New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-13
EMANCIPATION IN RUSSIA.

The results of Alexsnders efforts for the
abolition of serfdom have been involved In so
much obscurity that evidence is still wanting,
at least in this country, to reconcile conflicting
opinions as to the success of the measure
We have recently cOnyersed with an intelligent
American who has spent portion Of the year
in Russia, and are indebted to him for the
substance of the following statements
IL is well known that the provision Of the
decree by which term Of ycars was inter-
posed in favor of the proprietor before the
extinction Of his relation to the serf was widely
misunderstood. The serls, especially those more
remote from the capital, buried in the recesses
of the Empire, received the news of the
decree much as the negroes OF Tennessee heard
of the election of Lincoln. Some event, more
or less Immediately affecting their condition.
had certainly happened. Its importance was
magnified by uncertainty, aud the hour OF it'
lruitiOn anticipated by hope. Emancipation
lad been declared In the narrow brain OF
tho serf, there was room for no other idea.
DELAY. po,tponement transition periods, were
iuQsle of the owner. The Car had decreed
liberty 10 his children. The inferior despot,
who tyrannized over them, was thwartng the
will of his Imperial master, and cheating the
subject of his newly granted rights. No
other theory is needed TO account for
the disturbances which took place on some
estates chiefly those OF the interior.
The probabilities of the case make the theory
plausible, aud the example Of the British West
Indies supplies similar instance. Supported
a. it is by ascertaIaed facts, it gives another
proof how delicate a business is an attempt at
partial emancipation, how hable are ignorant
millions 70 Misrepresentation Of qualified efforts
in their behalf, and what sort Of trouble may
be expected to ioow. Dissatisfaction on the
part Of tue mobiles had been anticipated. Why
the serfs should also have rebeled has been i'll
understood la dealing with our own problem,
it concerns us to consider alike the encourage
uent aud the warning Of such en- example.
10 those who affect to believe that the slaves
of tue South are happy IN seryitude, devoted
10 their masters, aycrse 20 freedom, and hostile
or indifferent to all efforts at ileliOratins their
condition, similar state Of mind in the Rus
sian serfs viii need no explanation. But
thoughtful observers will be satisfied that the
policy of the Emperor was not directly respon-
sible for the troubles that not the decree but
The supposed interference with its operation
Great d discomfort and stimulated revolt.
In many cases, however, greater degree OF
intelligence or reOtfor access TO information
produced yery diAereut results. The eommu-
tation in money of this period Of delay, accord-
ing To the provisions of the decree, has been
more generally ayailed of than could have been
expected The class OF serfs who resided by
permission away from the estates of their
masters, nearly free from restraint and often
possessing great wealth, would readily purchase
their immediate freedom. But tie practice has
not been confined TO them. a single instance
may be cited. On an estate not far from ST.
Petersburg, seventy thousand roubles were paid
to the steward by the serls for this commuta-
tion, and eighty thousand rOublcs for the land
itself, which also might have become theirs by
a longer term Of service. The whole amount
was in silver, much of it so old that the coin.
age had long been out of circulation. For a
hundred years, it had been boarded, till the
day carae when the painful savings Of former
generations gave liberty to this Aside from
all other considerations, the unlocking Of these
long-hidden stores of coin throughout the enl.
pire must have no unimportant effect on its
currency, aud give no little relief to embar.
rassed finance.