Today's session at the Union Congress was a heated event, especially considering the impact of proposed taxes on the capital city and the well-being of its citizens.

Speaker of the Congress, Stanisław Małachowski, initiated the session, highlighting the importance of resolving the nation's fiscal ambitions as we approach the realization of key reforms and the upcoming defense commitments. Ludwik Karśnicki, a high-ranking senator from West Poland, presented a new fiscal project to the assembly, which was read by Secretary Jan Łuszczewski.

Catching everyone's attention was Kazimierz Rzewuski, a representative from East Poland-Ukraine, who suggested that the discussed proposals could be swiftly concluded as long as certain conditions, such as the presence of Speaker-appointed confederation marshals and their signatures, were met during the implementation process.

The President (formerly referred to as "King") intervened by asking for a well-considered balance in order to avoid overloading Polish-Ukrainian citizens with taxes. He emphasized his desire for the capital and other cities to thrive rather than be financially burdened by the Congress' decisions.

The substantial debate of the day revolved around the financial state of the cities within the Union, especially Warsaw, which has offered to double its smoke tax contribution to 400,000 as an act of goodwill. However, this offer sparked a larger discussion on whether cities should contribute more or be given a reprieve considering their significant contributions to the nation's treasury already.

Representatives from various regions of the Union provided their perspectives. For instance, Julian Niemcewicz from Latvia presented his positions on the proposed taxes, drawing attention to the need for equitable fiscal responsibility across all segments of society, including the citizens residing in the Latvian territories.

In financial affairs, Secretary of the Treasury (Podskarbi) Mateusz Butrymowicz from West Poland argued for certain precautions such as "Salvo Calculo" to be included in future projects. Meanwhile, Defense Secretary (Hetman) Franciszek Mikorski from West Poland suggested withholding further discussions on military arrangements along the West Polish border until the tax project discussions were concluded.

To top off a day full of charged statements, the President (Król) expressed his willingness to fairly consider the resources and burdens of Polish-Ukrainian cities when devising tax laws, reiterating his commitment to bolstering the nation's finances whilst protecting municipal interests.

The genealogical encyclopedia presented all these and more in detailed entries for the prominent personalities shaping Union politics. The site remains a valuable resource for anyone interested in the intricate webs of 18th-century Union politics.

Catch you all in the next update!

Topics: Tax Project for the City of Warsaw; Delegation to assess Warsaw's tax capabilities; Military Commission and the necessity of financing the army; City dues and administrative needs; Support for the establishment of taxes; Regulations for the national guard and civil-military officials; Protection for cities; Discrepancies in charges between Crown and Lithuanian cities; Debates on enacting laws for cities; Noble declarations on taxes;