The New York herald., 1862-11-16
IMPORTANT FROM RUSSIA.
oar st. Pesersburg Correspondence.

Our So. Petersburg Correspondence.
Dr. PETERSBURG, Oct. 20, 1852
Grea. Changes in Russia-Rra Step Toseards Csnstu
ttonal GovenSse,t- in the Empre Reaction
in Englaaf-Dis,res in finand-CttDn Famine in he
Manufacturing Dsstres-Cultrusion Of Cotton in Trans
Caucasia-7elegrapht 10 Pekin, dc.
The conjecture to which gave expression 10 my last
letter has proved correct Tho reforms that have long
been popularity connected with the millennium or the
Russian empire were only delayed, ana adjourned
sine die. An imperial ukase has been published, by
which the report or the Legislative Department Of the
Supreme Council, submitted to his Majesty by its Pres
dent Prince Gogarin, approved Of and orders given
10 carry It's provisions into execution with al
possible despatch without going into details, which
might occupy too much OF your valuable space
1t will be suclent TO show that the administration justice
throughout the empire reorganized by this decree
entirely new liberal basis The administrative and
judicial functions which hitherto mixed up with
each other are to be completely separate In the arst
place thero be justices OF peace elected BY the
munes the second instance TO consist OF district
with urcs chosen from all casses-nobles, citizens aud
peasants-and the third OF q superior court estab.
lished In every oubsynia, province. The lcgsla-
tive character Of the Senate at 81 Petersburg
altogether and II only continues 10 act Supreme
Court Of Appeal. The proceedings OF all the tribunals
are be public; the defendant s at liberty choose
counsel, who may or may not be member OF the bar
and he does make OF this right IL appointed
er o6icio by the 0feuces committed BY the mill
tary when not duty tried by the civil tribunals
Any person arrested On suspicion Of crime or misds
meanor must be placed before hs natural Judge within
twenty -four hours after the arrest The verdict OF the
court must be eli her guilty or not guilty suspensve
Judgment by which the placed under sur.
vellancs for definite or indefinite PERIOD no longer
admitted.
This reform Of the judicial system is succeeded by
another which Is Of even more general interest, Il
may be said TO lay the foundation Of constitutional
organ Of the Ministry the Interior the ap
preaching establishment OF representative assemblies n
prorricssrs citizens and rural communes OF every dis
ict csyee or county, as you would call them America,
elect certain number Of deputies who IN their turn
choose delegates for the Provincial Assembly State
Legislature, according 70 their population In the drss
two classes the elections come on by direct vote;
munes property census provided but the depu.
ties required 10 have had At least the rudimens OF
school education The meetings Of the district
sembes last seven days those Of the provincial assem-
blics twentyone days All subjects connected with the
internal welfare Of the provinces: the administration Of
lie institutions &c within their cognizance; not
political quessi M, which are excluded from discussion
assembly, or diet Of the empire, remains 70
be seen, and VIII probably depend . good deal
upon tho working o. these % ~, new .l,o
ed them and which contain 90 large measure OF self.
government the rest must soon Follow but no doubt they
will have bard fight against the bureaucratics whose
existence enaced by these reforms and who will do
every thing In their power 10 prevent them.
II ecessary 10 say that oil Petersburg IL full OF
tie great changes that taking place. and which
alny form new era 10 the history Of Russia Iheeman
clpatisn itself hardly excited 81 much sensation 40 these
last measures whch ono OF papers expresses II,
emanciIatc the whole Russian nation, aud substitute
system of legality and justice for the irrcsponsbty OF
bitrary power Even the radical Sovae dope Sicpo,
though not satisfied with any detail OF the new rcgula
tons admits that they are dgrUsdg shGgh rpedan Inn
meme sep Ia advalCc They are hailed with the more
satisfaction contrasting with the rcactonary tenden-
that apicar 10 be spreading throughout Western
Europe aud even to England, where lawthe P6achug
Acbas jut been passed by which personal liberty, the
Eg ishnane oudest boast. " prac icay snnihaled.
IA the mldst Of this excitement we have hardly time
a. ttend L nythng else although we have Intelligence
from variol qua ters whi " by no means pleasing
nature IN Northefn piard there has beer total TAIL
cf The pa IN consequence OF which famine has