We, Alexander II, by the grace of God Tsar and Autocrat of all the Russias,
King of Poland, Grand Duke of Finland, etc., make known to all our faithful
subjects :
Summoned to the throne of our ancestors by Divine Providence and the sacred
law of heredity, we have promised ourselves with heartfelt sincerity to
extend our affection and imperial solicitude to all our faithful subjects,
whatever their rank or condition, from the soldier who nobly bears arms
in the defense of his country to the humble artisan who faithfully carries
on his industry ; from the functionary who occupies a high office in the
State to the laborer whose plow furrows the fields.
As we consider the various classes of which the State is composed, we are
convinced that the laws of our empire which have wisely provided for the
upper and middle classes, and have fixed with precision their rights and
obligations, have not reached the same degree of success in relation to
the peasants bound to the soil, who, either through ancient laws or custom,
have been hereditarily subjected to the authority of the landlords. Indeed,
the rights of landowners over their serfs have hitherto been very extensive
and very imperfectly defined by the laws, which have been supplemented by
tradition, custom, and the good will of the landlords.
This system has at best established patriarchal relations based upon the
fairness and benevolence of the landowners and an affectionate docility
on the part of the peasants ' but as manners have lost their simplicity,
the paternal ties between the landlords and the peasants have been weakened.
Furthermore, as the seigniorial authority falls into the hands of those
exclusively intent on their own selfish advantage, those relations of mutual
good will have tended to give way and open the door to arbitrariness, burdensome
to the peasants and hostile to their prosperity. This has served to develop
in them an indifference to all progress.
These facts did not fail to impress our predecessors of glorious memory,
and they took measures to improve the lot of the peasants ; but these measures
have had little effect, since they were either dependent for their execution
on the individual initiative of such landlords as might be animated by a
liberal spirit or were merely local in their scope, or adopted as an experiment.
We became convinced, therefore, that the work of fundamentally ameliorating
the condition of the peasant was for us a sacred heritage from our ancestors,
a mission which in the course of events Divine Providence had called us
to fulfill. We have commenced this work by demonstrating our imperial confidence
in the nobility of Russia, who have given us so many proofs of their devotion
and their constant disposition to make sacrifices for the well-being of
the country. It was to the nobility themselves that, in conformity to their
own wishes, we reserved the right of formulating the provisions for the
new organization of the peasants, -- provisions which involve the necessity
of limiting their own rights over the peasants, and of accepting the responsibilities
of a reform which could only be accomplished with some material losses to
them. Our confidence has not been deceived. We have found the nobility,
united in committees in the various governments, ready to make, through
agents who enjoyed their confidence, the voluntary sacrifices of their rights
so far as the personal servitude of the peasants is concerned.
The propositions of the local committees of the nobilitywhich varied greatly,
as might be expected from the nature of the problem -- have been collated,
compared, and reduced to a regular system, then adjusted and supplemented
by a higher committee appointed for the purpose. The new provisions thus
formulated relative to the peasants and the domestic serfs of the landholders
have been submitted to the Council of the Empire. After having invoked divine
assistance we have resolved to carry out the work according to the regulations
thus drawn up.
The peasants now bound to the soil shall, within the term fixed by the law,
be vested with the full rights of freemen. The landed proprietors, while
they shall retain all the rights of ownership over all the lands now belonging
to them, shall transfer to the peasants, in return for a rent fixed by law,
the full enjoyment of their cottages, farm buildings, and gardens. Furthermore,
in order to assure to the peasants their subsistence and enable them to
meet their obligations toward the State, the landlords shall turn over to
the peasants a quantity of arable and other land provided for in the regulations
above mentioned. In return for these allotments the peasant families shall
be required to pay rent to the landlords, as fixed by the provisions of
the law. Under these conditions, which are temporary, the peasants shall
be designated as " temporarily bound."
At the same time the peasants are granted the right of purchasing their
cottages and gardens, and, with the consent of the landlords, they may acquire
in complete ownership the arable lands and other lands allotted to them
as a permanent holding. By the acquisition of a complete title to the land
assigned them, the peasants [1] shall be freed from their obligations toward
the landlords for land thus purchased, and thus enter definitively into
the class of free peasants and landowners.
Since the new organization, owing to the unavoidable complexity of the changes
which it involves, cannot immediately be put into execution, a lapse of
time is necessary, which cannot be less than two years or thereabouts --
to avoid all misunderstanding and to protect public and private interests
during this interval, the system actually existing on the estates Of landowners
will be maintained up to the moment when the new system shall have been
instituted by the completion of the required preparatory measures.
Aware of all the difficulties of the reform we have undertaken, we place
our trust in the goodness of Divine providence, who watches over the destinies
of Russia. We also count upon the generous devotion of our faithful nobility,
and we are happy to testify to that body the gratitude it has deserved from
us, as well as from the country, for the disinterested support it has given
to the accomplishment of our designs. Russia will not forget that the nobility,
actuated solely by its respect for the dignity of man and its love for its
neighbor, has spontaneously renounced the rights it enjoyed in virtue of
the system of serfdom now abolished, and has laid the foundation of a new
future for the peasants. We also entertain the firm hope that it will also
direct its further efforts to carry out the new regulation by maintaining
good order, in a spirit of peace and benevolence.
In order to render the transactions between the landlords and the peasants
easier, so that the latter may acquire in full proprietorship their houses
and the adjacent lands and buildings, the government will grant them assistance,
according to a special regulation, through loans of money or a transfer
of mortgages encumbering an estate.
When the first rumors of this great reform contemplated by the government
spread among the country people who were scarcely prepared for it, it gave
rise in some instances to misunderstandings among individuals more intent
upon liberty than mindful of the duties which liberty imposes. But generally
the good sense of the country has asserted itself. It has been understood
that the landlords would not be deprived of rights legally acquired, except
for a fit and sufficient indemnity, or by a voluntary concession on their
part ; that it would be contrary to all equity for the peasants to accept
the enjoyment of the lands conceded by the landlords without at the same
time accepting equivalent charges.
And now we confidently hope that the freed serfs, in the presence of the
new future which is opened before them, will appreciate and recognize the
considerable sacrifices which the nobility has made on their behalf. They
will understand that the blessing of an existence based upon full ownership
of their property, as well as the greater liberty in the administration
of their possessions, entails upon them, with new duties towards society
and themselves, the obligation of justifying the new laws by a loyal and
judicious use of the rights which are now accorded them. For if men do not
themselves endeavor to insure their own well- being under the aegis of the
laws, the best of those laws cannot guarantee it to them. Only by assiduous
labor, a rational expenditure of their strength and resources, a strict
economy, and, above all, by an upright life, -- a life constantly inspired
by the fear of the Lord, -can they hope for prosperity and progress.
And now, my orthodox and faithful people, make the holy sign of the cross
and join thy prayers to ours, invoking the blessing of the Most High upon
thy first free labors, for this alone is a sure pledge of private well-being
and the public weal.
Given at St. Petersburg, the nineteenth day of February [March 3, new style],
of the year of grace 186 1 and the seventh of our reign. ALEXANDER
[1] This does not mean the individual peasants, but the village community, which was perpetuated under the new law.