Alexander II The Abolition of Serfdom in Russia Manifesto of February 19, 1861
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This is the ceremonial preamble to the
hundreds of pages of statutes spelling out the terms of the abolition of serfdom. It was ghost-written by the Metropolitan of
Moscow, who opposed the reform.
By the Grace of God WE, Alexander II, Emperor and Autocrat of All
Russia, King of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, etc., make known to all OUR faithful
subjects:
Called by Divine Providence and by the sacred right of
inheritance to the Russian throne of OUR ancestors, WE vowed in OUR heart to respond to
the mission which is entrusted to Us and to surround with OUR affection and OUR Imperial
solicitude all OUR faithful subjects of every rank and condition, from the soldier who
nobly defends the country to the humble artisan who works in industry; from the career
official of the state to the plowman who tills the soil.
Examining the condition of classes and professions comprising the
state, WE became convinced that the present state legislation favors the upper and middle
classes, defines their obligations, rights, and privileges, but does not equally favor the
serfs, so designated because in part from old laws and in part from custom they have been
hereditarily subjected to the authority of landowners, who in turn were obligated to
provide for their well being. Rights of
nobles have been hitherto very broad and legally ill defined, because they stem from
tradition, custom, and the good will of the noblemen.
In most cases this has led to the establishment of good patriarchal
relations based on the sincere, just concern and benevolence on the part of the nobles,
and on affectionate submission on the part of the peasants.
Because of the decline of the simplicity of morals, because of an increase
in the diversity of relations, because of the weakening of the direct paternal
relationship of nobles toward the peasants, and because noble rights fell sometimes into
the hands of people exclusively concerned with their personal interests, good relations
weakened. The way was opened for an
arbitrariness burdensome for the peasants and detrimental to their welfare, causing them
to be indifferent to the improvement of their own existence.
These facts had already attracted the attention of OUR
predecessors of glorious memory, and they had adopted measures aimed at improving the
conditions of the peasants; but these measures were ineffective, partly because they
depended on the free, generous action of nobles, and partly because they affected only
some localities, by virtue of special circumstances or as an experiment. Thus Alexander I issued a decree on free
agriculturists, and the late Emperor Nicholas, OUR beloved father, promulgated one dealing
with serfs: in the Western provinces, inventory regulations now determine the peasant land
allotments and their obligations. But decrees
on free agriculturists and [western] serfs have been carried out on a limited scale only.
WE thus became convinced that the problem of improving the
condition of serfs was a sacred inheritance bequeathed to Us by OUR predecessors, a
mission which, in the course of events, Divine Providence has called upon Us to fulfill.
WE have begun this task by expressing OUR confidence toward the
Russian nobility, which has proven on so many occasions its devotion to the Throne, and
its readiness to make sacrifices for the welfare of the country.
WE have left to the nobles themselves, in accordance with their
own wishes, the task of preparing proposals for the new organization of peasant
life—proposals that would limit their rights over the peasants, and the realization
of which would inflict on them [the nobles] some material losses. OUR confidence was justified. Through members of the provincial committees, who
were entrusted [with the task] by the corporate organizations of the
nobility in each
province, after collecting the necessary data, have formulated proposals on a new
arrangement for serfs and their relationship with the nobles. These proposals were diverse, because of the nature of the
problem. They have been compared, collated,
systematized, rectified and finalized in the Main Committee instituted for that purpose;
and these new arrangements dealing with the peasants and household serfs[1] of the nobility have been examined in the Council of State. Having invoked Divine assistance, WE have resolved to execute
this task. On the basis of the above-mentioned new arrangements, the serfs
will receive in time the full rights of free rural inhabitants. The nobles, while retaining their property rights to all the
lands belonging to them, grant the peasants perpetual use of their household plots in
return for a specified obligation; and, to assure their livelihood as well as to guarantee
fulfillment of their obligations toward time government, [the nobles] grant them a portion
of arable land fixed by the said arrangements as well as other property. While enjoying these land allotments, the peasants are obliged,
in return, to fulfill obligations to the noblemen fixed by the same arrangements. In this status, which is temporary, the peasants
are temporarily bound. At the same time, they are granted the right to purchase their
household plots, and, with the consent of the nobles, they may acquire in full ownership
the arable lands and other properties which are allotted them for permanent use. Following such acquisition of full ownership of
land, the peasants will be freed from their obligations to the nobles for the land thus
purchased and will become free peasant landowners. A special decree dealing with household serfs will establish a
temporary status for them, adapted to their occupations and their needs. At the end of two years from the day of the
promulgation of this decree, they shall receive full freedom and some temporary benefits. In accordance with the fundamental principles of these
arrangements, the future organization of peasants and household serfs will be determined,
the order of general peasant administration will be established, and the rights given to
the peasants and to the household serfs will be spelled out in detail, as will the
obligations imposed on them toward the government and the nobles. Although these arrangements, general as well as local, and the
special supplementary rules affecting some particular localities, estates of petty nobles,
and peasants working in factories and enterprises of the nobles, have been as far as
possible adapted to economic necessities and local customs; nevertheless, to preserve the
existing order where it presents reciprocal advantages, WE leave it to the nobles to reach
a voluntary understanding with the peasants and to reach agreements on the extent of the
land allotment and the obligations stemming from it, observing, at the same time, the
established rules to guarantee the inviolability of such agreements. This new arrangement, because of its complexity, cannot be put
into effect immediately, an interval of not less than two years is necessary. During this period, to avoid all misunderstanding
and to protect public and private interests, the order actually existing on the estates of
nobles should be maintained until the new order shall become effective. Towards that end, WE have deemed it advisable:
1. To
establish in each province a special Office of Peasant Affairs, which will be entrusted
with the affairs of the peasant communes established on the estates of the nobility.
2. To
appoint in every district arbiters of the peace to solve all misunderstandings and
disputes which may arise from time new arrangements and to organize from these justices
district assemblies.
3. To
organize Peace Offices on the estates of the nobles, leaving the village communes as they
are, and to open cantonal offices in the large villages and unite small village communes
under one cantonal office.
4. To
formulate, verify, and confirm in each village commune or estate a charter which will
specify, on the basis of local conditions, the amount of land allotted to the peasants for
permanent use, and the scope of their obligations to the nobleman for the land as well as
for other advantages which are granted.
5. To put
these charters into practice as they are gradually approved on each estate, and to put
them into effect everywhere within two years from the date of publication of this
manifesto.
6. Until
that time, peasants and household serfs must be obedient towards their nobles, and
scrupulously fulfill their former obligations.
7. The
nobles will continue to keep order on their estates, with the right of jurisdiction and of
police, until the organization of cantons and of cantonal courts.
Aware of the unavoidable difficulties of this reform, WE place
OUR confidence above all in the graciousness of Divine Providence, which watches over
Russia.
WE also rely upon the zealous devotion of OUR nobility, to whom
WE express OUR gratitude and that of the entire country as well, for the unselfish support
it has given to the realization of OUR designs. Russia
will not forget that the nobility, motivated by its respect for the dignity of man and its
Christian love of its neighbor, has voluntarily renounced serfdom, and has laid the
foundation of a new economic future for the peasants.
WE also expect that it will continue to express further concern for the
realization of the new arrangement in a spirit of peace and benevolence, and that each
nobleman will bring to fruition on his estate the great civic act of time entire group by
organizing the lives of his peasants and his household serfs on mutually advantageous
terms, thereby setting for the rural population a good example of a punctual and
conscientious execution of the state’s requirements.
The examples of the generous concern of the nobles for the
welfare of peasants, amid the gratitude of the latter for that concern, give Us the hope
that a mutual understanding will solve most of the difficulties, which in some cases will
be inevitable during the application of general rules to the diverse conditions on some
estates, and that thereby the transition from the old order to time new will be
facilitated, and that in the future mutual confidence will be strengthened, and a good
understanding and a unanimous tendency towards the general good will evolve.
To facilitate the realization of these agreements between the
nobles arid the peasants, by which the latter may acquire full ownership of their
household plots and their houses, the government will lend assistance, under special
regulations, by means of loans or transfer of debts encumbering an estate.
WE rely upon the common sense of OUR people. When the government advanced the idea of
abolishing serfdom, there developed a partial misunderstanding among the unprepared
peasants. Some were concerned about freedom
and not concerned about obligations. But,
generally, the common sense of the nation has not wavered, because it has realized that
every individual who enjoys freely the benefits of society owes it in return certain
positive obligations; according to Christian law every individual is subject to higher
authority (Romans, chap. xiii., 1); everyone must fulfill his obligations,
and, above all, render tribute, dues, respect, and honor (Ibid., chap.
xiii., 7). What legally belongs
to nobles cannot be taken away from them without adequate compensation, or through their
voluntary concession; it would be contrary to all justice to use the land of the nobles
without assuming corresponding obligations.
And now WE confidently expect that the freed serfs, on the eve of
a new future which is opening to them, will appreciate and recognize the considerable
sacrifices which the nobility has made on their behalf.
They should understand that by acquiring property and greater
freedom to dispose of their possessions, they have an obligation to society and to
themselves to live up to the letter of the new law by a loyal and judicious use of the
rights which are now granted to them. However
beneficial a law may be, it cannot make people happy if they do not themselves organize
their happiness under protection of the law. Abundance
is acquired only through hard work, wise use of strength and resources, strict economy,
and above all, through an honest God-fearing life.
The authorities who prepared the new way of life for the peasants
and who will be responsible for its inauguration will have to see that this task is
accomplished with calmness and regularity, taking advantage of the time allotted, in order
not to divert the attention of cultivators away from their agricultural work. Let them zealously work the soil and harvest its
fruits so that they will have a full granary of seeds to return to the soil which will be
theirs.
And now, Orthodox people, make the sign of the cross, and join
with Us to invoke God’s blessing upon your free labor, the sure pledge of your
personal well being and the public prosperity.
Given at
St. Petersburg, March 3, the year of Grace 1861, and the seventh of OUR reign. Alexander
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