LEGALIST IDEAS ABOUT THE INDEPENDENCE OF POLAND IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Our article reveals the question of the contradictory attitude of Russian liberal lawyers (legalists) to the Polish problem. Some, based on the need to preserve the state, were ready to limit Polish autonomy, others (B.N. Chicherin), based on the primacy of human rights, demanded the expansion of the rights of the Kingdom of Poland, up to the granting of independence to this country. The purpose of the work is to identify the position of public opinion leaders among liberal jurists (legalists) in the second half of the 19th century on the Polish issue. Determine the boundaries of the split between moderate liberals on the issue of the degree of independence of the Vistula region. The relevance of the work lies in the fact that for the first time the complex position of legalists on the nature of the relationship between the Russian and Polish people, on attempts to construct the spiritual unity of two peoples who are unfriendly towards each other is shown. During the study, problem-chronological and structural methods were used. This is the first time a study has been conducted on this topic. Archival materials on the topic consist mainly of correspondence between legalists, in which opinions were expressed about Poland. Also, the source of information can be found in the published works of legalists.