Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1861-01-26
Fromtho Northern Independent
RUSSIAN EMANCIPATION,

RUSSIAN EMANCIPATION.
The Empcror's decree Of emancipation was 20
no into operation on The 18th instant. While
South Carolina and most Of the other slave States
Of this confederacy, are doing their best to break
mp the Union, ia order to sustain slavery, it is pc
culiarly gratifying that the largest monarchy in
Europe has raised its serfs to freemen. Whether
the EmperOf's ukSse extends to more than the
serfs belonging to the crown estates of the EN-
pire, we do not know, but FROM all we have learn
ed, our opinion is that it touches the estates of the
nobility also. Only about half Of the serfs, or a
little moro than twenty millions, belong to the
Emperor's estates, while the rest of them, amount
ing to twenty-one millions, are the property OF
the mobiles. 1t is with these last that all the
trouble attending this grand movement has o-
Cured. There were honorable exceptions, but
generally the mobiles were not pleased with the
Cars design, and they have resisted it with all
their power. 1t appears, however, that they have
had to yield, so far ct least, as to acquiesce in the
emancipation of the crown serfs, il not in that Of
their own. The moral grandeur Of this occur
renee is unequaled by any governmental event
iu our age. 1t is, in fact, without a parallel in the
civil history Of the world. Instances abou nd of
individuals and Of nations struggling heroically
for freedom, and Of tyraats endeavoring TO enslave
them but until now we have had no example OF
u great hereditary, absolute monarch, who unso-
iicited, raised a nation Of slaves to Il c condition
of frcemen. The tendency of power has hitherto
always been in the opposite direction. Alexan-
der II stands alone. No monarch ever %ventured
q step in the sam path, none ever dared to strike
the chains from fifty millions in a day. The less
on is worthy Of the deepest study and of the mos
profound admiration. We have usually ~arrogated
to ourselves and to our Republican ancestors
the highest place in the temple of liberty, foras
much as here on American soil has been erected
the noblest fabric of civil government the worlC
has ever known. But this experiment, grand a
1t unquestionnbly is, sinks into insignifcanc
when contrastod with the achievement of the Rus
sian Emperor. This man singly takes a vast ma
ton at maturity, and in defiance Of powerful nc
bles, sets them free. Such a work raises our es
innate Of human nature, and shade and shame
the meagre efforts of a stinted philanthropy. Gu
puny statesmen, who, for the sake of Union, pro
pose to give slavery eternal sway in its own dar'
regions, or within the lines of those States wher
it is already established, should hide their head
in confusion before a man that grapples with til
monster in his ancient Businesses. 1t lie no wor
der that our Lilliputians do not succeed in ma
king peace with slavery they should have Under
taken its extirpation, not its confinement. To re
strict slavery, will be like restricting the rur
trafic-an aboItive effort, under which the abon
ination will increase rather than diminish. W
have no right to allow the slave States to boil
slaves-no right to be in fellowship with Their
while they do so. The crime becomes ours If W
are at peace with them, or live in harmony wit
them while they are thus guilty. If it were coul
terfeiting, or highway robbery, or piracy, vii
which these States are ohargeable, we should di
fellowship them at once, and either cure or qui
them forever. By maintaining the Union on tn
guilty basis, we have laid the foundation Of frigh
full corruptions, and great ignorance at HON
Many Of our citizens have come to be SO astonisI
ingly degraded in mind and morals, that thu
vote for slavery, and endeavor to prove it from ii
Bible they laugh at the solemn v~erities Of Il
Declaration of Independence, and scout all the G
sential principles Of the Federal Constitution. v
are everywhere at the North fast returning to
savage state /; the virus OF slavery has difused
self among US, until all the noble principles
government, as bequeathed us by the fathers, ha,
ceased to be understood, and the words whiC
contain them are pronounced rhetorical fourisI
es." This obtuseness of understanding is a j.
dicial result = it is the curse of God upon us fl
attempting too little. Like Alexander, we mu
aim at the tOtality of the peculiar institution.
!: lis easier to kill the whole at once, than to XII
it piece meal. A government founded upon col
nivance with robbers, cannot be permanent IL
slaves rights are bound up with our own, and
sacrificing him, we destroy ourselves.