Działalność Adama Kazimierza Czartoryskiego na początku Sejmu Czteroletniego

ENThe purpose of the article is to present the role performed by Adam Kazimierz Czartoryski during the first stage of the Four Years' Sejm and his position among the political groups functioning at the time. The author starts by considering Czartoryski's efforts to be elected a deputy and the negative reaction expressed by King Stanislaw Augustus and Otto von Stackelberg. Prince Adam was elected at the dietine of Lublin, dominated by the opposition, but exerted an impact also on other dietines. Already from the first parliamentary sessions Czartoryski tried to under mine the position of the Permanent Council. He also took part in attempts at top pling the Military Department and supported its replacement by a Military Commission dependent on the Sejm; subsequently, he took part in debates about its organisation. At the same time, the prince tried to preserve the connection between the pro-Prussian faction and the hetmans' party and to weaken the role of the Permanent Council. The considerable part played by the prince among members of the opposition was the outcome more of his financial status and numerous adher ents than the actual process of making decisions. His connections with Austria and fear of Russian intervention were the reasons why he was anxious about the exces sive intensification of anti-Russian stands among the debating parliamentarians. Nonetheless, he did not prevent his supporters from making opposition-oriented decisions and himself realised the plans of this particular faction, although when ever commonsense prevailed he was capable of yielding to the royal party. When at the beginning of January the opposition concentrated its efforts on bringing down the Permanent Council, Czartoryski initially supported the compromise proposed by the royal court, but ultimately implemented a plan intent on disbanding the Council.An analysis of his speeches shows the way in which the prince expressed a fre quently fierce stand towards his opponents in the form of compliments and patri otic declarations. Upon several occasions, Stanisław Augustus attempted to reach an agreement with Czartoryski but was well aware of the fact that the latter was actually realising the programme of the opposition.