Daily national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1854, 1854-06-10
OUR MONTHLY LONDON CORRESPONDENCE.
For the National Era.
SLAVERY IN RUSSIA.
No. II
No. III.
.ANDED TENURE AND sERFDoM IN RUSSIA


IcoNcLUDED
The new minister says Haxthausen, eek
pressed himself in favor Of these principles
increase Of revenue was only TO be sought ior
in those crown lands not yet app opra'ed; the
management OF the forests was tc bs Improved,
and articles Of farming were to be revised tie
wished to avoid all coercive measures, and only
70 innoyate so az to protect tie peasants, ac-
cording Ia their state OF civilization and their
capacity for progress, desiring TO improve their
condition by education, encouragement and
pecuniary aid 1t was necessary to guaranty
them against abuses, and inspire them with
the confidence Of effectnal protection 10 stimu-
late their activity, to remove obstacles, and fus
ter their derire for civilization, which is gencr-
ally lett among the Russian peasants Whist
they we're exhorted vigorously to discharge their
legal obligations, on the other hand the inviU-
Liability Of their rights was frankly aekEowl-
edged Before all other considerations, tho
religious instruction Of the peasants was the
Chief object Of solicitude. With view to limit
the number Of Government tfhcials as much rs
possible, the village municipalities received
stronger powers Of sell government"
The learned Prussian from whose Studies
OF Russia this extract is taken, is u warm
partisan q Russia, and Of tho rcignipg Emrc-
ror. He Is the apologlst OF serfdom, AMI does
not hesitate to Express his convection that
everything practicable IL done or doing Tor The
slaves, knowing that they eau be sold I'D cattle;
and, knowing thie, he declares that the { in
yiolability OF their rights WAS frankly acknowl-
edged" He il delighted that the new meas
ures guaranteed them protection and restrained
abuses, as though the denial Of personal free
dom was not the most atrocious Of crimes AS
to their religious education, it teaches them to
worship the Gar and lest they should learn
the common origin Of our race, they are not
permitted to read the Bible. However re-
form was effected, and certainly its object was
to mitigate the horrors of slavery. We shall
sketch the main features OF the principal pro.
visions Of the new code.
No commune or village municipality was to
consist Of less than | 800 inhabitants. All be-
low that rats of population we're to be incor-
porated till tho minlnum was reached.
canton or bailiwick (called WoLosTI was
fixed at &, 900 souls The local administration
Was divided into cantonal and communal.
Each cant0nal administration WIS directed BY
President, (GoLowA two asse sors, and a
register. When scyeial villages were united,
to form municipality, the confederation was
superintended by a Mayor, (STAascHINA,) and
each constituent village by the STARosT, re-
ceiyer OF taAes, and AN Inspector Of the com
mnnal granary. All tho iunctionaries were 10
be elected by and out of the class Of peasants
convened in communal assemblies by ballot.
The communal assemblies consist OF delegates
one delegate representing five hearths or fami
les The cantonal assemblies arc composed of
q committee, to which each OF tho communal
assemblies furnishes It's contingent in the pro
portion Of one delegate tor every ten heartLs or
families These assemblies exercise very re-
markabie powers, considering that all their
members are scrfs. They elect their own func-
tionarlcs, debate and decide upon their local
affairs, such as the ALLEGATION ct land, the ad-
lnlnistration OF what ARE called the articles OF
farming AS mills &c, The assessment Of tuxes,
tho control OF the expenditure, thc admission VI
new members into the municipality, the leave
Of absence Of those members " no desire TO visit
towns the recr uitlng service, petitions, and
communications add esscd 10 superior anthori.
ties. The communal semblies meet Tor the
despatch Of business, regularly, three times in
each year; but, on emergencies, they may bold
an extraordinary session, .afecr receiving per-
mission from the chief Government ,fhcer OF
the district These are most remarkable priv
leges IN a community Of serfs a. they confer
modified self government; and for this reform
raise
rhe administration Of justice on the crown
lands il also conducted on excellent principles
There are village tribunals in each commune
and in each canton. La the communes the
Starsshina presides and he is aided by two as-
histant 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 Goowa presdos, also
assisted by two men OF conscience. These tri.
buuals have cognizance 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 Ia arbitration, IN order 10 effect recon
citation between the htlgants. Ii IL only when
this attempt fails, that recourse is had 10 the
tribunal, which delivers Judgment in writing
on the very day Of the trial. 30 that all yexa-
tious poeiponemcnt is avoided, no dilatory pleas
being allowed. Tho tribunals are, however,
restra aimed within certain limits. The communal
tribunals cannot award heavier penalties than
five rvubles tie cantooal tribunals may in
fiict fifteen n ubies. 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
90 III tnott tfiDubhts uey nave hirO v crltn-
inal jurisdiction, but in tins respect the Gov
eminent leading functionaries OF the district
attend nc the preliminary proceedings to pro-
tect the peasants against ANY jealousy or preju
d,ce that may arise against tne party accused
Ia reference 10 land, each commune is re-
garded UNITY, one and ind,s,sible. The mum
Der If these nnitIts amounts to 1000. The
land IL divided into lots, each male receiving
ouc Tina tux ot Oue heinz 6xed IN Ia onlv
necessary 10 multiply il by the male popula-
ton, to determine the tax Of the whole com
mune and again, multiplying this by 1000,
the cntlre annual tax from the peasants on the
crown lands is easily ascertaincd.
Connected with these reforms is plan Of
CHARACTERIZATION. All desert and uncultiyated
land has been carefully surveyed and measured,
70 ~ TO form tho basis Of new and future COM
monities when population becomes too dense
In the old settlements. Tfanssolonzasion i to
Re voluntary, under the supervision az tho