The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-03-24
WASHINGTON, ID. G..
sERFDOM IN RUSSIA.

e,lowinu article were adopted, that the En-
noror in full council of his Ministers declared
bis anxious wish to abolish Serfdom. Count
pouanzoff told him that the measure was pre-
a,otnr. that the minds of the mobiles were not
nrenared for it, and that, appealing as it would
70 the pecuniary interests and prejudices of the
whole class it would arouse an opposition
which the whole power of the Government
oould not withstand The same nobleman sug-
sested that the Emperor should leave to his
-oo and successor the accomplishment of the
bpne6cent measure of emancipating his people
The Emperor replied: &c know that my son is
scuated by the proper spirit, but fear he is
deficient in the necessary trmness to accom-
Djsb the great work. But" said he, reaching
firth his arm, III feel that God has given me the
power to perform it, and that it is my duty"
DR.. Baird further stated that the Emperor
has taken from the mobiles the power of infict-
ing chastsement upon the serfs at their pleas
ure, and has regulated the manner and degree
Of their punishment, according to strict rules
Oflaw, upon conviction before magistrate.
The fact that DR.. Baird warmly sympathizes
with Kossuth and Mazzini, and freely condemns
the intervention of Russia in the Hungarian
.truoc,e adds to the value of his testimony to
the general good character of Nicholas and his
family. and to his wise and humane legislation
for his country.
Ii is worthy of remark in this conservative
age. that Dr. Baird's statements in regard to
the liberal and humane policy Of Nicholas, ex-
bibited in his efforts to abolish Serfdom were
received with rounds of applause by Wash
inptop public, at the Smithsonian Institute
and his condemnation of the same monarch for
his injustice to Hungary was received with
equal favor, Notwithstanding the wry faces of
sfew Old Hunkers"
SERFDOM IN RUSSIA, AND THE EMPEROR
NICHOLAS.*
Towards the end of 1848, or in the beginning
Of l849, Mr. Jerrman, an actor who had spent
three years professionally at st. Petersburgh,
published book on Russia, which was soon
after translated into English. Although many
extracts from the work have appeared in jour
nails both at home and abroad, we will venture
to offer another to our readers to show that
saac' Emperor Nicholas the type in our petite
cal meetings of the word tyrant, in its worst
sense, like the Devil, is not quite SO black as he
sometimes painted. We give below Mr..
Germans account Of the Emperor's exertons
abolish Serfdom -Evening Post
The rights of man are trampled under foot
in Russia Who denies it, A nation still
smibarbarous, is subjected to semi-barbarous
rule! Perfectly true. Laws unworthy of the
name exist there, as we'll as classes of men de-
graded below the proper dignity of man. All
this is matter of fact but the profound genius
Of the Emperor, who discerns all this, his rest
less striving to remedy these evils, to reconcile
these incongruities-that stamps him, in my
eyes, not only as great sovereign, but also as
true friend Of the people
1t is with real qualification that propose in
these pages true and faithful representation
of facts to a prejudice universal in Germany
prejudice confirmed and strengthened by
Germans who have long resided in Russia. 1t
Is not my fault if those Germans either were
unable to take clear-sighted view of what
passed around them, or else measured it with
Germaq rule-a mode of measurement of
Which Russian matters certainly did not admit.
ihe man who rigidly investigates and takes
INTO due consideration the character of the
people the confirmed habits of centuries. and
The perils and material disadvantages of the
100 sudden development of free institutions, will
not only contemplate with respect and admira-
uon the efforts of the Russian Government for
He safe and gradual spread of liberty, but will
s'O like myself not hesitate to proclaim the
emperor Nicholas-so often denounced as the
uea1ly Toe to freedom-the true father of his
country, earnestly striving to develop and ma
"re the rights of his subjects.
rfoos strike deeper than assertions, and a
TOW The former may here with propriety be
gwen Let us first glance at that institution
n'ou mostly estranges Russia from civiliza-
namely, at the institution of Serfdom.
for the female members Of course there is
Ou' one legal path to ncipstion--nsmsly
marriage with freeman For male scrfs, at
~ times until recently, q military service was
'he avenue to freedom. Once under the colors
ne soldier is free. The freedom of the Russian
soldier is not very comprehensive, and the re-
Tult may in some sort be said only to exchange
one kind Of slavery for another and a milder
VGe but when, on the completion of his term
VI service, or In consequence of wounds or i'll
health he receives his discharge, it is as a free
man That he returns to his home In strict re-
snd TO truth, ! must however, here observe,
tuat Tor long time this road to citizenship led
ou' lew to its enjoyment. The soldier, after
nOmpleting period Of twenty years service,
was 30 accustomed TO that mode of life whilst
tb the other hand, owing to his long disuse Of
"e occupation to which he had been brought
n "s saw 50 little prospect of earning liv-
onS S NOV III most instances he accepted q Sec
reer 70 and recommended his military Ca
hosnits, inc, he then chung till death or the
ever tbo pSOeVed him. Seven years ago, how
of se,v;od emperor Nicholas shortened the term
now anns.p eight years--a reduction which
sand annually restores to civil life many thou.
the me- men, who were slaves till they donned
service urn ~ AT the expiration of eight years
still ~ 'he soldier Is still young man ne can
tor ~ ms freedom, and found free family.
emsna; s nrs' ana important step towards the
b a" OF the scrl the Russian neonje
70 thank the Emperor Nicholas
tbs . no' less important disposition. aimed at
u ae ehd and at the Same time calculated
tba e'' the total ruin Of the Russian nobility
C,n' which relates to advances made bv ~
y r." % territorial property. ~
NJ NJ prevent the partial depopulatien of State.
con.,;s dated in 1927, declared the serfs 10
of,ba % an integral and inseparsble portion
decroa SUI. Inc Immediate consequence of this
reuuIs;r Vas the cessation, at least in its most
uan as', 'orm OF the degrading traffic in hu.
ward -" ~ sale, barter, or gift. Thencefor-
owns, ~ sert could be transferred to another
he beloe eacePs 6y the sale of the land to which
the Iuged' TO secure to itself the refusal Of
Il, a"a and the human beings appertaining
~ Tue same time to avert from the
nan. re rom 81. PstersbvgA BY Edward ysr.
frsdsr.L IhsIsted from tho original German NV
ksuthy I'hardman' No. XXI Of Putnam's Semi