Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-08
daily Sir9iaiau.
Another Class of serfs Liberated in Rus
aia.

On the 9th of August the st. Petersburg Jour-
nal contained an ukase, dated June Goth, address,
cd by the Emperor Alexander To tho Minister Of
tho Imperial Household proclaiming the cnfran-
chiscmcnt of the reasantry belonging tothc impc
rial appanngos, that is the appanngcs Of the Em
peror and tho members of tho royal family. These
seris different class from those which occ u
py public or national domain. in whose behalf
many restrictions hn,o been heretofore moved
The serfs of the personal appanages ofthc impe-
rial fnmily were not allowed To bring actions in
their name in the courts, or to employ coun-
sci in cases in which theylwcrc interested nor to
mako wills, nor hold property in their own name,
nor change their place of abode. cut trees on
land they occupied. nor engage in trade or manu-
featuring. Nor could they marry out Of the lini-
its ot their own commune, without permission of
thr nppnungc officer having charge Of the commune
II ono Of them wished to be raised to the condition
III II small citizen. or to enter tho guild Of merch-
ants, he was Obliged to show thnt he possessed n
sufficient capital and to pay for admission To citi-
zenshp Goo roublcs, (abont Sis0) and 1900 rou-
blcs for admission 10 the merchants guild, and
the same amounts for cnch of his sons, if he had
any.
In the preamble Of the ukasc tho Emperor de-
clares, that, wishing to grant to the peasants of
the apranages the same immunitcs of person and
property are enjoyed by the other free pens
ANTS, he dccrccs the abrognon of the restrictions
ahovc named. and ordnins that hcnccforth tho
peasants mny acquire property. md dispose Of un-
occupied lands without the authorization Of tho
Department of Arpnnagcs; may dispose Of forests
upon their own lands: may execute contracts in
their own nanes. acquiring an alternating proper
~, even It under ground, subject to no other reg
nlation thnn registration in regard 10 real estate;
and all deeds aud declarations hitherto negotiated
III the nam" If thc Department Of the Appanagcs
are Ia bo duly transferred to tho names of tho
prnpric,ors themselves Peasants may remove
and enter the class Of bourgeois or ANAL citizens
of towns, after dischargng their obligations to
their commnnes with the consent Of the comnu-
nal authorities payment of Is silver roubcs,
aud half that sum for each member Of the family.
For entering the class of traders no proof of cap-
tnl is to be required, and the tax to he ~ rou-
blcs, and one hnlf for the children. This tax is
To go to the retired soldiers fund. Widows and
daughters of the peasants of the appanages are
authorised to contract marriage with persons be-
longing Ia other classes. without paying any tax.
AZ to litigation in the courts the peasants may
bring suits in their own names, employ their own
counsel, md if thoy cannot otherwise procure
counsel. mny cnll upon the advocntes Of the Gov
ernmont I" prbtert their rights ind interests bo-
fore the tribunals. All Of the provisions for ro-
mo, in, restrictions upon peasants ARE to be equal
ly applicable to the lnborers who have served ns
soldiers, who come within tho jurisdiction of the
appunngcs. and the civil codo is to DO modified 30
to conform to these changes in the condition Of
tie peasants.