Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1854-05-13
ANTI-SLAvERY BUGLE
RUSSIAN sERFDoM AND AMERICAN
sra SLAVERY.

The two powers which now seem to have the
greatest promise OF the Future,--in the political
world, at least,-a Russia and America The
'one seems as much destined to a complete soye-
reiguty over the affairs Of the old world MS the
other to an entire jurisdiction over the vast re-
gions OF the new. Anxious eyes are steadily OBJ
serving the tendencies and aggressive movements
OF each of these great powers TO see what is TO be
their respective influence upon the lower classes of
humanity. We present below contrast between
the condition Of the serfs of Russia and that of
the slaves of.America. We hear much of Russian
oppression and American freedom. 1t may be
well TO consider how much milder is that system
Of bondage which the Gar would extend into
country cursed with sloth and sensua:ty, than
that which our own government would spread
over the fair and unpollutcd regions of our West
ern territories
The power of the Russian noble over his serf
is far from being absolute. The latter, when
engaged in agricultural employments, is only
obliged to work three days of tho week. lie can
not be compelled to service on Sundays or holidays
III he run away he can not be restored, unless the
master makes out his claim within one or two
years from the time of the escape. If he is not
returned at the expiration Of ten years from that
time, he is entitled to his liberty. A master is not
allowed to cripple his servant or to endanger his
life. Ii the latter commits criminal offence, the
government and not the master, has the rrht 10
punish him. In the case of any act Of outrage or
cruelty, by noble upon the person of a serf, the
estate OF the former is taken from his. hands, and
put under the care of guardians. lie can not ac-
quire new estate by purchase, he can not longer
live upon the old one aud sexposed to severe le-
gal penalties for his offence. a master is at ber-
ty.t manumit his scrfs, sngly, or by whole ham
lets aud villages, with or without the privilege Of
giving them lands. A serf, once thus possessed
OF his freedom, can not be again subjected to SER
ytude. II Illegally held in bondage, he may sue
his pretended owner for emancipation, and he can
not be punished, mortgaged, hired out to anoth-
or, until the case has been legally settled. lie
may thus appear as an accuser witness before
the same tribunal to which he himself is summon
ed, when he may have violated the law IT, under
other circumstances, the serf becomes involved in
law suit, the master is bound to prosecute it,
aud is answerable for the result. By law the
serf may gain his liberty if he can succeed in
proving an antecedent right thereto or IL any i'm
propriety or forcible attack has been made upon
the virtue OF his wife or daughter, by his master
or il the latter does not belong to an christian con
fesson. III a free woman marries a serf, she again
becomes free when she becomes a widow. wo-
man from bondage marrying free peasant, be-
comes likewise free. When the husband becomes
free, the wife too shares his freedom, though his
children must be emaneipated by q special act
Serfs sent to Siberia by their masters for punish
ment may take their children with them, may
often receive lands from the crown, and thus form
colonies of free peasants. Families among the
serfs not be separated by sale. No individuals
among them can be brought to market, but must
be sold together with the estate on which they
have lived
If this law is violated the crown fines the trans
gressor, takes the serfs as its own, makes them
free and allows them their own choice of employ
ment. Serfs can not be sold at any public auction
in execution of the debts of the master. While
under bondage great part of them are allowed
to wander, at pleasure throughout the limits of
the Empire, to engage in any honorable pursuit
which they may choose and to accumulate and
hold property. They pay their masters certain
RET urnt IN M fhair
call All the property which they thus acquire by
their labor, belongs, by law, to their masters
But public opinion more powerful than any stat
ute secures the main portion of it to the rightful
owners--the serfs themselves. There is, among
the Russians no prejudice against any class Of
inhabitants on account of any difference of form,
color or race. Poushkine, the greatest of their
poets, boasted that he had African blood in his
veins. The rude and heterogeneous nations over
which the government is constantly extending its
jurisdiction share fully, when they are once sub
dued the common respect and privileges enjoyed
by the rest of the Empire.
Such is serfdom in Russia, SO fur as it may pre-
sent certain direct contrasts with the system of
slavery in our own country. There are evils con-
nected with Il, TO which have made no allus0n,
since they similar to those which are inherent
in almost every system of bondage, especially that
which afiicts our Southern States. There are also
other favorable aspects belonging to Russian serf-
dom, which have not mentioned, since they have
with the institution of American slavery. We
simply wish to present these points Of contrast,
while it must be distinctly understood that in all
other respects also, the serfs are the gamers.
In our own country the power of the slave
holder over his victim is practically absolute. SO
severe and uninterrupted is the toll of his slave,
that few years serve 20 break down his power Of
sssEvice. If he run away, ho is never wholly free
.frep the danger of recapturc, while living within
the limits of the country. Long years after his
escape, whsn he may have provided himself with
"A home, and seen children grow up around him,
the relentless hand of tho man-stealer may be
upon him. Masters freely cripple their slaves,
and often take their lives with impunity. If a
slave is guilty of serious crime. his master or
Judge Lynch administers summary punishment.
No Shareholders estate suffers in consequence OF
the outrages daily committed upon unprotected
virtue. In some Of our Southern States it is for,
hidden TO the master TO free his slaves, in any
manner whatsoever. Several of the slave States
have recently enacted laws to reduce to slavery
again, men who may have become Free. Although
anan may be held in bondage illegally at the
South, he cannot ask for redress at any legal tri
bunsl. He can serve, in no case, either as an
aeeuser or witness. He cannot have a suit at law,
whatever his wrongs and his master is not Obliged
to have one for him. Any complaint of improper
conduct towards his wife, only ensures 10 The
slave whipping instead Of liberty, Generally, /,