, 1865-12-27
TIE LESSON FROM RUSSIA,

nc serf" Allowed tn Testify and vets-
Nuse1a eontoufa America with m cxsm-
ne p,e 70 our shamc. says the Independ<a&, "a
mug Sneaa OF us In emancipation she Ia erost-
emsneirated." ~ '1s
AT the Worcester Convention ia Ma..,-
enasetts, over which Mr. Sumner presided.
a. hapnlst, gentleman connected with NE
ChanceFy Of the Emperor Alexander. was an
the platform. and hnd tto, Unusual hnpp,nca.
Of hearing bis own country quoted br an
American senator as In come respects model
Tor the American Republic. II remains for
The representatives OF republlcanlzn To profit
blythe leseon. What Is that lesson,''
There y glorious Instances In our own
gay, says Mr.. Sumner, which is an example
for US, when the Emperor of Russia. bv n
proclamation fulfilling the aspirations Of hi.
predecessors, set free twenfy-threo millions OF
ses15, and then completed his work by supnlo
mertary provisions investing the freedmen.
VIE VIE eisn snd political rights. including The
and the riaht 70 bo'9 beS'9F 1hs right Of snag
M band this Immortal Proclamation, dated Il
st Petersburg, 10Th Of February, ISL pru-
mulgated amidst prayers and t6anSsxiylnss
In all tho churches of the national eanitai.
and at once expedited to every part Of the
"AN1Ay k-A44fAtV ~ kl1G {5HIt-
erals and staff officers Of The Emperor him
selG Here It Is, In an official document, cnsi-
tied 1prd0chisseNeaf dss Serfs, and issued
at st, Pciersbnrgb. After reciting that tho
earlier measures In behalf Of the ser,s had
failed, because they had been left to the
the Emperor proceeds to take the WORK il
hand as a sacred legpey from hls ancestors, and
lcclu1ea the serfs, alter IN interval Of two
years, entue!y enIanenlSeu.' Meanwhile,
tnat notnlns miEnt 1ail, special court for
seEfs se Was Va created n each province, charged
INC adjustment OF boundaries, and generally
70 superinlend the transition rom the old to
the new, with Justices Of the peacc' In each
district 70 examine On the spot all questions
atiaipg rom emancipation. Had the work
stoppS4 hele' II Womb h1ve been incomplete;
y acotisa Aate osen on9y nay done but no such
tatal mist axe was mate
accompanying the proclamation arc sup
Elementary provisions, called 'regulalious,'
prepared with Infinite care, and divided into
cnapteis and sectiorS-occupyiDEn no less than
nincty.o one pages u double columns and small
type-by which the rights Of the freedmen
are securcd beyond question. Reetnutus With
the dec!afation that the freedmen sacguirc
the rigAts belonging to the condition Of free
iatmers, they then proceed In formal words
to tx and ASSURE these rights, civil nnl ponti-
cal. By one section 1t Is provided that 'thc
obligations ofthc family arc extended 10 the
freedmen; That consequently they acquire
the RIGHT, without the authorization Of
The proprietor, to contract marriage,
sEd to make any Arrangement whatever con-
cerniDg their family Affairs; that they can
equally enter into all agreements aud o6liea-
tions authorized by the laws, as we'll wita
tie State as With individuals, Cd the coali-
tions established Tor free farmers tl,at they
can inscribe themselves In the guilds, aud ex-
ezcise their trades IN the villngcs; nnd they
Gun found and conduct factories and esta6-
ushments Of commerce Another section Sc
cures TO the freedmen tho right Of acquiring
and alternating property Of all kinds, accord
ing tot TIE general law, aud, besides, rrarau-
tees, cu certain conditions, the Possession Of
their hcmesteals, with the grounds annnrtn.