, 1863-03-17

toHStUht1o"0t GoocF7anlcnt IN RHsSta," In
the January number Of the London Quar-
tc'7y, gives a very clear and interesting
sketch Of this most important part Of that
nations history. 1t shows, Of course, that
in its earlier periods the people possessed
large amount Of political, as well as per-
sonal liberty, and all the necessary forms Of
u free constitution. Popular and represent
atiye assemblies, with deliberatiye and legis-
lative powers, we're held in the most impor-
tant cities Of Russia, and especially in the
great Republics of Novgorod and Pskof,
from the tenth to the beginning Of the 18th
century (t51D). Not even the Tartar inra-
sion and conquest could orcrwhelm these
organisms Of popular liberty and national
sc1fgoyernmcnt. But this was effected By
the craft and self1shness of native princes,
to whom the misfortunes Of the nation gave
power, and in whom grateful but igno-
rant people reposcd undue confidence. Yet
after they had thus rendered themselves
absolute, after John Ill, Philaret, Alexis,
Peter the Great, Anne Of Courland, and
Nicholas, had consolidated their power,
and reduced dcspotism to system, the
mighty ediice begins to tottcr, the sceptre
of SO vast an empire is found to be too
heavy for the hands Of any single man, and
the ez1gencies Of the case call for reno
vation Of the whole plan Of government.
More than one Autocrat had, indeed, long
before this been compelled, by the neces-
sites OF his situation, to invoke the ad-
vice and assistance of National Assemblies
or States General; Tsar Michael, in 1854; !;
Alexis, in 1913 and 1868; and Catherine
I, in 1TG7. But now, soon after the publ
cation OF the great decree Of emancipation
which in 1861 gave liberty to %, ,00o, 900 Of
Russians, appears an ukase Of the Emperor,
appointing commissioners, and charging
tile competent departments Of the Senate
TO "elaborate an entirely new system Of
judicial procedure" 4 new law yields to
the people more than is granted to them
in limited monarchies. ALI classes are to
combine to elect their own magistrates.
On the other hand, it takes away from the
nobility one Of their most jealousy guard
ed pri5i}eges-the election Of judges. Ths
crown assumes the responsibility Of admin
istering justice On system substantially
the same as that Of Great Britain. Thi!
gigantic reform includes habeas cerpu
act and trial by m impartial jury Of twelve
Defendants have the right Of counsel, ami
the courts are to be open. The judicia
power is forever separated from the execu
tive, administrative and Legislative. A
the writer just quoted, well remarks, "N'
reform could be more radical, aud appa
rently more complete"
If these plans are carried out, Russi
will, in due course Of time, take her plac
at the head Of enlightened, civilized IN,
free nations. If they can only steadil,
pursue the course upon which they hav
thus entered, no people have more glori
GUS prospects spread out before them thai
the Russians. With territory of NOR
than eight millions Of square miles In ex
tent, stretching from cast to west acros
three continents, and from the Icy Sea t.
the tropical regions Of the Euxine and til
Caucasus, q great portion Of it like ou
great Western prairies in fertility, with
| population Of some seyenty-si1 million:
bcing less than nine inhabitants to cac]
square mile) what limits can be set to it
future prosperity and power, if its in
mense natural resources are only properl
employed, and its great powers rightly d
rccted? Even looping of from it all il
tcngruous materials and scpara1
nationaIties, such as Poland on the Yves
and the Tartars on tile East and South, {
well as such useless appendages Us its po
sessions upon the Northwest coast Of An
crica-- sufficient territory and homogeneor
population is left in eastern Europe an
Northwestern Asia, to make Of Russia
nation only second in resources and pow
to what our renovated Union would be if
should embrace the whole North Americ;
continent, from Mexico to the North Pol
| II would be easy to derive, from the fac
here suggested, sufficient reasons for t,
t sympathy which las for some years be-
steadily growing up and Strengthening t
, tween the United States and Russia. B
, we are apprchensiye that VIC have alrcat
transcended the established limits Of an
, ticle for the daily press, and must thereto
l - H. &txu
Inference. r.