The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-04-05

. gainst the rebels. He tried again and again
, TO divert them from their purpose ; but fail
f ing, resorted at last, at nighifall, 10 the fina
!. expedient of the grape. They were incapa'
Bile of resisting, and in an hour after the
first cannon shot the streets were cleared
and The rebellion was quelled. Ryleief and
several other leaders were taken, together
with Postal, whose movements in the South
were anticipated. These Two eminent men
the one stern republican OF he old Ro-
man School, whose soul knew no swetviGg
from the direct line of principle, and who
thought of nothing but freeing his country
The other chivalrous young officer, full of no.
bility, eloquence and ffe, were hanged, with
three Others, on the borders Of the Neva,--
After the drop had fallen, three OF the ropes
broke, and the bodies of the Condemned fell
heavily into the grave already dug at their
feet. Cursed county," exclaimed Ryleief,
where people can neither conspire, nor
Judge, nor hans.' Disabled BY their fall,
they were carried once more to The scaTod,
aud The grey dawn saw their Bodies sliffen-
ed in death. Several other cohspira,ors were
sent 10 Siberia.
An omnibus beginning for reign. 1t had
afforded Nicholas an opportunity for the dis
play of personal. courage; other qualities
were now required of him. Like A.exan-
der's, his early reign promised great things.
He gained popularity by sssociatirg freely
with his subjects, and interesting himself in
their welfare. He cut down The expenses
of the Court, and thus relieved the lax-pay-
ers. He undertook 10 reform every depart
nent of the government, and displayed un-
firing activity in the public business.
By the conspiracy of the 26lh December,
The Emperor had been made aware of the
corruption which had reached all classes !;
The bureaux were full Of fraud, theft, and
every kind Of ille,alily. Justice was rem
dered unjusly, and law was constantly elu-
ded. He resolved 10 bs the Jusiinan of his
empire.
Speranski was directed 10 prepare an Of
fetal collection of the Russian laws. The
archives-rnilitary, civil and synodal-lhe
uhdoCo VI tuO huu tilS Jug
meuts of the different branches CT the ad-
minstration, were put together. All these
materials formed general collection, (Sob-
faSSie Zlkoau,) consisting of thiriy-nins
thousand nine hundred acts. II is not with
out interest 10 remark, that in this enormous
f.,snsbsr--thiriy ,hoaeanI- s'ire ha;,@-ed rnd
ia. Nnly Of these acts were anlenor 10 the ac-
cesst N of Nicholas; five thousand and sew
zee were promulgated between 1925
and 1892. The Gar, it is seen, alone, pro.
duced mite laws than several deliberatve
assembl;es, Ho himself presided at the
conniIa,ion o. the acts which we have just
spoken of. and which it was, Of course, ne
cessary TO make rgree in all theft details.
Already forty-fv. fuaro volumes OF the
Scod, or Russian Digs st, have been publish
ed, and regulate the deA,is'ions OF the Russi-
an tribunals.
During long period, Nicholas passed all
his nights and days in superill'tNons these
arduous labors, and in bringing mem 10
satisfactory result, in spite OF tho dNmn re-
slStduCC VI tho AAtS iA
showed signs of The excessive latot he I'M
posed on himself; his wife constsEilY nleaa-
ed with him for some relaxation Of his ,oils.
! Where he could detect corruption he pun
ished it severely. Thus, for year or Two
| he did we'll
Soon, however, he struck on the rock OF
which his brother had loundered. Insatla.
BILE ambition traditional thirst for conquest,
hurried him into wars. The taxes rose again.
Discomfort revived. Secret societies were
formed. Instructions broke out in various
provinces. Then Poland, crushed under the
iron heel OF Constantine, made feeble ef-
fort 10 rear its head The club of Nicholas
battered il 10 the earth. Effectually 10 pre-
vent future complaints, wholeprovinces were
depopuaed.
The vengeance Of Nicholas was pitiless.
Every one remembers the horrible treatment
10 which the insurgents were subjected
Poland was incorporated with Russia and
became province Of that empire.
The retrograde movement was now in full
vigor. Secret police-lhe constant weapon
Of espotism-swarmed III the cities. In
his anxiety 10 keep dow n the people, Mich
las lost sight of The villainles of The function
aries. Corruption was never more univer.
SAL Restraints were placed OIL foreign trav-
el, and Russian subjects We're forbidden to
publish anything abroad. Fresh levies swell
led the army 10 q monsirous extent. With a
revenue not exceeding 800, 100000 one mill
lion of men were kept under arms. How
anything was left for those VINO were not
soldiers is mystery. II is almost wander
how the judges and other public funclionaries
could manage to steal as they did. Knowl-
edge was prescribed. In the quaint words
of verse quoted bv recent writer;
He said 10 tse mind,
Go into darkness,
And signed it,
Be il so,
Gar Nikolai,
But ia truth he could do no less There
is no compromise possible between despot.
ism and intelligence. Nicholas had to choose
between crushing out every spark OF intel
lect and freedom, and abandoning his throne