The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-29


Settlement fhe Emancipation Question in Russia--The
Terms Of Acknowledgement Proposed Jy the GsteI.iaa
Nooility- CircuIdr Of e Russian Minister % the Rs.
ofthe NoJli,y-Russ,an Successes in the Cdacaas-The
Mission 10 CANA, dc
The emancipation question may be looked upon
tied although a different manner TO what was generally
expected. ait was thought that the Emperor would
either issue ukase calling upon the nobility TO
francse their serfs certain conditions and within a
certain time else would order the manumssou to
place at reservng 10 the landholdes their rights
Of property and nxng the terms which the Is
cultivated by the peasantry 10 be held by them
future. Government has chosen less direct and moro
cautious but perhaps not less ccacous way OF attain
ing their object The nobility Of the Lithuanian provinces
Of wilma, Grodpo and KorDo transmitted foe weeks
since though the medium Of their Governor General,
Nazmon address TO the Emperor, stating their desire
to raise their vasses TO the condition Of free
tenants or copyholdcrs, by sort OF gradua-
ting scale, the effect OF which would be that
in twelve years from the date Of agreement
tered into between the noble and the serf the latter
would 10 be g6ae asscps, aud have full liberty
either from the spot land ,upled by him.
continue ting on the payment Of rent or com.
mutation tax 10 the owner A similar process
pursued in the Baltic provinces OF Ivona and Esthona,
under the reign Of Alexander l. and was attended with
complete success although the condition Of the peasanry
then rather different TO what is in Russia proper,
and in fact much less advantageous. The Emperor re-
ceived the petition Of the Lithuanian nobes which was
possibly suggested by the Governor General the most
gracious manner, and gave orders 10 appoint commits
sion 10 regulate the affair the basis laid down by them
Al the same time the Minister OF the Interior
~ Ianskoy, issued a circular 10 the nobility Of
the rest OF the empire, informing them
or The resolutions adopted by their colleagues husns
and inviting them 10 initiate msenanmous example,
the results Of which promised 10 be equally beneficial 10
the peassntry AMI conducive 10 their interests such
invitation s, OF course almost equvsent - a
mand and we may expect 70 see pretty generally com
piled with. II there should be any provinces n which
tbe noblesse rera tory, cannot be doubted but that
they will be eventually compelled 20 grant what they
refuse 10 concede voluntarily. The government Of 81
Petersburg has been the FIRST respond the call made
by the Emperor and his minister At meeting Of the
bIty convokcd by their Marshal, Count Shavaon
resolved almost unanimously adopt the proposals
bodied in the address OF their lithuanian cfsrs, and
committee was nominated 10 deliberate ugon the
means Of carrying them into effect hear
that the nobility OF Moscow, who have always
had the reputation OF being the most liberal o their class
have just met fc~ similar purpose. In short, such
movement being begun, have but tcrmi.
nation and even those who most welded 10 the old
system will do better TO make merit of necessity
In spite, however, Of the ready obedience these mea
are likely 10 meet with, must not be supposed
that they received with uused appreciation by
those whose personal interests affected The ultra
conservatives weud prefer TO have change al all the
ultra liberals az may term hen) would like the
emancipation 10 be effected by single stroke of the PEN
and not by slow gradatons that will require years 10 be
completed They spprehensive moreover, that the
breathing time allowed for the carry out CT this scheme
may be taken advantage of by the ant emaucpaiooss
10 delay the steps intended 10 prepare TIL
some change In the policy Of government may enable
them 10 set 4 aside altogether As long NJ ianskoy
continues Minister OF the Interior sharp lookout will
tasly be kept " defeat any Vaccinations Of that kind he
has always been advocate for the abolition OF vanage,
and probably selected on that account for his present
office, In the Of w. Bbikof, who violently op
poeed 10 such Revolutionary IDEAS" he called them;
but the Minister sepua agenarianhs tenure Of office
FAR from secure, and who for hs successor
The Emperor 20 besure k known 70 he sincerely desrous
Of signalling his reign by act which both hts uuclc and
his father had in view and both unable 10 accom-
psh but very much questOnes whether his NJ mness
IL equal 10 his good intentions On the other hand
must be admitted that important, step, involving the
future destiny Of twenty four millions Of human beings,
ACCORDING 10 the report OF the Minister of the Interior
for the year 1885, the number Of male peasants owned
by the Russian ncbiesse amounted to II 100000
souls. Allowing for the increase OF population
since then, and including females, the whole
number cannot be much under twenty four millions
should no, be taken without mature delberaon that
suodcn change in their condition might give rise 10 great
orders and lead the most serious consequences aud that