The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-05-13
Condition of the Russian Peasantry.

The following statements, WHICH drc dutiioAsiSs
possess peculiar interest about these times
There forty millions of serfs in Great Russia,
the largest slave population in the world. Forty
millions of men-glebg script-attached TO the
soil. bought and sold with the SOIL which they
die Upwards of twenty millions of these serfs be-
long to the crown, the remainder to the nonies:
Previous to the sixteenth century, the peasantry OF
Great Russia retained the privilege of moving from
place place, held the free disposal OF their persons
and sold their services for term Of years. In 1875
when Boris Godenof assembled the throne, and
sought the support of the mobiles, he made law, by
which the peasant was bound to Inc SOIL, ana De-
came the property of the noble.
The value of an estate in Wek, Russia, depends
more upon the number of its peasants than its acres
Some occupy vast extent of country and contains
as many as one hundred thousand souls. The pro-
pretor pays an annual tax OF about one doar anu
sixty cents upon every serf. The condition OF the
latter varies according to circumstanceslan 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 Inc 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 Ger
| tain other times, when he and his wife must turn
out into the field He cannot leave the estate, or
| learn trade, without PERMISSION. Inc master
must maintain him, furnish him with food and medi-
cine when it is necessary, and Is liable to hne IL
he is found destitute or begging upon the highway.
Stray serfs runaways, or peasants, whether Tree or
bond roaming about without passport, are de-
tanned and advertised; and 1t not reclaimed or re-
lieved by the owner some responsible person, are
sold at public sale. The proprietor cannot oblige
the serf to marry contrary to his inclination and
on the other hand the clergy cannot marry him
without the permission of the master. The serf
cannot be sold off the estate, separated from his
family, and many other humane provisions have
been made for his happiness and safety.
But it is futile to speak of rules and regulations
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
good price is offered, and he sends them wherever
| it suits his convenience. He makes them weave or
plough: he hires them out by the month or year,
Just as it pleases him to do. In the same way, he
| may treat them with kindness or with blows; but
as they are generally regarded as lnsenslble and
ungrateful, they get more kicks than favors The
serf cannot accuse the master If the blows OF the
latter cause death within three days, he is fined;
but if the serf lives than three days after Be.
we're punishment the master is not LIABLE the serf
is killed without generalization, by any other man
the MASTER the killer pays the master three hundled
and eight dollars. If he is killed with premedita,
tion there no naturalization for the master, and
| the murderer is responsible to the ponce;
| The posadki, or freedmen, cannot hold lands or
serfs but they have other privileges ana IN tliE
distant provinces display, we have mentioned, al!
the natural yigor of the race and are distinguished
for industry and the most interchangeable persever-
ence in the pursuit of gain. But the serf has not
the same inducements, and exhibits none OF the ac-
tiyity and industry so remarkable IN the posadki.
He is the creature of apathy, and all the stirring
qualities of his nature laten and undeveloped.
fe works he is directed, and manlfests the same
rude ability in any employment he may follow.
| He is ordered to be musician, mechanic or a
manufacturer, and becomes either OF these with as
tonishing facility, though he excels in none. Ne-
Their the fear of the LASH nor the promise Of reward,
| can force him to work with the plane or the saw,
but with the Ratchet, which he always carries at
his girdle he will hew the forest trees, prepare his
logs and plank build his house and make his furn-
ture. He never exerts his full strength: if the bur-
den is heavy one, he calls for assistance It Is a
common thing to see a hundred men hauling
stone or piece of timber that would have been han
died with ease by twelve or twenty Engishmen'
On such occasions before the united effort MADE,
the Russian workmen sing for two or three mlnuIes
in chorus and at the end of the song Is inc sgmmal
for the pull altogether. After two or three puis'
they stop, and the singing begins again, ana On ~
the completion of the work-more fhan nan VIC
time at least, being passed in these musicaI a
ludes The task u.s. therefore, often IgIs oe, a
easily performed. When it is finished, .ne Shosa
is at liberty to employ himself as ne peaseS. 2 ~
he do double duty, however, he "oulu nv. ne -
warted and instances are KNOWN witLtln tae w
servation of the writer, when Ihe olei :: a ~,
ant to perform extra task had peei ~ IeJooo.,
for the reason that any such proceeding "as u, ~
s1al and calculand to produce coniusioh' 90 u,S
serf leaving his wife to cultivate his garden ana
tend the loom, loiters away the balance OF ts oay
| in indolence.--lMarpeA