The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-09 00:00:00

THE EMPEROR ON ALGIERS.

The Emperor has addressed the following letter
to Marshal the Duke de Malakoff, Governor-
General of Algeria :

" Monsieur le Marechal,—The Senate will soon
undertake the examination of the general bases of
the constitution of Algeria; but awaiting its deli-
beration, I think it of the utmost importance to put
an end to the uneasiness excited by so many dis-
cussions on Arab property. Good faith and our
interest, well understood, make this a duty.
" When the Restoration conquered Algiers it
promised the Arabs to respect their religion and
their property. This solemn engagement is still
binding on us, and I feel bound in honour to fulfil,
as I did for Abd-el-Kader, all that was great and
noble in the promises of the Governments which
preceded me.

" On the other hand, even if justice did not so
command, it seems to me indispensable for the tran-
quillity and prosperity of Algeria, to consolidate
property in the hands of those who hold it. What
hope, indeed, can there be for the pacification of a
country when nearly the whole population is under
constant apprehensions as to the tenure of what it
possesses ? w can prosperity be developed when
the greater part of the territory is struck with dis-
credit by the impossibility of selling or borrowing
How can the revenues of the State be augmented
when the value of the Arab real property, which
alone pays taxes, is constantly diminishing
"Let us state the facts. In Algeria there are
three millions of Arabs, and 200,000 Europeans, of
whom 120,000 are French. Of an area of about
2,900,000 hectares, composing the Tell, two millions
are cultivated by the natives. The available domain
of the State is 2,690,000 hectares, of which 890,000
are adapted for cultivation, and 1,800,000 are
covered with forests ; lastly, 420,000 hectares have
been granted to European colonisation; the rest
consists of marshes, lakes, rivers, commons, and
heaths. Out of the 420,000 hectares granted to
colonists, a great portion has been either resold or
let to Arabs by the grantees, and the rest is far
from being all rendered productive. Though
these figures are only approximative, it
must be
acknowledged that, notwithstanding the laudable
energy of the colonists and the progress realised,
the efforts of the Europeans are exercised as yet
over a very small extent, and that it will certainly
be long before land is wanting to their activity.
" In presence of these results, it is impossible to
admit the utility of cantoning the natives, that is
to say, of taking a certain portion of their lands to
extend the area of civilisation.

" The project of cantonment submitted to the
Council of State has therefore been withdrawn by
thrlauimous consent. It is now necessary to do more
—tc,, convince the Arabs that we have not come to
Algerik3 to oppress and despoil them but to bring
them the benefits of civilisation. Now, the first
condition of civilised society is respect for every
man's rights.

"It will, perhaps be objected that the Arabs
have no rights. The Sultan was formerly sole pro-
prietor of the soil, and conquest transferred it to us
with the satre title. What ! Should the State avail
itself of the obsolete principles of Mahometanism
to despoil the old possessors of the soil, and, in a
land become French, should it invoke the despotic
rights of the Grand Turk! Such a pretension is
exorbitant ; and were it to be enforced, it would be
necessary to drive back the whole Arab population
into the desert, and inflict on it the fate of the
Indians of North America, a measure impossible and
inhuman.

" Let us, therefore, endeavour by every means to
conciliate that intelligent, proud, warlike, and agri-
cultural race. The law of 1851 consecrated the
rights of property and occupation existing at the
time of the conquest, but the occupation being ill
defined, remained uncertain. The time is now
come to remedy this precarious situation. The ter-
ritory of the tribes being once determined, it will
be divided into douares, which will hereafter admit
the prudent initiative of the administration to in-
troduce the principle of individual property..
Having become absolute owners of their land, the
natives will, be able to dispose of it as they please,
and from the multiplicity of transactions, there
will arise between them and the colonists daily re-
lations, more efficacious in bringing them to adopt
our civilisation than all coercive measures.
"There is a vast extent of land it.' Africa. The

resources to b 3 developed are numerot.'s enough for
every one to find room and give full scope to his
industry, according to hie nature, manDers, and
wants.
"To the natives, the breeding of hordes and
cattle, the natural cultivation of the soil.

" To the enterprise and intelligence of Europe,lnS,
the working of forests and mines, draining, irrig
Lion, the introduction of improved modes of cultiva—
tion, the importation of these manual arts which
always precede or accompany the progress of agri-
culture.

"To the local Government, the care of general
interests, the development of the moral welfare by
education, of the material welfare by public works'
It will be its duty to suppress useless regulations,
and to leave transactions the most complete liberty.
Moreover, it will favour great associations of Euro-
pean capitalists, by henceforth avoiding to act as
the director of the elnigration and colonisation, or
to lend painful support to individuals without re-
sources, attracted by gratuitous grants.
" Such, Monsieur le Marechal, is the course to be
resolutely followed; for, I repeat, Algeria is not
colony properly so called, but a.n Arab Kingdolo.
he natives have an equal right with the colonists
to my protection, and I am as much Emperor of the
Arabs as Emperor of the French.
"These ideas are yours; they are also those of
rt,e Minister of War, arid of all who, after figillivg
in this country, combine full confidence in its
uture with deep sympathy for the Arab-. I bal°
ohargi d Marshal Raudon to prepare a draft of
Senatus Cousultum, of which the principal 3'l°3
. will be to render the tribes, or fractions of tribes,
tncommutable proprietors of the territory °e
uccupy permanently, and of wbictl they livid
,raditional possession, no matter by
what titl"
This measure will have no retroactive efflo
will interfere with no works of public inter,
it Will in no respect weaken the application.ot
law on expropriation for causes of public
therefore, pray you to send me all the statistical
documents which can enlighten the discuss' ,"
the Senate. Pras'
ct,
" And with this, Monsieur le Mares, ,
God to have you in His Loy keeping.
EO.
" NAFOL