Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1864-03-15
Emanelpatlun IN Russia.

ln the snow lriit.
emancipation III Russia.
Rev j. Long, an lagsh missionary who
W-,.ed Russ, las. summer, has published the
following interesting account Of the effects OF
the emancipation Of the SORTS 10 that country
- recently spent five months in Russia, main.
/. ~ order o gain information from the best
sources on the facts connected with the seri
emancipation movement and have consulted
the enemies as well as the friends OF the measure,
English and German residents as well as Rus
SLAMS. The leautIs Afforded me every facility ol
access to official documents and visited ostites
10 various parts Of Russia 70 make further IN
Quir.es INTO the local working Of the measure.
Whatever may be thought OF the conduct Of
Russia towards Poland 10 carrying on the pres
ent war, trust that due credit may be given to
the present Emperor and the Russian liberals lor
this noble act Of serf emancipation. They had
hard battle t. fight against the reactionary
party who denounced emancl patton as socialism
for they knew it must gradually introduce 10
its train a host OF other reforms. They prophe-
aled that ANARCHY and biOodshed must ensue
but the Emperor gave 10 heed, and was prepared
to risk bis crown aud his lite in order 70 free
the peasant.
Sgri emancipation is an accomplished fact.
lwenty-th. ee millions Of an intelligent, acive
peasanry have been by It raised from the deg
radiation Of being mere chdttels, thugs Tor sale,
though 1t must be admitted that serldom was
not so degrading as slavery IS. The intellect
and social energies Of the serls, which have been
frozen up for centuries, are now set free and
this great social change has been effected within
two years, in spite ol the formidable opposition
Of the Russian nobility. The hat OF one man,
supported by lew choice SPIRITS has accom-
phshed all TINS The revolution has been a
blJodless one; no social dsjrganHlton has re-
suited and even some Of It's btLcrest opponents
begin now TO admit that, as The operation bad
to be performed some time, It was as we'll to do
it at once. They are now learning TO adapt
themselves to the new order OF things
Ssri emancipation Is OF deep interest, for the
/ fJliuMiug consultations
|. The antl.slayeTy cause receives powerful
encouragement from It. ls took many years
agitation, and the expenditure OF E2O,OO0,UOO
sterling to emancipate 500 900 slaves IN the
West udles. American slavery has lasted long
time, and is stll fearful blot; but 10 Russia
we have. 10 the short space Of two years, the
emancipation OF % 600 900 Ol tine race OF
le4sants v ho are, physically and mentally, su
perior 70 the negro race The influence and
example Of these emanclpAted sers Will operate
on tile world, and will show that, while 50 ben
efe al a revolution has taken place successfully
10 Russia, other countries may learn to " 20
and do likewise The seris have shown, by
their poaceable demeanor, and by avoiding any
violent excess tnat they know how to appreciate
their newy-acqulred Liberty.
.. The friends OF constitutional government
have resaon to rejoice in sert emancipation, as
forming the first Iustalmen OF liberal insfltu
tions in Russia. Even the late Emperor NlchO-
las was convinced that emancipation was neces.
sary, bat he would not give It, knowing that 1t
would involve reform IN all other departments Of
the state that the upheayng OF the masses
would affect every institution in Russia As
serf emancipation included municipal lnstiu-
tions for the peasantry, constitutions therefore,
for all Russia follows as u corollary and found
among all Intelligent Russians the full cOnyic-
tlon that a constitution must naturally cone 10
a few years that as municipal constitutions
grow out OF emancipation So provincial assem-
blies are the result OF municipal freedom, and a
constitution will be the fruit Of provincial as
scmblies These steps are now being taken.
8. Municipal institutions for all Russia are
the certain result. | have been delighted 10 see
how the peasantry, by means Of the commune
or village elective council, regulate their own
affairs, eject the chief of each village, have
their regular meetings. will explain this more
at large in subsequent letter. But tins mu.
nicpal liberty granted to peasants cannot be lin
tied 10 them, there will soon be municipal bodies
in every town in Russia. Moscow and Peters
burg, SINCE the last two years have been grant
ed MAYORS, elected by the citizens, without the
control Of government, and also provincial as
semblies. AS the next step, what has been con
coded to the peasants cannot be denied to the
merchant and noble These municipal instltu'
tons are training schools for the peasantryi they
enable them to resist the OPPRESSION OF the NOBLE
and the government employees they also break
the force OF that Capitalization which has been
such q curse to Russia and they are nuclei u
protect the weak against the venal police oil
Russia for in the peasants court, oral eyi.
dence, summary declson, and publicity, form
the rules Of proceeding, while a simple and
cheap code of law is administered
4. An honorary maglstracy and municipa
ttlNt ~ 0NhNNA' w. lNNN'NN'
of the peace, a class who may exercise an i'm
portant influence in diminishing wat has beet
admitted 70 be the great curse OF Russia, viz.
the yenality Of ill-pad employees and bribery
To carry out the Emancipation act, fifteen hun
dred un paid justices of the peace were aominate'
, hy government. The administration Of theS
men, who we're selected for their character an,
, public spirit, has generally given satisfaction
and il is intended that they shall be continued
. TO discharge similar duties to those OF count
magistrates in Eogland. attended several ,
, their monthly sessions in the interior Of Russi'
: and they are well spoken Of their labors are a
. successful as tho.e ul similar class Of honorar
magistrates in India.
A 5 The cause OF education is identified wit
emancipation. Already within two year
. more than 3 900 new schools have sprung ini
: existence through individual efforts among tn
. peasantry, and they are rapidly on the inoreas
The peasant is anxious 10 be able 10 read ii
> laws by which he is governed besides the ell
i. ovation Of his social position through emanc