The 102nd session of the Congress was notable, with President Stanisław August Poniatowski in attendance. Speaker of the House Stanisław Małachowski led the proceedings, initiating discussion on drafted legislation regarding agricultural taxes and civic responsibilities.

Debate ensued over a recent tax exemption law, with representatives expressing concerns. The issue revolved around whether farmers sowing more than 10 korcy (an old Polish measurement) should be taxed. Franciszek Szymanowski from Sochaczew countered that the legislation was clear that only those sowing up to 10 korcy were exempt, suggesting those planting more should pay accordingly. However, Kazimierz Wężyk-Rudzki from Podlasie questioned the need for additional clauses and insisted on a vote to resolve the matter, emphasizing diligence in drafting military commission legislation.

Speaker Małachowski sought to guide the discourse, underscoring that the law had already addressed the concerns raised and additional discussions weren’t necessary without the consent of the Congress. Nonetheless, Jacek Jezierski, a senator from Łuków, defended the right for further debate on the additive provision proposed by the representative from Podlasie.

Walerian Strojnowski from Wołyń voiced that any additional tax detail was redundant as it was addressed in the extant legislation. The argument was not just over the tax but also about defending the honor of frameworks set by earlier Congresses against uncertainty about financial responsibilities should farmland be mortgaged.

Despite these exchanges, the Congress chose to accept the view that landholders should bear the brunt of the tax, while Józef Mierzejewski from Podole articulated that if a nobleman sows more than the exempted amount, they should not be free from tax.

To navigate this complex scenario, Speaker Małachowski relied on the Congress's Houses to reach a consensus on the matter. The result was a delegated decision about the tax liability, with the Senate leaning towards putting the entire weight of the ten-grosz tax on mortgage-holding land users. This decision exemplified the Congress's intent to maintain public financial stability and reflected the Union's evolving agricultural policies.

In closing, the session adjourned with an understanding that such detailed matters should ideally rest with civil tribunals, and Congress should not decree without comprehensive study and bilateral engagement.

Note: This report focuses on summarizing and clarifying the day's events for American university students interested in journalism or foreign affairs, providing a modern perspective on historical proceedings. External links lead to the genealogical encyclopedia sponsored by www.Sejm-Wielki.pl, offering additional context on the individuals associated with 18th-century Polish politics.

Topics: Speech by King Stanisław August Poniatowski; Four-Year Sejm; Legislation; Sejm proceedings; Taxes and Taxation; Land and Pledge Rights; Civil Liberty; National Defense; War against Turkey; Military Commission; Estates of the Sejm; Sessions and decisions of the Sejm; Secret ballots;