Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-04-09

whole.
The Iowa railroad bill was then taken up and dis
cussed.
Maine Liquor Law in Massachusetts,.
BosToN APRIL 1sr-The House of Representatives
of This State have passed act referring the Maine Lii
quor Law 10 the people.
the London Chronicle correspondent in Russia.
The Serfs of Russia.
In the inherent character of the serf system IN
Russia, it would be foreign to my purpose to go
This monster institution, e cannot be said to mis-
use the name when | remember that out of the 54,
100000 of whom the Russian population is under
stood to be composed, 100000 are serfs, and r.,
100000 are free-about one in FIVE has been for
years the great object upon which the pens of Euro
pean philosophers have been exercised Its vices
are known to the world nor, hfve those interested
in preserving it failed to set forth its alleged aevia-
tons. The opinions, too which the respective rulers
of Russia have entertained upon it, also on re-
cord 1t is even no secret that the earlier conyie
tons of the present Emperor of Russia (whose po-
litical education confded 10 ADLER hands than
usually direct the studies of continental royalty)
in favor of modifying the system, and elevating
if not of enfranchisng the millions Nor is it con-
cealed, among the few who dare speak at all, that
the Cars feelings upon the sub of serfdom, did
not exhaust themselves in mere words and that his
majesty actually assumed the initiative in course
which would have led to serfemancipation. 1t is
considered in certain circles the of matter
for regret that resoute and inn lacable opposition,
manifested not in overt act but in logged and dead
weight inaction succeeded in causing the dscomft-
ure and abandonment of the attempts in question.
Nor is it probable that such attempts will be
ed from the same quarter. The Emperor's chief at
tention is given to the soldierly education Of
myriads of plumed and gttering serfs of his own
taste for military detail and display has succeed
ed at Petersburg to any effort for the settlement of
graver questions and, from the present, serfdom in
Russia must remain what it is. The difficulty of
any interference with it. is sill further enhanced by
the example to which its defenders have been able
to point, though the unparalleled ferocity and bar
barity of certain serfs who Git was said under some
misconcepton Of the pleasure of the Emperor him
self) set to work to emancipate themselves. The
atrocities they commtted--which caused them to be
hunted down like wild beasts-are pointed to as
warnings how you entrust men with liberty who are
not suited for it, Murders violations, mutations
of the most horrible kind were among The first sacri
fees of these men at the altar of freedom, and are
powerful if not altogether silencng, argument in
the mouths of those vino keep barred the gates of
the temple
have spoken of certain species of serfs as an
exile, and propose to glance at his position, before
referring to that of his resident brothers bondage
1t is this The serf of proprietor who resides, per-
haps, several hundred miles from certain large
town. conceives that he shall " better HIMSELF" by
leaving his native SOIL and trying his fortune in the
town in question. He is carpenter, or mason, or
has q knowledge of some trade, though he may be
engaged in agricultural pursuits. He proposes to
his lord TO let him go. Possibly his lord refuses,
and there is an end of the matter for the special
case of the serf's taking leave without permission
IN other words, escaping-s not now very frequent.
Sometime since. when government was DESTROYS that
the population of certain districts should be increas
ed the system of running away, on the part of the
serfs, and hiding in those districts (where ultimately
they became & inscribed') was winked at but be-
lieve the is different, and that unless the
serf is almost miracuousy lucky in evading all the
network of the police SYSTEM he is unceremoniousy
seized, packed off to the military depot made SOL
der and . accounted for' to his owner when the
latter has to pay his next instalment of ser the
military authorities. But if the serf has humane
and liberal owner (and | am informed that there
are hundreds of such) who afford to part with
him. the adventurer departs. He previously makes
his bargain with his owner. as to how much of his
earnings shall be RENTED to the latter, and the
cessary passports from his proprietor furnished
to the police of the district in which he proposes to
| settle. The police system is difused, and has
such manifold ramifcatons. that it is almost impos-
sb!e 70 evade it long, and hence the owner has a
safe hold upon the travelling serf even at the dis
lance Of five, six, seven hundred miles: for nobody
is allowed to live in Russia without leave--that is.
without btiet de sejOur, which has to be renewed
every year-but in the case Of the serf, and indeed
of others, the police may fit. at much short
er period. In the serfs case, believe six months
is usually the time. If the man has his lawful billet
which is strictly local. it is evidence that he had
run away; if he has not he is liable to be instant
ly seized. | am supposng, however, that he propo
ses to keep faith He obtains his police billet, and
he then seeks for what work he can get Often, in
deed most frequently, does he not leave his native
place, except in company with gang" of conpan-
ions similarly situated, who engage themselves en-
masse, under arrangement to which all must be
parties, and who have a leader, who conducts the
business for them, and receives and divides their
earnings In this they usually live together,
and you meet them, returning at night in body tc
always indulge the Russian habits of eternal sing
audiences of neighbors.
of course, varies with his trade and with his skill
two rubes copper (about Is 10d. to one ruble sill
yer day, lbs. 4d,) or he may be so excellent a
workman to be hired. by contract for forty-fye
rubles per month He has to pay his lodging and
he has to remit his payments to his lord And, il
he has left behind wife, and his inclination be tx
assist her efforts at selfsupport he has the same
means of renting to her. namely, by the post Office
"a very important department of which is appro
priated to this kind of business The rest of his
ings he may apply as he peases.
f The bare necessities of life are remarkably cheal
in Russia The workmans living costs him tn
merest trihe
NIEBUHR VERIFIED.-The native population of tn
Sandwich Islands is decreasing steadily and FAST as
learn by correspondent of the New York Journal c
Commerce. " Not single instance says the histc
rian Niebuhr. can be produced of a really savag
people which has become civilized of its own accord
and where civilization has been forced on such pee