Author of quotes: Tadeusz Kosciuszko

Deeply feeling that serfdom is contrary to the law of nature and the welfare of peoples, I hereby declare that I abolish it completely and forever on my estate Sekhnovichy, in the Brest-Litovsk Voivodeship, both on my own behalf and on behalf of its future owners. Therefore, I recognize the inhabitants of the village belonging to this property as free citizens and unlimited owners of their land. I release them from all, without exception, taxes, serfdom and personal duties, which they were hitherto indebted to the owners of this property. I only urge them to endeavor to establish schools and disseminate education for their own good and the good of the country.