Michael Speransky. Statesman of Imperial Russia, 1772–1839 - Marc Raeff

GOVERNING 'RUSSIA'S PROVINCES 275

Some provisions aimed at safeguarding the economic productivity of
the natives, especially in the case of backward tribes of trappers and
fishermen. The state would sell them those articles which were abso-
lutely essential to their economy (gunshot, powder, salt, grain). This
would keep the price on articles of prime necessity low. The principle
was similar to that concerning the state granaries, and the basic rules
applied in both instances.^1 Native land possessions were guaranteed
by the state. The legal form of this guarantee was that the state owned
the land and granted it to he natives in permanent possession. (By im-
plication, of course, this meant that the state could revoke the right
of the natives.) This provision was designed to control Russian peasant
encroachments on the land of the natives. 2 But i~ did not prove very
effective once the tidal wave of peasant migration swept into Siberia

at the end of the 19th century .•

The statute also dealt with the social aspects of the natives' rap-
prochement with Russian society and culture. Freedom of religion was
guaranteed to the natives. They were allowed to establish, at their

expense, schools in their own language. But native children could, if

they wished, be admitted to the Russian schools on equal terms with

the Russians. It was hoped that this provision would promote the

natives' russification, gradually and without resistance. The missionary

zeal of the Russian church was curbed and its disciplinary power over

new converts checked. Titled personages among the natives might

preserve their titles and status within the tribe. But their status and

titles were recognized outside the tribe only for services to the state.

Native noblemen were not considered members of the nobility of the

empire, though they could be promoted to it. 3

Speransky also took steps to collect and systematize a complete code

of the customary laws of the Siberian natives. It would serve as a guide

to both the Russian and native officials in administering justice.

Materials for the code were collected in the years immediately follow-

ing his governorship. In some instances clan or tribal assemblies were

called together to draw up the text of their customs; in others, prom-

inent and presumably knowledgeable persons were interviewed. The

materials so gathered were forwarded to St. Petersburg; using them as a

basis, a Code of the Laws of the Steppes (Svod stepnykh zakonov) was

drafted in 1841. Unfortunately the Code never received formal legisla-

tive sanction. Yet a few copies reached Siberia; they were copied and

1 PSZ 29.126. pars. 270-285.

2 PSZ 29.126. pars. 28. 30. 31. 45. 52. 300.

3 PSZ 29.126. pars. 53. 55. 56, 57, 58, 59, 63-67, 286-292.