Wisconsin herald, and Grant County advertiser. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1844-1845, 1845-11-01
LANCASTER SATURDAY NOVEMBER l. ls45.


ings; but this is not so. Though the
law is, "that no serf could be sold with.
out the estate to which he belonged"
this is evaded by selling land in the
desert wastes Of Russia, which is not
really worth penny an acre, and sat
taching," as they call it, the serf or
serfs to this "new carved estate" and
thus the sale would be legal.
II is also said that the Emperor pun
ishes, with the greatest severity. all in
fractions of the regulations which he
has established for the benefit OF the scrf,
but most strangely these punishments
do not lead to the enfranchisement OF
the serf. Not in the least. The En-,
peror puts round fine on the offender,
and if he cannot pay. he then confis-
Gates the estate and brings it within the
imperial domain, and thus adds to the
number of his own serfs. This cir
cumstance shows that the very laws
which h has alleged to have made for
their eventual enfranchisement, but
transfers tn slaves flom the hands of
the nobility to those of the Emperor.
This, in our opinion, does not weaken
the serf system of Russia, though il
may modify the severity with which
he suffers on the estates Of the no
bility.
The scris of Russia are supposed
Though this tradition is disputcd) to be
the decendents of Sur, who founded
the Syrian empire OF Ninevah. After
its overthrow, his defendants spread to
the West. into modern Russia and Po-
land, where they increased and multi
piled. But then incursion upon incur
sion came upon them like an avalanche
The Scythian, the Goth, the Hun, the
Mogul, and finally the Tartar, swep,
over that vast region of Eastern Eu
rope, yet still keeping the original in
habitants, who are properly called Sla.
81 or Slavodian, (from which the name
s,,.,ve seems clearly derived) in bond.
arc. where they continue at this day,
even after a lapse of two thousand
years.
This is certainly mere remarkable
-, in, lance of seriocn in one race that
Ias ev;s,ou. even in Africa. Yet me-.
- IL
moral and physica! a" srada''on ana de-
spair. the Russian serf as n capacity
which shows that he is still o. lne wi'i'e
race. Though stupid, he can earn
Travellers say that he is remarnao'y
ingenious in manufactures, thorgh 100
versatile in character to compete WIN
tie more steady industry of the Eng
fish and Germans. He makes supe-
rior soldier, for his courage and nerve
are as undaunted as the iron which he
is welding. His endurance of heat
and cold, his blind obedience, his abb
of living, when neccssa-
nv, show n character cncrused with the
darkness Of despotism, but still as wor-
thy and fit to be freemen, as the mas
tiers who lord il over him so cruelty.
1t has been supposed that in our day
we should live to see the cnfranchiset
ment Of the serls of the Russia empire.
We fear this will not be. The dawn
ing even is not visible. The Russian
Autocrat is too deeply interested in its
continuance 10 induce him to adopt any
but palliative measures. He will not
strike at The root, by cnfranchising the
serfs on the imperial domain. Not
only the large, but increasing number
on his estates, is calculated to harden
and strengthen the natural passions OF
avoricc and personal power. This very
increase also binds still tighter the sin
cws Of his monarchy, and thus fosters
both the strong passions Of personal
and political ambition. As able, states
manlike an ! benevolent as Nicholas is
said to be, it would require virtue, al
most more than mortal, to!inducc him
voluntarily to divest himself Of "a power
which renders him so terribly great
not only in his own empire, but through
out the world Albany Argus.
Newfoundland Hospitality.