The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1848-05-31
CONDITION OF THE RUSSIAN PEA.
r--r--.r-..r..- SANTRY


tic, possess peculiar interest about this time:
There are fnrty millions of serfs in Great
Russia, the largest slave population in the world.
Forty millions of men-glebe adscripti-at.
tached 10 the soil, bought and sold with the soil,
OF. which they die. Upwards of twenty mil.
lions of these serfs belong TO the crown, the re.
mainder to the mobiles. Previous to the six
teenth century, the peasan,ry OF Great Russia
retained the privilege OF moving from place to
place, held the free disposal of their persons
aud sold their services for number of years
In 1898, when Boris Godenof assembled the
throne, and sought the support of the mobiles, he
made law, by which tue peasant was bound
! 10 the soil, and became the property of the no.
Bic.
The value ut an estate in Weliki, Russia, de-
-pcs,is mora upon the number OF lis peasants
than its acres. Some occupy vast eS'ents OF
country, and contain rs many as one hundred
thousand souls. The proprietor pays an annu'
al tax of about one dollar and sixty cents upon
crery serf. The condition Of the latter varies
according 10 circumstances and the disposition
of the master. As general rule, he has
house and piece Of ground, and the privilege
of feeding COW upon the common near the
village For these he pays with his labor.
The steward of the lord assigns him daily
task, which is easily accomplished before noon.
The remaining hours are at his own disposal,
except in harvest, and certain other lines, when
he and his wife must turn out into the held
He cannot, leave the estate, or learn trade,
without permission. The master must main
tain iii,n, furnish him with food and medicine
when Il is necessary, and is liable to fine If
he is found destitute or begging upon the high.
war. Stray serfs, runaways, or peasants, whe-
fher free or bond, roaming about without pass
port, are detained and advertised; and if not
reclaimed or relieved by owner or some re-
sponsiiIe person, are sold at public sale. The
proprietor cannot oblige the serf TO marry con.
frary tn his inclination; and on the other hand
the clergy cannot marry him without the per.
mission of the master. The serf cannot be
sold Oft the estate, or separated from his family.
and many other humane provisions has been
made for his happiness and safety.
Blu, il is futile 10 speak of rules and regula
tions in a country where wealth and birth give
despotic power. The proprietor is governed in
his actions entirely by his interest, and he treats
his peasants precisely as he pleases. He sells
them whenever a good price is offered, and nc
sends them wherever it suits his convenience.
He makes them weave or plough; he hires
them ont by the month or year, just as it plea
ses hun to do In The same way, he may treat
HEM with Kindness or blows; but as they are
generally regarded as inscnsihle and ungrate-
fnl, they get more kicks than iavors: The ssrf
cannot accuse the master. If the blows of the
latter cause death within three days, he is fined;
hat if the serf lives more than three days after
severe punishment. the master is not liable. II
the serf is killed without premedilaiion, by any
other than the mas.er the killer pays the mas
ter three hundred and eight dollars. IL he is
killed with premediia;ion. there is no indcmnI'
fcation for the master, and the murderer is re-
sponsible to the police.
The po<a'lki, or freedmen cannot own lands nj
scrfs; but they have other privileges, and in the
distant provinces display, as we have mention.
ed, all the natural vigor of the race, and are
distinguished for industry and the most indefaii.
cable perseverance in the pursuits of gain Bu'
the sert has not the same inducements, an" ex-
bibits none Of the activity and industry so re.
markable in the posadki. He is the creature
of apathy, and all the stirring qnalil' OF his ma
iure are laten and undrvcloped. He works as
he is directed, and manests the same rude abIll.
ty in any employment he may follow.
lie is ordered to be musician. a mechanic
or manufacturer, and becomes either OF these
with astonishing facility, though he exces in
none. Neither the fear of the lash, nor the
promise. can force him to work with the plane
or saw, hut with the hntch"t, which he always
carries at his girdlc, h. will hew the forest
trees, prepare his logs and plank, build his house
and make his furniture. He never eSers his
full strength: if the burden IS heavy one. he
calls for assistance. IL is common thing To
see n hundred men hauling stone or piece OF
timber that would have been handled with ease
l,y twelve or twenty Englishmen. On such
occasions, before the united effort is made, the
Russian workmen sing for two or three minutes
in chorus. and at the end of III" song is the sig
nal for the pull altogether. After two or three
pulls, they stop. and the singing begins again,
and ON to the completion of the work-lnore
than half the time, at least, heing passed in these
musical inlerludes. The task is, therefore, often
light one, and easily performed. When it is
finished, the laborer is at liberty to empoy him
sef as he peascs. Should he do double duty,
however, he would not rewarded; and Insian.
ces are known, within The observation OF the
writer. wbp, the offr of the peasant to perform
Ii, extra task had been rejected, and for the
reason that any such proceeding was unusual
and calculated to produce confusion. So the
serf, leaving his wife TO cultivate his garden and
tend the loom. loitcrs away the balance of the
day in ndolence.-INdrmeU. II.
One simultaneous burst of applause arises from tho
thousands who have used the Jc,c Dards or HebreD