New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-08-12

Here in this Western Republic OF ours ("nlcn
We Insist upon proclaimiug to the world as the
cho.er lard Of liberty, it is remarkable and ONT
nous that the extension and perpetuaton OF Tao
slaveh"dIg system has, in the last fifty years, not
only reconcied itsef to the public fentimsnt, but
bias gained such hold upon US as to have become
the cole political and We might almost add social,
interest in the Southern States. and the controlling
one in the government Of the Union. The problem
to which what is called Democracy here in America
at leas' that development of it known a. National
d. mocracy-uow applies itself, and the sole prob
lem-e1cept indeed, the distribution of the spois-
show TO check the spread of emancpatiOnist ideas,
AID to place and maintain the ownership OF slaves
On precisely the same legal and moral level with
other kinds Of ownership.
But while the torch Of liberty is thus thro III
to the ground and sought to be trampled under
foot and extiDguished in that very country and by
tat very party 80 confidently looked to fifty years
ago to bear and wave it aloft in the eyes Of the
world as signal to the nations fortunately
for humanity Others have been found to catch tup.
That light of liberty which our American "Na-
tlopal" Democrats are go sedulousy seeking to hide
Under buskel, il not, indeed, to choke with foul
air and utterly to extiDguish still blazes neverthe-
lese, placed on caDdlestick in such way as to
rive light to The whole house, and that too by kings
ard emperors.
The sun Of liberty which seems to be fast setting
in the West-at all events to be enveloped in
terrible mist-promises to rise in the East and, as
if to rebuke our selfsufficent boasts in countries
which we are accustomed to set down as the estab-
lshed seats Of despotism. Fifty years ago. serf
dom, amounting in many placer and cases ~ abso-
lute slavery, prevailed throughout the whole OF
eastern Europe-not iii Russia merely, but 10 Poland,
oastern Prussia, Hungary, end other Austrian
provinces The steps taken by the absolute gov
ernments Of those countries, or their scquiescence
in aud confirmation Of those steps when taken
by others, toward the abolition of serfdOm and the
elevation Of the sci s to the rank Of feemen doubt
less have contribute to give to those governments
clam to tpe affection aud confidence Of the mss
Of The people, which is their best safeguard against
revolution. 1t was in fact the desire on the part
of the late King of Prussia to create in his favor
teep seated sentiment Of popular attachment,
such as might enable him to hold on to the fragment
CT territory which BonapaIte had left to him-per-
BARE at some favorable mOment to recover what he
bad lott-tbat induced that pntenta.e to take the
lead IN the great social and economical changes now
gong on in the emancipation Of the serfs Of East
ern Europe. As he acted under tho most decided
and pressing impulse, so the method which he
adopted was most immediate and thorough. Sim
PIE decree converted in one day all TIE serfs Of
Prussia, not merely from serfs into froemen, at
Liberty to dispose of their own labor but into pro-
prietors alsc-abtolute p!oprietors Of the land
which they had been accustomed to cultivate as
serft--tbe only compensation allowed to their
late lords end owners being the reservation of
moderate quitrent. 1t is true that this remark
able procedure took place under extraordinary
circumstances, yet the ease with which it was &C
conplish.d GOES far to show that where there is
" i'll there is way, and that what is called impos-
sibIity is often only want of will or want Of incli-
nation.
The plan socn after adopted in Pol,hd, end there,
too, for political reasons, was not altogether 80
sweeping In that country local boards were estsb-
li,hed under the superintendence End intervention
O, which tho lord was bound, on the application Of
tbe serf to admit him to q tenancy Of lsnd at
rent 10 be agreed upon BY the parties. The late
Polish serfs, under this arrangement have reached
position resembling in mary respects that Of En-
plish copy holders He cannot deed sell his land
md presen. the buyer at the court Of tie manor
for adnittspce as copy holder in bis place; but
neither can he b. dispossessed of bis land as long
"a he fufls the terms Of his tenure, though be il
free to give it up, quit the estate add settle else
where, On giving three months notiee. The rent
il Maid in fixed amount Of lsbor-pOt in money or
produce.
This system prevails not only in Poland, but in
all the Baltic provinces Of Russia. In fact, it has
been introduced throughout the Empire upOn all
the estates belonging to the Crown, which em.
brace no small part Of the rural population Itha'
bern determined to exts nd tie same ystem to the
LARGE appansce douiIions Of the imperial family.
ara the latest accounts from Russia state that .
revision Of the existing relations a. regards th.
tenure Of lard on those estates has been ordered
With a view to remove everything which might
,eem calculated to prolong the state Of ssrfdom.
BE to psc. tie euliivstors on precisely tho same
ground v ith The Crown peassnss.
Even on the estates Of the Russian mobiles, many
of whom are - violent against any systeu ol
emancipation ~ ,ur own slsseA"lders, serfdom has
Of late yexrs uEd<ssoos considerable modification.