New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-02-17
The Serfs of Russia.

The Russian correspondent of the London
Chronicle communicates the following interesting
account of the serfs of Russia:
Into the inherent character of the serf system
in Russia, it would be foreign to my purpose to
go. This monster institution Il cannot be said
to misuse the name when remember that out
Of 54 ,0O0,0 900 of whom the Russian population is
understood to be composed, ~ ,000,0 600 are sers,
and but - 900, 900 free-about one in five) has
been for years the great object upon which the
pens of European philosophers have been exer
cised Its vices are known to the world; nor
have those interested in preserving it failed to
set forth its alleged alleviations. The opinions,
too, which the respective rulers of Russia have
entertained upon it, are also on record. 1t is
even no secret that the earlier convictions of
the present Emperor of Russia (whose political
education was confided to ADLER hands than
usually directthe studies of continental royalty
| were in favor of modifying the system, and ele-
waiting, if not of enfranchising, the millions.
Nor is it concealed, among the few who dare
speak at all, that the Cars feelings on the sub
ject Of serfdom did not exhaust themselves i'll
mere words, and that his majesty actually as
sumcd the initiative in a course which would
have led to ertemancipation. 1t is considered
in certain circles, the reverse of a matter fo1
| regret that resolute and implacable opposition
manifested not in overt act, but in dogged and
dead-weght inaction, succeeded in causing the
discontinue and abandonment of the attempts
in question. Nor is it probable that such at
tempts will be renewed from the same quarter
The Emperor's chief attention is now given to
the soldierly education of myriads of plumed
and glittering serts of his own. A taste for
military detail and display has succeeded at St.
Petersburg to any effort for the settlement OF
graver questions, and for the present sertdom in
Russia must remain what it is. The difficulty
Of any interference with it, is still further en-
hanced by the example to which its defenders
have been enabled to point, through the un-
paralleled teroeity and barbarity of certain
serts, who lit was said under some misconcep-
ton of the pleasure Of the Emperor himself set
to work to mancipate themselves. The atroci-
ties they committed-which caused them to ht
hunted down like wild bcasts-are pointed to us
as warnings how you entrust with liberty mel
| who are not suited for it.. Murders, violations
mutila tions. of the most horrible kind, were
among the first sacrifices of these men at tho
altar of freedom, and are II powerful, if not al
together silencing, argument in the mouths o
those who would keep barred the gates of tn,
temple
Very far indeed is it from my intention to in
dulge in any apologies for the system. An Eng
lislman can have but one feeling as to the posi-
ton Of man whom he finds on u level with th
horse he flogs. But it is not so very long since
similar state Of things existed in our own colo
mics; and let us, therefore, quietly examine th
working of the system, leaving the reader to in
stitute his own comparisons and deduce his owl
conclusions.
have spoken of a certain species Of serfs a
an exile, and propose to glance at his position
before referring to that of his resident brother
in bondage. 1t is this The serf of proprietor
who resides, perhaps, several hundred miles from
,%oi, Law +t,f ,l,,l
''better himself by leaving his native soil ant
trying his fortune in the town in question. H
is carpenter, or mason, or has Il knowledge o
some trade, though he may be engaged in agri
cultural pursuits. He proposes to his lord to lie
him go. Possibly his lord refuses, and there j
an end of the matter; for the special case of tn
serf's taking leave without permission-in othe
words, escaping-is not now very frequent.
Some time since, when Government was desil'
Gus that the population of fcertain districts shoul
be increased, the system of running away, on tn
part of the serfs, and hiding in those district
(where ultimately they became ''inscribed''
was winked at; but believe the case is no,
different, and that unless the serf is almos
miraculously lucky in eyading all the networ
of the police system, he is unceremoniousl
seized, packed off to the military depot, made
soldier and &c accounted for'' to his owner, whe
the latter has to pay his next instalment of sert
to the military authorities But II the serf h av
a humane and liberal owner (and am informe
that there are hundreds of such,) who can affor
to part with him, the adventurer departs II
previously makes his bargain with his owner
to how much of his earnings shall be remitted
the latter, and the necessary passports from h
proprietor are furnished to the police of the di,
trict in which he proposes to settle.
The police system is so ditfused, and has sue
manifold ramifcations, that it is almost impo
siblc to evade it long, and hence the owner hi
- a safe hold upon the travelling serf, even at IL
distance of five, six, or seven hundred miles; ft
nobody is allowed to live in Russia withol
leave-that is, without billet de sejoar, whic
} has to be renewed every year; but in the case
r the serf, and indeed of Others as the police ma
see fit, at the expiration of much shorter peroc
In the serf's case, believe, six months is usual
' the time If the man has his lawful billet, whie
is strictly local, it is evidence that he has not r
away; if he has it not he is liable to be Instant
d seized. am supposng, however, that he pre-
l. poses to keep faith. He obtains his police billie
and he then seeks for what work he can ge
: Often, indeed most frequently, does he not lea'
30 his native place, except in company with
gang" of companions similarly situated, WI
- engage themselves ea massf, under an arrang'
= ment to which all must be parties. and wi
have IL leader, who conducts the hasiaess Il