Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-12-25

Russia.

turkey. The speculations as to the prob
able result of this contest lead to al in
vestigation of the an.ecedents Of the Rus
sian people-their present social and DO
litical organization, as well as their militia
ny and naval strength. A few facts in re-
lation to these points may not be without
interest to our readers.
Of all the great nations of the world
Russia has, probably, less history than
any other. Her possessions extendipa in
to both hemispheres and three continents
embrace larger area than any other ma
ton on the globe. Variou, speculations
as to the original distribution of people
over the continent of Europe have been
presented; but, it is agreed that the slavic
race was one Of the principal and they
are the protoplasts of the great body Of the
Russian people. But this vast empire EN-.
braces several antochthon races, and peo-
pie who have been introduced from the
surrounding nations.
Overrun by the Tartars and governed
by them for three centuries, the Russians
under the lead of their Grand Dukes, and
fired BY zeal for their religion rallied
under the cross and fought through
struggle Of thirty years against the Ores.
cent, to regain their independence. The
final battle, called that of the Giants. lasted
three days, when Russia bought her libe
ration by streams of blood. The whole
power OF the nation become concentrated
in one Grand Duke whose will was su.
preme law to the whole nation. This
Grand Duke of Moscow now began 10 as
sumo the title of Gar, and was complete
Autoerat and Despot.
improbable as it may seem, we are told
that at subsequent period, the Poles
subdued great part of Russia, and ruled
IN Moscow for several ears. and the two
crowns were very near being blended on
the head of Polish prince. The power
OF the nation being controlled by one will,
without let or bind rance, is admirably
suited for waging war. Her military es.
adjustment is immense-fully organized
and distributed over her vast dominion
According to the official report Of 1852
the armed force consists of II corps. with
1900 companies Of infantry, and !, 469
squadrons Of cavalry, and $50 batteries Of
heavy artillery. The army is divided into
corps, divisions, brigades, regiments, bat
tallons and companies. The cavalry into
squadrons, &c. A corps is comsosed of
'hree ICONS of Infantry and one OF
any, with sometimes division of reserve.
The artillery of a corps consists of 10 to
l 10 guns OF various calibre. A division is
composed Of two brigades-a brigade of
two regiments A regiment has four bat
'aitions battalion four companies, aud a
company between ITO and 200 men. This
grand armament consists of about one mil
lion OF men.
The navy is Of more recent origin
the work of the present sovereign. l.
consists of three fleets. Each has three
dieker Of 100 to 100 guns, and eight small
Ter two dickers, OF from 10 to 80 guns,
with six frigates, and very few steamers
and other smaller craft, sloops and schoon-
els. Aside from this, there is small
flotilla in the Caspian Sea, and steamer
and few other vessels IN the lake Of
Ural. The creation of this navy has been
the great work Of Nicholas. Though well
manned. yet, it is said that there is but
little efficiency, from the fact that the
mariners are but little accustomed to sea-
faring. The officers Of the navy are edu-
Gated from ;her infancy in nautical schools
and are theoretically well qualified.
The armed force of Russia is powerful
for defence, but impotent for aggressive
warfare.
As to the Internal polity and social rela-
tons, we have not time at present to en-
large. The present organization Of the
government owes Its origin chiefly to Peter
the Great. He has borrowed many cf its
features from the neighboring nations.-
The object OF the governmental arrange.
meIt seems not so much intended to pro-
mote the prosperit, and happiness of the
people, as 10 secure them under the most
complete and AFFECT control of the Auto
crat. While the government is divided
into various branches and departments for
the purpose OF civil and municipal regu-
lations among the people. yet all these are
directly attached to the leading strings of
the Gar The most complete system Of
espionage prevails throughout the whole
empire. Nothing but the thoughts of the
oppressed millions are kept from the
knowledge Of the secret spies of the gov
eminent.
~ We will inform the writer in the
Richmond Dispatch, that we knew what
we were saying when we penned the ar.
ticle in the last Vindicator relative ia the
Thompson case. We repeat again, the
re mort puhlis she'd in fha D;snatob MOS