Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-04-10

Comparison Between the Dlsunited States
and RussiR--The Superiority ofthe Latter
Demonstrated = American Slavery and
Russian SerfdOm
The Manchester Guardian, Of the 22d ult,
has the following:
1t is curious coincidence that in the
same year, and almost upon the same day, in
which the United States of America were
split in two upon the question of slavery, the
semi barbarous empire of Russia was being
consolidated by the emancipation ofits serfsl
Upon the Sd of March, the gradual enfran-
chisement fthe Muscovites "held to service
commenced The following day saw Mr..
Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of
a Southern Confederation, based upon the
retention and spread of slavery as an institu-
tion of the country
Nor are the circumstances under which
the two movements have been commenced
as inconsistent as q casual glance at the
history and condition of the nations to be
affected by them would seem to indicate.
The Constitution Of Washington never con-
| templated slavery as the permanent status
of the African in America.
! In Russia 100000 peasants we're en-
thrslled by blunder in taking the census of
! Peter the Great. Up to this time the old
feudal principle which made the dwellers
upon the land tributary to its Lord, prevailed
in Russia; and in order to check the wan
dering habits of the people, and provide for
the proper tillage of the soil, it had been de-
creed that the peasants should not quit the
place of their birth. Still these persons
were free. They could not be removed or de-
ported at the will of their Lord, until an error
in the census Just mentioned, and which
classed them all as mere slaves, was taken
advantage of to confer the almost absolute
power over them which is now about to be
renounced forever Thus the "nigger and
the "mujick" owe their servitude to an acci-
cent.
1t is true that the latter is a native of the
land he inhabits, of the same complexion
and race as his owner, and that no texts can
be wrested from Scripture to prove it to be
part of the divine dispensation that he
should be treated as beast of burden by his
fellow. man. Still there were reasons fol
keeping him in state of servitude quite al
cogent, in an chronological and religiou
point of view, as can be found for the bond
age of half Ecastes and white slaves in Vir
ginia and the States of the new Confed
eracy. --
We are accustomed to regard Russia as
land groaning under an iron despotism, in
habited by people remarkable for thei
stupidity. We are told that the Unitet
9 States is the freest nation under the sun
that its rivers are the noblest, its works tn
most stupendous, its plains the most fertil
r in the world; and that, for improvement
and "going ahead" it licks all creation
, How comes 1t that, with all these advant
ages, it has permitted Russia, the barbariC
; to outstride it in the paths of civilization
The "mujick" was infinitely better o
t than the "nigger" in his days of actua
) slavery; and it must be remembered tina
the serf is quite as distinct class in Russi
ss is the slave in the United States AM
that there are those. in the former countr,
who are prepared to argue that Ivan, tn
mujick, was intended by Providence to b
a bought and sold, in as confident tone a
r Mr.. Jefferson Davis could assume in holdin
that Ponto, the black, was born into th
=, world to be some ones personal property
Ivan, the muiick, was, indeed, the propert
of his lord. That authority could depor
the entire village over which he ruled to 81
, IBERIA if he chose, or hire them out to worl
, in foreign lands, or send them into the army
1t was by the exercise of this latter powe
that Sebastopol was defended.
!: The mobiles were recommended" to evinc
1 their 10y atty by contributing forces to tn
war; and thousands were marched away fror
, their homes to swell the carnage of Inkel
r man and fill those fearful pest-houses tha
we found in the doomed city. We have We
to see what uses the Southerners would pu
. their slaves if ever hard pressed by an en-
} emy in the field. On the other hand, th
mullck, by paying an 'oDrok, or annua
r tax, by way Of license, could obtain qualiie
, liberty; SO can the 'nigger;" but Ivan en-
joys all the while the full rights of citizen
ship, which are never accorded to Pontc
/ Ivan may become merchant prince; Pont
: must not appear on Change. 1t is unlawfu
to punish Ivan with more than forty lashe
or fifteen blows with the rod at one time
! Ponto may be cowhided all day long, A fey
3 months ago, Russian nobleman, in fit c
anger, killed his serf; the Emperor degrade
and banished him. Not very long ago, a
} impatient visitor at Washington hotel she
the waiter for declining to break in his favo
) well-known rule of the house; but, as th
victim was ''only nigger," nothing cam
Of it.