The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1854-06-22

markable powers, considering that all their
members serfs. They elect their own func-
tionaries, debate and decide upon their local
affairs, such as the ALLEGATION Of land, the ad-
ministration of what are called the articles of
farming, as mills, &c, the assessment of take,
the control OF the expenditure, the admission of
new members into the municipality, the leave
of absence Of those members who desire to visit
towns the recruiting service, petitions, and
communications addressed to superior authcri-
ties The communal assemblies meet for the
despatch of business, regularly, three times in
each year; but, on emergencies, they may hold
| an extraordinary session, after receiving per-
mission from the chief Government officer of
the district. These are most remarkable priv
legts IN community of serfs, a. they confer a
modified selfgovernment; and for this reform
the Emperor Nicholas is entitled to high
raise
The administration of Justice on the crown
lands is also conducted on excellent principles
There are village tribunals in each commune
and in each canton. In the commrnes the
Starsehina presides, and he is aided by two as
sistant judges, who are called men of conscience
for they are to decide according to equity and
common sense, rejecting all legal TECHNICAL
ties; In the cantons the Golowa presides, also
assisted by two men OF conscience These tri-
bunals have cognzance of all offences against
the person, and of all disputes in relation to
property; but it is specially provided that all
differences shall, in the first instance, be sub
mitted to arbitration, in order to effect recon-
Citation between the litigants 1t is only when
this attempt fails, that recourse is had to the
tribunal, which delivers judgment in writing
on the very day OK the trial, so that all Vexa-
| tious postponement is avoided, no dilatory pleas
being allowed. The tribunals are however
restrained within certain limits. The communal
tribunals cannot award heavier penalties than
five r0ubles the cantonal tribunals may in
tiict fifteen roubles. However, by the free con-
sent of both parties, they may decide cases in
volving large damages. Two general rules
prescribe, point by point, the method in which
police and judiciary causes are to be conduct
ed in those tribunals. They have also a Grim
inal jurisdiction, but in this respect the Gov.
eminent leading functionaries of the district
attend at the preliminary proceedings to pro-
toct the peasants against any jealousy or preju.
dice that may arise against the party accused
| In reference TO land, each commune is re-
garded as UNITY, one and iudivsible. The num-
Der CT these unities amounts to 1000. The
| land is divided into lots, each male receiving
one. The tax on one being fixed, it is only
necessary to multiply it by the malo popula-
| ton, to determine the tax Of the whole COM
mune and again, multiplying this by 1000,
the entire annual tax frcm the peasants on the
crown lands is easily ascertaned.
Connected with these reforms is plan of
transcolonization. All desert and uncutivated
land has been carefully surveyed and measured, |
30 as to form the basis of new and future COM
munities when population becomes too dense |
in the old settlements. Transformation is to |
be voluntary under the supervision of the |
Government The following is to be the course |
of procedure: those families who have signi- |
fed their intention to change their residence |
are to send one of their members to inspect |
the future colony, and he is to provide shelter |
for the rest, and fodder for the cattle. When |
everything is prepared, the whole family are |
TO be removed. Government supplies gratui-
tously beasts of burden and funds to defray |
the first outlay on the new establishment. For
this purpose, 500 600 paper roubles are annu-
ally appropriated. All arrears that may be
due on the old holding by these transcelOnized
peasants liz RENTED. During the first six
years, no soldiers are to be bileted upon them
during the first four years, they are exempt
from every tax in the next four years, they
pay but half the tax, and arc free from the
three next military cOnscriptiOns.
Throughout this extensive empire, which
varies SO considerably in soil and climate,
model farms have been established, and the
young peasants are taught the science of agri-
IL
proving the breed of cattle Special schools
have also been founded, to teach horticulture,
the management Of silk-wOrms, and OF the
vine, of potatoes, and tobacco The young
peasants who have proved their proficiency,
are promoted to superintendents of model
farms in their native villages.
Small village banks have also been founded
by the cantonal administrations, where the
peasants receive advances, to enable them to
complete their operations before harvest
There are also savings banks The villages
have been architectnrGlly improved, as well as
the bridges, by the Government Civil engi-
neers are sent to the cOmmunes and cantons.
who give their advice gratuitously TO the peas
ants, if they desire to improve their cottages
Timber is given to them from the Crown for
ests. To guard against famine local granaries
are established in each commune and each
communist must contribute his portion. This
amounts in periods of eight years, to two
tsohetwerts of corn to be deposited by each
family. Central granares are established on
all the points which offer the readie5t conmu-
nications with different parts of the empire,
generally at the confluence of rivers.
This great reform is entirely due to the En-
peror Nicholas. Nothing can justify serfdom,
but there is merit in mitigating its horrors
The Gar has shown an example to his nobility,
and he risked his throne and life in the at
tempt. Long years must elapse before these
enlightened measures produce all the coed
that will ultimately be realized; but the edu-
cation Of the peasants must gradually infuse
into them love Of liberty; and as the contrast
becomes moro striking between those who be-
long to the Crown, and those who belong to
individuals the dread of revolt may induce the
nobility to surrender their usurped privileges
To certain extent, it is true that the serf
dOaa not desire frppdom The halda and !
dens that he cultivates, the house which shell
ters him against the severity Of the climate, do
not belong to him. But if he possesses moth
ing, if he owes the sweat of his brow to bis
master, the master owes to him seed corn when
the harvest fails beasts Of burden when MUIR
rain destroys his cattle a new house when the
old one is burned. Were the peasants free,
they wolld become farmers, and till the soil
at their own risk. AS serfs they have no care
for the future, and seem to have little moral
elevation, because they arc grossly ignorant,
and brutalized by habit; but degraded as they
are, they are not ipsensible to the generous ;
efforts made by Nicholas for their welfare. {
Indeed, the peasants love him as a father, and
over them he exercises unbounded influence.
We reserve for another and concluding arti-
Gle of this series, account Of the serfs in re-
lation to the trade Of towns, which il curiously
combined with agricultural pursuits But here ,
we may be permitted to express q hope that
the Abotionis's in tire United States Will not
allow despotic Russia to surpass a republican
nation liz at least modifying the crueIties Of the
system. What is here written is little known, c
and may well surprise many who have not ,
studied the inner movements of Russian Gov !
eminent. 1t is plain, however that the peas +.
ants are in far superior condition to the slaves
in the Southern States; they cannot be sold