Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1853-01-15
Geletteo Articles.
SERPDOn IN RUSSIA
AND
THE EMPEROR NICHOLAS

Towards the close of 1913, or in the be-
ginning of IS40 Mr.. Jerrmau, nh actor, who
had spent three years professionally al ST.
Petersburg, published book on Russia,
which was soon after translated into English.
Although many extracts from the work have
appeared in journals both a, home and
abroad, wo will venture to ofior another 10
our readers, to show thnt the Emperor Mich
olas, the type in our political meetings of tho
word tyrant, la its worst sense, like the Dew
il, is not quite so black as he is sometimes
painted We give below Mr.. Jerrman's
account of the Empcror's exertiUns to abolish
seridom Evening Post.
The rights of man are trampled under
foot in Russia! Who denies il? a nation
still semi-barharous, is subjected to semi
barbarous rule Perfectly true. Laws un-
worthy of the name exists there, ns we'll as
classes Of men degraded below the proper
dignity of man. All this is matter OF fact;
but the profound genius of the Emperor,
who discerns all this, his restless striving to
remedy these evils, to reconcile these incon-
gruities-that stamps him in my eyes, not
only as n great sovereign, but also as II true
friend of the people.
IL is with real qualification that | propose,
in these pnges, true and faithful represen-
tntion OF facts to prejudice universal III
Germany--a prejudice confirmed and
strengthened hy Germans who have long re-
sided in Russia. II is not lny fault IL those
Germans either were unable to take n clear.
sighted view of whut passed around them,
or else measured il with a German rule-n
mode OF measurement of which Russian
matters certainly did not admit. The man
who ridgidly Investigates, and takes into due
consideration, the character of the people,
the confirmed habits of centuries, the perils
aud material disadvantages of the too sudden
development OF free institutions, will not
only contemplate with respect and admira-
iion the efforts of the Russian government
for the safe and gradual spread of liberty,
but will also, like myself not hesitate to
proclaim the Emperor Nichoas--so often
denounced as the deadly foe TO ireedom--tlie
true fnther of his country, earnestly striving
20 develope aud mature tie rights Of his sub
jects.
Proofs strike deeper than assertions, and
few of the former may here with propriciy
he given. Let us first glance at that iustitu
ton which most estrauges Russia from civil
lzation-nalncly, at tic institution of serf.
dom.
For the female members of this class
there is but one cgnl path TO emancipation:
namely, marriage with freeman. For male
serls, at all times until recently, military
service was the only avenue to freedom
Once under the colors, the soldier is Free
The freedom of the Russian soldier is not
very comprehensive, and the recruit may IN
some sort be said only 10 exchange one KIND
of slavery for another and II milder one
but when, on the completion of his term ol
service, or in consequence OF wounds or III
health, he receives his discharge, II is as n
free man that he returns to his home. In
strict regard to truth, | must however, here
observe that, for long time, this road to
citizenship led but few to lis enjoyment
The soldier, after completing period of
twenty years service, was so accustomed To
that mode Of life, whilst on the other hand,
owing to his long disuse of the occupation
TO which he had been brought up, he saw so
little prospect of earning living, that IN
most instances he accepted second bounty,
and Recommended his military career, 10
which he then clung till death or the hospl-
sal received him. Seven yeurs ago, how
ever, the Emperor Nicholas shortened the
term of service to eight years; reduction
which now annually restores to civil life
many thousand free men, who were save'
till they donned the uniform. At the expi
ration of eight years service, the soldier u
still young man; lie can still eiIoy hi
freedom, aud found n free family. For Ih
first aud important step towards the cnlan
cipation of the serf the Russian people have
10 thank the love OF liberty Of the Emperor
Nicholas.
A not less important disposition, aimed q
the same end, and AT the same time culculat
cd TO avert the total ruin of the Russian no
bility, is tha; which relates 10 advances Inad'
by the Crown on territorial property.
". Il. s.,l Il .iuttp a.
states, n ukase, dated in 1927, declared tI'
serfs to constitute an integral and insepurabl'
portion Of the soil. The immediate conse
quence of this decree was the cessation, n
ienst in its most repulsiye form, Of the de
grading traffic in human flesh, by sule, barter
or gift. Thenceforward no serf could b'
transferred 10 another owner, except 10y TIN
sale of the land to which he belonged. IL
secure to itself the refusal of the lnud an,
the human beings npperlainng to il, and n
tho same time to nyerl from the lnnd-holdel
the ruin consequent on duulings with ustlr
ers, the government established an inperln
loan-balik, which made advances on mort
gage of lands to the extent of two-thirds OI
their value. The borrowers had 10 puy bach
each yenr three per cent. of the loan, besides
three per cent interest II they failed 10 dC
this, the crown returned them the install
ments already paid, gave them the remaining
third of the value of the property, aud tool
possession Of the land and lis popualion.-
This was The first stage of freedom for the
serfs. They became Crown peasants, hclt
their dwellings and biz of land as nn hered
iiary fef from the crown, and paid annual,
for the same n SUN total Of five rubei
(sbout four shilings for each mne person.
rent for which, assuredly, in the whole o
Germany, the very poorest farm is not TO b'
had to say nothing in consideration that IL
case of bad harvesis, destruction by hail
disease, &C., the Crown is bound to supply
the strict necessities of lis peasant, aud L
find them in daily bread, in the indspens
able stock of cattle and seed corn, to repai
their habitations, and so forth.
llu thia nrrn nnnnenI nnd In a sLnrl liInn