Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-01-19
serfdom in Russia and the Emperor
Nicholas

wears professionally at St. Petersburg, published
book on Russia, which was soon after translated
into English. 1t obtained immediate notice in
England from the many curious and novel traits
of Russian manners which it contains, and the
pleasant way in which it relates them. All the
Reviews noticed it with appreciation, and Black
wood in particular made it the subject OF long
article, giving copious extracts. we VIII venture
to offer an extract to readers, TO show that the
Emperor Nicholas, the type in political meet
ings of the word tyrant, in its worst sense, like
the Devil is not quite so black as he is sometimes
painted. We give below Mr.. Jerrman's account
of the Emperor's exertions to abolish serfdom:
The rights of man are trampled.under foot in
Russial Who denies it =? A nation, still semi
barbarous, is subject to semi-barbarous rulel Per-
fectly true. Laws unworthy of the name exist
there, as well 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 incongruities-thGt
stamps him in my eyes, not only a great soyer-
eign, but also a true friend of the people,
The man who rigidly investigates, and takes
into due consideration, the character of the peo-
pie the confirmed habits of centuries the perils
and material disadvan tages of the too sudden de-
velopment of free institutions, will not only con-
template with respect and admiration the efforts
of the Russian government for the safe and grad
ual spread of liberty, but will also, like myself
not hesitate to proclaim the Emperor Nicholas
so often denounced as the deadly foe to freedom
the true father of his country, earnestly striv-
ing to develop and mature the rights Of his sub
jects.
Proofs strike deeper than assertions, and few
of the former may here with propriety be given
Let us first glance at that institution which most
estranges Russia from civilzation-namely, at the
institution of serfdom.
For the female members of this class there is
but one legal path to emancipation: namely mar
rage with freeman. For male serfs at all times
until recently, military service the only aven-
ue 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 to exchange one kind of
slavery for another and milder one but when
on the completion of his term of service, or in
consequence of wounds or i'll health, he receives
his discharge it is as 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 its 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
dsuse of the occupation to which he had been
brought up, he SO little prospect of earning
living, that in mostinstances he accepted second
bounty, and recommended his military career, to
which he then chung till death or the hospital re.
ceived him. Seven years ago, however, the En-
peror Nicholas shortened the term of service to
eight years; a reduction which now annually re-
stores to civil life many thousand free men, who
were slaves till they donned the uniform. AT the
expiration Of eight years service, the soldier is
still young man; he can still enjoy his freedom,
and found a free family. For this first and impor-
tant step towards the emancipation of the serf the
Russian people have to thank the love of liberty
Of the Emperor Nicholas.
not less important disposition, aimed at the
same end, and at the time calculated to
avert the total ruin of the Russian nobility, is that
which relates to advances made by the crown on
territorial property.
,,rayon+ tl,a no r4ial Jo,ny,,1,+;o, oc
an ukase, dated in 1927, declared the serfs TO
constitute an integral and nseparable portion of
the soil. The immediate consequence ofthis de.
cree was the CESSATION at least in its most repul-
sive form, of the degrading traffic in human flesh,
by sale, barter, gift. Thenceforward, no serf
could be transferred to another owner, except by
the sale of the land TO which he belonged. TO
secure to itself The refusal of the land and the hui
man beings appertaning TO it, aud at the same
time TO avert from the landholder the ruin conse-
quenI on dealings with usurers, the government
established an imperial loan bank, which made
advances on mortgage of lands, to the extent of
two-thirds their value. The borrowers had to
pay back each year, three per cent of the loan,
besides three per cent interest. If they failed to
do this, the Crown returned them the instalments
already paid, gave them the remaining third of
the value of the property, and took possession Of
the land and its population. This was the first
stage of freedom for the serfs. They became
Crown peasants, held;their dwellings and bits of
land hereditary fef from the crown, and
paid annually for the same, sum total of FIVE
roubes (about four shillings for each male per-
son;) rent for which, assuredly, in the whole
OF Germany, the very poorest farm is not to be
had; to say nothing in consideration that in case
of bad harvests, destruction by hail disease, &c,
the Crown is bound 10 supply the strict necessi-
Qf tie and IN nd Jo;l.,
bread, in the Indispensable stock of cattle and
seed corn, TO repair their habitations, &c.
by this arrangement, and in short time,
considerable portion Of the lands of the Russian
nobility became the property of the State, and
with 1t large number of seIfs became Grown
peasants. This was the first and most important
step towards opening the road to freedom to that
majority of the Russian population which consists
of slaves.
When in this manner the first ideas of liberty
hand been awakened in the people, the Emperor,
In the exercise of his own unlimited and ire
| sponsibe power, took second step, not less
pregnant with consequences than the first. I'm
able suddenly to grant civil freedom to the serfs,
he bestowed upon them, as transition stage,
certain civil rights ukase permitted them TO
enter into contracts. Thereby was accorded to
them not only the right of possessing property, but
the Infinitely higher blessing of legal recognition
of their moral worth men. Hitherto, the serf
was recognized by the State only as sort of beast
in human form. lie could holdno property give no
legal evidence, take no oath. No matter how ell
oquent his speech, he was dumb before the law
lie might have treasures in his dwelling, the law
knew him only as a pauper. His word and his
honor were valueess compared to those Of the
vilest freeman. In short, morally, he could not
be said to exist. The Emperor Nicholas gave to
the serfs, that vast majority of his subjects, the
first sensation Of moral worth, the first throb of
sefrespect, the first perception of the rights and
dignity and duty of man! What protested friend
of the people can boast to have done more, or vet
SO much, for SO many millions of menu
But the Gar did not rest satisfied with this
Having given the serfs power to hold property, he
taught them TO prize the said property above all
in the interest of their freedom. II seems quite
like a jest to speak thus of the "tyrant and
bloody-minded man." but speak in all serious
ness, and the facts are there TO prove my words.
The serf could not buy his own freedom, but he
became free by the purchase of the patch of soil
| 10 which he was linlad 'Io s,ch a.