in support for the pro-Russian orientation, and there was a noticeable counterbalance to Russian influence in the policy of rapprochement with Prussia.
During the deliberations of the Sejm, important reforms to the political system were passed, essential for strengthening the state and intending to overthrow Russian control and protect independence. These included, amongst others, military reform (increasing the size of the army), tax reforms and administrative reforms (a statue on towns, the Constitution of 3rd May) and judicial reform. The last great legislative work of the Four-Year Sejm was the Mutual Assurance of Both Nations; an act that, while modifying the principles of the Polish-Lithuanian Union, retained the federal character of the Commonwealth.
The Constitution of 3rd May was passed using a simplified procedure (on its first reading) during a heated, Sejm session lasting over seven hours with the participation of just 182 Sejm members. The “Constitution Act” was passed by acclamation. However, as historians later established, of the total number of members who took part in the session, 110 were supporters of the constitution and 72 were opposed. Immediately after the act was passed, King Stanisław August Poniatowski swore in the Constitution. Next those who had taken part in the Sejm, along with the King and the marshals of the Sejm, went to the collegiate church of St. John the Baptist (now the Cathedral in the Old Town) in order to take oaths.
