New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-25
EMANCIPATION In RUSSIA.


rise 10 various erroneous commentaries upon The
motives and agencies which have led to this great
event One of the most current falacies Is that
this act of justice originated in the disposition
nd efTorts of the Cars to break down and hum
BILE the mobiles, the aristocracy. This misrepre-
ssnta,ion has its source in the writings OF igno-
rant travellers in Russia, and in those OF German
uenny. a.liners. But those who are familiar with
the internal organization Of the Russian Empire
kn,yy that there does not exist there powerful
class Of officials, body Of bureaucrats separate
from the nobility, as is the case in Prussia
Austria, and other European countries Mobiles
only are qualified for the military and civil
service, and the admixture OF non-nobles IN
both these services Is so small US not 10
be worth mentioning The bourgeolse-the
great nursery of bureaucracy oil over Europe
is almost wholly excluded from public career
in Russia, while the mobiles are compelled to
serve under the penalty of forfeiture OF their
privileges. II is true that some lower grades in
the civil and military service are open to those
not born in the privileged class, aud through
them they may reach distinction; but such cases
are comparatively rare, and these parvenues are
generally the most tenacious of their newly
acquired privileges and immunites or these,
the highest and most exclusive is the acquisition
Of landed estates and serfs, from which right oil
but the nobility are absolutely excluded.
The whole civil and military public service lie
therefore in the hands OF the nobility there
is not in Russia single family, whatever may
be its ancestral pride, but it, members
occupy, or have occupied some civil or military
Offices. II lie evident, then, that the Car is
not surrounded by any exclusive element which
could be used BY him as an instrument to crush
down the mobility US caste.
The growth Of the cause Of Emancipation in
Russia is Identical in cause and effect, with all
such movements of which there is any record in
history Beginning with few earnest aud
jealous persons, its principles have finally
been adopted By whole people and put t.
q practical application. Since the time Of the
father of Peter the Great, the rulers Of Russia
have aimed to be progressive, so far, at least,
as it did not endabger their absolute poser.
This, Emancipation could not interfere with.
The theoretical Emancp atiOnlsts, therefore, have
always had their support, even when, as during
the last century, they have been in the minority.
Fit is easy 10 substantiate this historical view
Of the progress Of Emancipation in Russia BY
names and details Among the advisers of Alex
ander l. was Strogcnof, whose family, owning
more than $4,000 serfs, have been for three gen
eratiOns the unswerving friends OF this cause;
the Mourayiefs, from the beginning Of this cen
fury, have been its advocates; the Princes
GallitziDe, tie representatives OF numerous
and influential family, were the first, under
Alexander l., TO give freedom to their serfs; and
others followed their example. During the reign
of Nicholas, who was always its friend, this great
reform counted among its advocates Count
KisseeG, the present ambassador in Paris; the
Princes and Counts Wasiltschikof, among the
most wealthy, influential, and respected mobiles OF
Russia; Count Scheremetief, the richest land
owner in the world, whose seris number about
I5O0 900 souls, many of whom are mllionaires,
many rich manufacturers and more than two
thousand Of them merchants in st. Petersburg;
Count PaDiD, one of the haughtiest and proudest
of Russian aristocrats, who owns about %, O0O
serfs, and whose name will be immortalized Us
the Minister who is to sign and to carry out
the new law Of redemption; the Princes Kots-
choubey; the Prince Pashkewltsch; the Cor
chakofs; Count Budoh, President Of the Acad.
envy of Sciences and for more than fifty years
Vice President Of the Council Of the Empire;
and, in short, the nobility generally whether of
higher or lower rank, OF larger or smaller
means, have almost universally adhered to the
party of the Emancipationsts.
On the other hand, among the opponents Of
the measure are the celebrated Prince Orloii,
and others not less rich and influential. But
this opposition for tho most part comes from
the small owners Of serfs, the country squires,
and others of the less intelligent portion
Of the people, who are best described Us
answering TO the poor and degraded whites OF
our Southern States. Blu. even their oppo-
stion il not so much against the principle as
q .ainst the method Of carrying out Emancipation.
Few, if any, exist in Russia 80 low, so degraded,
and 30 brutal as to defend the system Of Slavery
as SUCH Even the great robbers and royers of
the steppes of Asia, the Kalmucks and the
Bashkirs. have given up the holding and trud.
ing in slaves. The fundamental principle on
which Emancipation is based recognizes man
as free by right, and the law restores him his
freedom without any compensation whatever to
his former master, except that the law remuner-
ates the proprietor of the land for the homestead
il bestOws upon the emaneipated serf.
Young Russia in the universities, and the officers
in ull the branches of the civil and military serv |