The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-06

ST. fKKlcsitHHs NoN D, io1ss
Imperial Canras Of Political Proposed ADoii-
tonof Serfdom-Nec and Danger Of The Nsd'are-
Reform in IN, Administrafion Of Justice-N,Ios from
Eastern As;a-3ov,nents If The Pacific squadronThe
Sunken Fleet al sstasTol-0T,rdions Of The American
divers.
Since the Emperors return 10 his capital looking
forward 10 the solution Of several urgent questions which
had been long pending and the settlement, OF which has
been continually deferred
The chief Of these is one that must lead 10 radical
change in the political and social condition Of the empire
the final results Of which is impossible TO foresce.
mean the abolition ofserfdom II Is reform that gene
rally acknowledged be mperatiyely necessary, and
ha. for years exercised the wits Of Statesmen and
ltiesl economists but which Is hedged round with 80
many difficulties and dangers that the iron will
Of the late Emperor Nicholas rccoilcd from ot.
temp,ine H. lie cmancpaed the serfs on his own e.
ta,es bu, did not venture to interfere with those OF the
nobility whose number amounts 10 less than twenty
millions Of souls he contcutcd himself with cnactug
rcvying some regulations for facilitating the manemisson
a. the sets by mutual agreement between them and their
masters The system of scrfd0m IN Russia must not - be
COMPOUNDED with that Of vlanage ~ u existed formerly
In the West o. Europe The peasant' are, gsbc ddcr'P
attached 10 the coil which belongs de 1ur, u the master
hut de fdc 10 the scrfs themselves, who CONSIDER uem
selves much entitled 10 hcr piece 81 ground as the
nobleman 10 hs estate There y no law indeed 70 pre-
vent him from dppriVinc them ~ Their land (whch s
generally held by tho whole village 10 common, very
much after the socialist fashion,, OF from imposing 20
high tar upon q. a. render Il mposs bic Tor them 70
cultivate Il 10 advantage but such course would be
contrary 10 custom and 10 the projectors own interests
AMI il i quito seldom therefore, that nytinS OF the KIND
haIJens. -..-...,. .,.,. ...,. u, ,,.,..-.
with the emancipation of the peasaniry from the discre
tonary power ~ their lords. II they only recover ther
personal liberty without the ownership of The land cult
vatsd by them they would be infinitely % than
they we're before they might he driven on their farms
AZ any time by the iandhoders n the latter should think
ID more profitable turn the grounds into pasturage,
the Duke of sutherland did IN the Highlands Of scotland
or ese their former masters having no further interest IN
their welfare aud beng NO longer restrained by the un
written laws Of prescription, which are stronger than
any written ones would exact such high rents that the
peasants would prefer to leave their fields untitled aud
copgrcratc in the large towns, In hopes Of finding
employmont in the manufacturing establishments
where they would reduce the rate o wages hy their
potiton Thus immense proctarat would be created
men without property without a home, who, having ex
changed their rustic simplicity for the vices OF town
life would present the same element. of disorder
and agation which visible Ia other parts of Europe
but from which Russia has been hitherto exempt ON the
ether hand, II tho pessan,ry were declared the Legal
owners OF the land they cultivate the nobility would pc
reduced 10 similar state Of poverty, ~ the majority OF
them derive their 81 subsistence from the produce
of their estates and even portion of these were lei
them they would be unable to cultivate II for want OF
hands THIS dilemma has always been the great STUN
bling block the way Of general emancipation Of our
peasantry 10 the emancipation Itself the mobiles wohia
have 10 msnner OF objection; would teheye