The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1847-10-19


strangely as it may sound, this arbitrary ru-
Ter Nchohsis the most thorough. going re-
publican this, or any age, has Produced
No relormer ancient or modern, save his
own great ancestor and prototype, has done
somuch 10 raise the people, morally and po-
litically,. and 10 amcorate their physical
and social condition. His enemies, we be-
lieve, allow him the praise due 10 rxtrOotdi.
nary activity; and we believe, also, that il
would be difficult forI,hem TO name day
since his elevation TO the throne, inlwhich
| that activity has not been en- ployed in bet
terng and improving the state Of lis empire.
Such, judging from his actions, has been
The aim and object OF his life. Certain il is,
/ that should he and bis successor be blessed
With length of days, and should the son
walk in the foorsteps OF the father, Russian
scrfdsm will, in the next century, be NUM-
bered among the things that have been.
Do lyrants educate their sukcCtsP Mich
elas educa,es bis. As far us practicable, he
has established schools upon the PrussiAn
and Lsncaslerian system, 10 which without
distinction OF birth or circumstances, parents
are invited, and often required, 10 send thsir
children. He has founded number of
seminnrics for qualifying teachers, aud as
fast as they are qualified thsy are employed
in new schools established by the Minister 0
Public Instruction. 3 .. e.
Tha serfs of Russia, who make up so
large part Of the population, are attached
TO the soil on which they are born, and
tran sferred with il whenever it changes own
ers They cannot however, be murdered
or mutilatod with impunly, as was the case
ia Poland; nor does the Transfer Of Russian
serfs, sold only witS the land they cultivate
involve the separation of husband and wife
parents and children. The great body Of
them labor OH the soil and avail themselves
of the proceeds, on condition of yield
ing part of the produce, usually tenth, TO
the landlord. Although the power Of, the
latter was at no time unlimited and irrespon-
sible, yet tits more especially under the
system ofregpla;ions enioined by the pres
ent emperor, that the duties ofthe serf and
the powers oftho noblo are strictly defined
ane there is acourt to complain TO, and re-
dress for the serf, when he feels himsslf ag- |
grievsd. Under this system, the condition
oi The Russian sSrf aiacrs from thai of the
English rural tenant chiefly in this, that the
larner is bound to the soil by law, as firmly |
as the latter is by circumstances. A tenant
for life, in England, comes nearest 10 the
in Russia. The power to dissolve, with
a stroke of the pen, the existing connection
between the mobiles and the seris, the Two
prominent, classos in Russia, undoubtedly
exists in the Emporer; but as il respects its
application, il is perfect nullity, because,
right alono being the object of It's action, it
will never be exerted to do so great wrong
as to destroy all right of properly involved in
such connection. All, therefore, tha, the
Emperor does, and can do, is gradually TO
provide for indemnity on the one hand, and
for emancipation on the other, by facila.
ting and multiplying those ways and means
of commerce, industry and education, which
as advantageous substitutes for the present
salutary coercion, would furnish the stronger
motives of fself-interest TO the labor of the
ssrf and thus enables him at once TO pur.
chase his own freedom, and rationelly to en-
10y it. Ii is doubtless with this view, that
Nicholas is continually adding TO tho num-
bel of crown serfs by purchase, so as 10 alb
sorb, in time, in this particular class, all 9th
er seris of The empire; with the great proba-
bilhy of success, as one half Of them, up
wards oftwenty millions, belong TO the crown
already. lie distributes them into small
communities, governed by magistrates of
their own selection. He insructs and en-
ploys them in manufactures, in the arts, il
every way in which they appear likely to adj
vance themselves, and to become valuable
members ofsocie,y. He brings them up,
and their children, to suitable pursuits ;
When sny one Of them has distinguished
his talents, industry, and good ,
conduct, he cnfranchises him. He places
freedom within tho reach Of every one OF
hem, and qualities them 10 make the best
use oft. ltmay be said, with all confidence,
hat Nicholas has already manulnisted more 5,
serfs, his own property, than there are slaves l.,
in the United States. . r.
The crown serfs, who oush; to be the best
Judges in the matter, do not consider them Er
selves scrfs at all; on the contrary, lhey think ,
hor condition privilege. A gentleman
who had taken a sea, in one Of the Neya fer Il
-y-boats, asked one of the boamcn if he was |
, sersf ga serfi" replied the man; "no, /
belong to the Emperor" A stranger may II
Corm some idea what crown serfs are, by Wis
ting the magnificent village TzARsKoH ZE- I
10, the whole of which is owned BY the En- Is
oeror.
The ambition Of Nicholas has long been It
The bugbear of Europe; it would be difficult
10 tell wherefore. He has not s,rlYen 10 ex- I
END his dominions; he has not sought to add t
La his siranuih alreadv mnre ihan snfiiciani d