Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1855-02-09
Russian Exiles to Siberia.

Lelch Richie, who witnessed the
departure from Moscow of a party
Of exilcs destined for siberia, des.
scribes the scene as follows
"T'he departure OF the exiles for
Siberia is a scene which should moi
be missed 10y the traveller; but, ia
order to let him enjoy it at his ease
one thing is necessary TO ae under
stood. The mere fact Of transport
tatlon is not looked upon as a severe
punishment for the great body OF
the criminals consists Of persons
who have been accustomed all their
lives TO a compulsory scrvilnde az
severe as that which awaits them be-
yond the Ural mountains. Condem-
nation to the mines in Siberia is
what they dread-and with great
Justice for this Is substitution TOR
capital punishment, and answers the
same purpose, only extending the
time occupied by the ACT Of dying,
from a few minutes to few years.
" In a temporary depot, erected On
the summit Of the Sparrow hills. /
found the destined wretchcs about
20 commence their march. A long
chain secured both legs at the anbl cs.
and, 10 prevent it from inconmoding
them in walking, was fastened 10 a
beil, or sash. A great many we're
Jews, most Of them a,Hjik.S and all,
with the exception of one man,
were free from those physiognomieal
marks Of airocity which are COM
monty supposed To distinguish the
guilty, Some carts were near, filed
with their wives and children, aud
some Of their male relations stood
beside them uamanacled, who had
likewise peliiioned to be permitted
TO share their exile. In the middle,
stood man who had a good deal OF
the mir of an English dissenting
clergyman, hut the shape Of his
clothes aIll hat, and the large blcAlos
IN his shoes, seemed 10 bc'e.'s-''' -
r--l:-.. an earlier day. Ills APP
pearance inspired me with distinctive
respect, and his face seemed abSO-
lutely TO beam with the purest and
noblest philanthropy. He was occu-
pied in distributing moral and reig-
iuus books 10 such of the prisoners
as could read, and in hearing PATIENT
", and often redressiug instantly,
lheir complaints. The exiIes, on
their part. seemed to look upon hun
as a frlend-a father; but their al
lection was mingled with the deep
est respect. Many Frustrated them
selves al his feet, as before holy
image, and touched the ground with
their forehead. On taking leave, he
embraced aud kissed them all, one
10y onc and the ratllc of their
chains, as they began the mlrch, was
mingled with sobs and blessings.
DR.. Haas. for this was the phlIarlhro-
pisl's name, was IN a kind Of Official
siiulIion, acting as the secretary Of
charitable body; and he passed
his life among the sick and the cap
iIycs, in the double capacity Of phys
IcIan to the soul and body
The journey lasts seven months.
Ia the Asialic potion of il, the coia-
fort Of The eXlles is Ear less cared
for; while, wearied out with Their
protracied travel, their powers Of en-
durance are proporilonately lessene,,
and there is often great mortality :
between 1923 aud 1929, il amount
ed to about one fifth, and the aver
age number Of exiles was ten ihous.
and year. Ga their arrival, the
worst subjects are sent to the mines
and, IN former times, they hardly ev-
er again saw daylight, but by the
regulations of the emperor Nicholas
I obey are NOT Kept underground more
than eight hours day, and on sun
day all have undislurbed freedom.
Others Of this class are confined to
northeastern Siberia, the climate Of
which is especially severe. Those
of less heInous stamp are employ
ed on public works for some line,
and then allowed to become colo
nisls in Southern Siberia, and hence
forth may be considered as quite free
except that they can not quit lheii
location. In such sell and climate,
1t is asserted by Haxthausen that
with industry, they may within lwo
or three years find themselves es
tablished in good houses of lheir
own, amid fields supplying every
want of rising family. II is alsc
affirmed, that the young people rear
ed in these abodes turn out, ON the
whole, of mos, respectable charac
ter, aud are associated with accord
ingly on the klndest terms by neigh
bors of other classes-especially bi
the peasants of native Siberian race
: who, by the way, are all entirely free
> and many Of them very rich.
As above remarked, with The ex
/; cepiion of what the nature of thei
) crimes may impose. no restrain, /
laid upon their freedom, or precau
5 tons taken TO prevent their leaving
: They possess no passports, and II !
: extremely difficult TO travel lively
hours anywhere in the Russian do
r minions without them. But in spit
/, of the lack of the necessary papers
}, many exiles, after longer or short