The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-02-13
h. asxxd La


From the Loaasn Sunday Times, Jan. 2o.I
When the revolutionary movement was at its
height in the rest OF Europe, we confidently fore
told that 1t could not fail to produce an echo in
spread that q great conspiracy, with democratic
designs, had been organized In ST. Petershurgh, but
accidentally missed IT'S aim.
The history Of this conspiracy will never, per-
haps be fully known; but II appears that number
OF young men-cbiefy, II would seem, OF noble
Misunderstanding, many OF them, travelled In the
south and west Of Europe, and there imbibed
liberal ideas, formed themselves, on their return
home, into secret society, for the purpose of SUBJ
verting the despolism OF the Gear. AT first, they
contrived to envelope their slttings In complete
mystery. The houses where they met, their cor
their existence, thoroughly escaped the notice Of
the most vgIlant pslce In the world.
From the b~glnDing of the reign OF the present
Gar, who rose into power by usurpation, at the
expense of his brother Constantine, and by means
Of a sanguinary insurrectiOn and massacre, an ln-
mense proportion OF the Russian nobility have been
aiming at the establishment OF popular constitu-
ton. Though decorated with ribands and the in
sigma OF various orders, they feel themselves TO
be no better than superior class OF slaves, In
which light they are regarded by the government
No wonder, therefore, that the more youthful
among their order should have joined the secret
society mentioned above, the object OF which was
TO establish constitutional government, most
probably of republican form, but undoubtedly
on aristocratic principles, since the people IN
any notion of political rights. Every difficult
ty Is thrown In the way OF discovering 10
what extent the conspiracy pervaded the no.
billy; but TO ali appearance there are few IA
miles in the empire not In some way or other
connected with it. When it was to have broken
out, what portion Of the army had joined it, VIVA
were the resources of the cOnspirators, may be dis
covered hereafter, when II will also appear by wha
kind OF treachery the first hint of the design wa
communicated TO government. After this disco
very made, the probability is that the blow was
lnstantaneously struck II would not be safe in
Russia to nurse conspiracy by artificial means;
because, where despotism exists, in spite OF spies
informers, and traitors, the government is sure to
remain in profound ignorance oflnnumerable things
which are made known IN other countries by the
press. II is d saying in France, that.men cOnspre
in the open streets; but in Russia the thing is car
red on by the hreslde, with closed doors, domes-
tics excluded, and among the most sacred symbols
OF purity and religion. Fathers and sons, brothers,
cousins, and persons connected by the ties of
marriage, inspired by The principles Of justice and
humanity. unite themselves by oath to strike blow
at tyranny.
In the present case the meetings of the conspira-
tors were held by night, after the manner In which
the Oreanists, Mariinists, and illuminate met, to-
ward the close Of the last century, In France and
Germany. while members of the society were sta
toned with drawn swords at the doors OF the
houses, and on every landingplace on the flight Of
stairs leading to the place Of meeting Some un-
fortunate accident may have revealed the existence
OF the conspiracy to the government, or single
traitor may have been found, who, with the hope
OF self aggrandlzement, sold his companions. In
whatever way the truth came to light, the Court
obtained information Of the conspiracy, and with
the vigor and violence for which the great northern
despolism has always been like all others, remark
able, 1t proceeded to make Its seizures and mock
trials. Whether any papers fell into Its hands or
not. remains doubtful, though there Is one fact
which would lead us TO believe that some docu-
ments must have been fOund-we mean the Disco
very made OF the immense number Of those en-
gagged in The design,
In consequence, the government was compelled
TO select Its victims, OF whom to make an exam
pie. These were tried by military secret uibu-
nal, and, as matter Of course, preciptately con.
demned TO death. But despotlsm Is polite as well
as sanguinary. BY the execution OF these persons,
the whole Of their relatives and friends would have
been converted INTO permanent consplrators, burn
ing with the thirst Of vengeance. For this reason,
the sentences Of the condemned were commuted
in some cases into exile 10 Siberia, where they
are TO work the mines In chains; In other cases
will die lingering death; in other cases, again,
to forced service in the army, where they will
either convert their fellow soldiers, become the
objects OF their persevericg scorn and contempt
But, with that exquisite cruelty which tyrants
always practise, the condemned are all TO be kept
in ignorance of this mitigation of their punish
ment, and to be paraded to the gallows, or the
block, as IT tor execution, when what is called the
Emperor's clemency will be revealed TO them.
One curious circumstance IN this ALTAR should not
be overlooked. BY the military secret tribunals
they were all condemned to death, though II has
now, we are told, been discovered that their de-
grees Of guilt were various, In consequence of
which their secondary punishment Is also te be
varied. They VINO are most obnoxious to despot-
ism-which is meant by superordegree Of guilt
are 10 be sent TO the mines, where they will meet
with lingering death instead Of an instantaneous
one. They whose virtues are of a less positive
stamp, will be confined In dungeons, and let rot or
famsh there as they may display weakness or
courage; while the third and lowest class Will be
m ad
complImen.to the Russian Army, to serve IN winch
the government itself declares, is next TO being
hsnged.
Europe now knows that Revolutionary principles
are not TO be kept out OF country by artillery or
bay onets, any intensity Ut cruelty oppression,
or they would have been kept out of Russia.
Opinions are not to be trampled out by troops OF
horse. They will make their way into the most
close guarded capitals they will germlnaie under
Me very root Of desponsm, and will grow up and
flourish IN spite Of the pains that may be taken to
extirpste and destroy them. The Russian govern
ment itself declares that large portion OF It's sub
jects has been infected by the liberal ideas Of
western Europe, for which it condemns them TO
work IN chains or fight IN letters This is matter
OF copgrauaton TO the rest Of the world, because
all free men will be consoled to perceive that the
reign OF absclutism IL drawing towards an end.
EnRlishmen, above all, should be proud Ut this,
because II was we who set the hrst example OF re-
tated us wisely-some have initiated us uawisey;
but all the civilized world has initiated We, In one
way or another; and when liberty shall have been
universally established, IL will be admitted that II
was the example OF Great Britain which encouraged
mankind TO make the exertlons that led to freedom
IL will be remembered that the Russian troops
were very suddenly recalled from Hungary, OBJ
vously by the danger which threatened the govern
ment fr-m the conspiracy, now at length admitted
IL probably extended through large portion of the
army, and the more servile part Of the troops was
required TO put down the sihers. Such facts AS
these, however, will only out by degrees; but
IL 10 fair to infer that urgent ssliy felt
for suddenly with drawing the troops fromiIungary
A Hungarian Refugee.
few days ago, one Of the Hungarian re-
fugees arrived IN this town. HIS name is An
ton Hasckhe he Is a young man about
twenty-five years old, well educated, and his
father, who resided at Pesth, one OF the
nobility in his native country. where he held very
large estates. The father, having supplied the
Hungarian army with horses, and rendered other
services required by the government, with several
others Of the nobility. were taken prisoners and
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