The Express.
London, England, 1858-01-04 00:00:00

THE GRADUAL ABOLITION OF SERFDOM.

The Nord of this day (Monday) publishes a re-
script, dated the 17th ult., addressed to the Gover-
nor-General of St. Petersburg, and sigced by the
Emperor Alexander, establishing a special com-
mittee is the government of St. Petersburg, to be
composed of two members from each district,
elected by and from the nobles possessing
property in those districts, and of two
members selected by the Governor-General

of St. Petersburg from among the most enlightened
proprietors, the whole presided over by the Marshal
of the government noblesse, and to proceed imme-
diately to the elaboration, for the government of
St. Petersburg, of the project already published
intended to ameliorate the condition of the peasants.
This rescript is elicited by an affirmative response
on the part of the noblesse of the government of St.
Petersburg to the circular of invitation addressed to
all the governments by M. Lanskoi, Minister of the
Interior. The noblesse of all the governments of
the empire will, it is fully expected, express a simi-
lar readiness to execute the Emperor's wishes.

IMPORTANT DEBATE IN THE PIED-
MONTESE CHAMBER.

In the sitting of December 30, during a protracted
debate on the " verification of powers :"

Coact CAMBIIZANO maintained that the clergy had
deed ao pressure upon the elections. Every party naturally
did its utmost to exclude its adversaries. Thus it had been
said, if you vote for the clergy you will have civil wars,
if for the left, you are in danger of the republic ; if for minis-
ters, beware of schism. Complaints bad been made of an
Irruption of priests into the electoral colleges. Why not ?
They were elector,. Est it was said further the priests had
written bulletins for doctors who could not write. Again,
he would ask, what hem was there in that ? They
had threatened exconueunicatioa—but had not the
monarchy threatened electors with dismissal P The de-
puties of the right, he would inert, were then by
virtue of the national wit. Their lives, maw all,
were devoted to God, the King, and the iww, and the blame
of their adversaries was praise. (Cheers.) Those who de-
sired to see the country flourish by its institutions were
certainly not partisans of the abolition of the statute. In
dahading ths cause of religion he and his Meads felt that
with that canes was bound up the practice of equity, respect
for the laws—that that cause was the pal odium of Piedmont.
"The nation," he said in conclusion, "is at our back, and
supports IL" (Cheers.)
On Count Cambucano, who had spoken with considerable
warmth, resuming his seat, If. Costa de Beauregard pressed
his hand.

Count MaimNr said he was convinced that nobody de-
sired to violate the statute. But to come to facts --A priest
had threatened an elector with excommunication.

A Voice.—Name I

Count MANIANI.-If a protest were to be held not worthy
of attention whenever proper names could not be given, nine
out of ten must be passed over without notice. (Oh, oh.)
It was necessary to do justice when the country believed
that one half of the clergy had been guilty of a breach of
duty. (Oh, oh.)

MIL Btu° and CAM'S. ZAN° gave notias that they would
ask loom to speak.

Count Kaman' asked for justice, because be hoped that
an inquiry would prove that the church had not transformed
Itself into a political camp. He trusted that the clergy would
remember the beautiful language of a holy bishop of Mont-
pelier to his parishioners, "For the love of God renounce
all party spirit; your place is at the foot of the cross."
(Cheers•)

Count CAVOIJII rose and said—This question has taken
snob a serious turn, that it is indispensably necessary for
ma, as the organ of the ministry, to state ouropinione upon it.
(Hear.) It is a fart beyond dispute, that the clergy took a
most active part in the late elections. I will not, before
inquiry, go into the question of the mean. they employed.
It was not an isolated, individual interference, but it was one
hierarchically organised, perfectly disciplined, and one that
demonstrated a thorough knowledge of electioneering tactic.
This fact is doubly important when we consider what is now
going on in other states of Europe, where also the clergy Is
making great efforts to obtain political influence. In Swit-
zerland an attempt is making to raise the ghost of the Son-
derbund. In France the clergy is trying to abridge Ciallican
liberties, and to bring that country back to the sixteenth
century. In Belgium the clergy is working to reestablish
portmain tenures for the benefit of the church, and does Its
utmost in the electoral committees to impede the regular
development of civilisation. I would not hold the clergy as
a body responsible for the violence of the catholic press, bat
I cannot avoid noticing the fact that no sooner were the
electoral colleges convoked than the bishops published pas-
toral letters. In some of these letters a Christian spirit of
impartiality prevail,; but others are redolent of party spirit.
One prelate even descended so low as to write like a party
journalist. His virulent pen made the most reckless attacks
upon his adversaries, and he branded the government and the
parliamentary majority as enemies of the church and child-
ren of Satan. (Laughter.) The parsonage houses were con-
verted into electioneering rendezvous. The priests left their
flocks to canvass, and, after having marshalled their own
people to the poll, remained on the spot as electioneering
agents to Influence others. AU this would not constitute
moral measure ; but it ie asserted that they went so far as to
abuse the confessional tothis same end. Ido not affirm that ,
they really did this, but they are accused of having done it,
and it concern the dignity of parliament, and the members
whose elections are tainted with this suspicion, that the fart
should be cleared up. I hope, with all my heart, that the '
clergy may come clean out of the inquiry. The intervention
of the clergy in politics has good as well as consequences.
In all free countries the clergy always plays a part Insroliti-
osl struggles—it does so in England, is America, and in
Switzerland. lam far from wishing to minde them from
all political influence. Living, as they do here, in a medium
of liberty, its members imbibe a taste for liberty. That fact is
a compensation for many inconveniences. Many who enter
parliament with clerical passions become constitutional con-
servatives. There have been circumstances in which I have
warmly applauded the efforts of the clergy—particularly in
regard to the revolution In Belgium—to the emancipation of
the Irish Roman catholic—and to the abolition of the

penalty which once existed in Switzerland against anybody
converted to Catholiciam. But, when the clergy attempts to
reconquer its old privileges, and when it Lecomea an obstacle
to the progress of civilisation, I deplore its interference and
I oppose It with all the energy that I can command.
(Cheers.) So long as it uses legal means I acknowledge its
right and do not fear its retrograde influence, because I have
faith in progrees. I would say to the liberals, if you would tri-
umph over your adversaries you have only one thing to do,op-
pose organisation to organisation, discipline to discipline,
and there can be no doubt of the result of the struggle.
(Cheers.) Bat if the clergy makes use of spiritual weapons
the struggle is no longer equal, and a physical conflict is to
be apprehended. When the defenders of liberty are repre-
sented from the pulpit as enemies of the church,
and when they ere threatened with Divine wrath,
then the clergy gives the government and the majority
a right to oembat their manoeuvres. The employment of spi-
ritual arms may lead to civil war. Sines the opinion of the
inuesses majority of this nation is that the clergy have re-
sorted to illegal means, an inquiry is indispensable. Should
that inquiry prove that the clergy is not liable to reproach the
result will be immense ; but if, on the contrary, it should
appear that it has abused its influence, then the ministry will
be bound to consider whether or not existing lesrialatien is
sufficiently strong for the repremion of such abuses, and, if
it should be found that it is not, it will then be the duty
of ministers to ask parliament for additional powers
to enable them to prevent the repetition of inch conduct ae
is now complained of. (Cheers.) But the facts meg Ls
ascertained beyond doubt, in the face of the nation end of
the conservative party, att4 I the interest et liberty as well
se in that of the dn.,. (Chet,..)
M. EVIARA DELLA MARGARITA read a speech. He said

that the clergy had deserved well of their cointry in sending
eanservatives to perliment, and that it had used only honest
exhortations sad advice to obtain this molt. If any proe-
ms had boss exercised in the election., it bad been on the
pert of the prefects., mayors, judger, and cerabineers. He
opposed inquiry, es being insulting towards the clergy, de-
grading to the electors, and altogether males, Mond pros-
OM nest ever elude inquiry. He would like to en the
holm set en example of tolerance. In Belgium the scrutiny
of the new elections had lasted only two days. Why should
bay require several weeks