The Sun.
London, England, 1839-11-28 00:00:00

EVENING KO

REFORMS OF THE NEW SULTAN.

HATTI SHERIFF, READ BY RESCHID PACHA ON NO-
VEMBER 3, 1839, IN PRESENCE OF ALL THE
MINISTERS, CI.EMAS, PACHAS, AND DEPUTATIONS
OF NATIONS, SECTS, AND RACES SUBJECT TO THE

SULTAN.
All the world knows that in the first times of the
Ottoman monarchy the precepts of the Koran, and
the laws of the empire, were a rule ever honoured ;
in consequence of which the empire increased in
force and grandeur, and all its subjects, without
exception, acquired a greater degree of ease and
prosperity. But since a century and a half a suc-
L cesF,ton of accidents, and different causes, have led
l' to, people's ceasing to conform to the sacred code
lof laws, and to the rules which flow from it. Thus
the internal prosperity and force became changed to
weakness and poverty. An empire loses its stabi-
lity in ceasing to observe its laws.
These considerations are always present to our
mind ; and since the day of our accession to the
t throne, the thoughts of the public good, of the
(
amelioration of the provinces, and the alleviation of
the people's burdens have occupied us solely. If
one considers the geographical position of the Otto-
-1 man -provinces, the fertility of their soil, the apti-
ity:e and intelligence of their inhabitants, one re-
-1 Trains convinced that, by seeking out efficacious re-
, medieF,, these may be obtained and put in practice
1 within the space of a few years. So that, full of
confidence in the succour of the Most High, and
-relying on the intercession of the Prophet, we judge
/fit to seek by new institutions to procure for the
provinces of the empire the benefits of a good ad-
ministration. These institutions relate principally
to three things, which are-Ist. Guarantees which
ensure to our subjects the security of honour and
fortune. 2d. A regular mode of fixing and levying
icmposts. 3d. A regular mode of levying soldiers
and fixing the duration of their service.
Are not, in fact, life and honour the most pre-
? chinowusabveenrseefi ttso
which
ceexbi set his cWh
a rhaactt emr a, ne
0,
unl od
rme
fartat ei
nr
from recurring to violence if his life and honour be
threatened ? If, on the contrary, these be secured,
a man will not quit the paths of loyalty and fidelity.
If such security be absent, every man remains cold
to the voice of either prince or country. No one
thinks of the public fortune, being too anxious about
his own.

It is most important to fix the rate of taxes. The
state is obliged to have recourse to them for the de-
fence of its territories. Fortunately for the people,
some time back they have been delivered from the
vexatious system of monopolies—those bad sources of
revenue. As bad a source of revenue still subsists in
the venal concession of offices. By this system, the civil
and local administration of each region is delivered up
to the arbitrary will of one man ; that is, to the most
yintent and greedy passions—for if such farmer of
the revenue be not super-excellent, he can have no
guide but his interest. It is henceforth requisite
that each Ottoman subject should pay a certain
sum of taxes, proportioned to his fortune and fa-
culties. It is also requisite that special laws should
fix and limit the expenses of the military and naval
force.
Although the defence of the country is an im-
portant and universal duty, and although all classes
of the population must furnish soldiers for the pur-
pose, still there ought to be laws to fix the con-
tingent of each locality, and limit to four or five
years the term of military service. It is dealing a
mortal blow to agriculture, as well as an injustice
in itself, to take more hands from districts than they
can fairly spare ; and it is to reduce soldiers to
despair, and to depopulate the country, to retain
them all their life in service.
Without such laws as these, of which the neces-
sity is felt, there can be neither empire, nor force,
nor riches, nor happiness, nor tranquillity. All
thcse blessinps may be expected from new laws.
Henceforth, moreover, every accused person shall
be publicly tried, according to tile Divine law, after
act and examination ; and no power shall secretly
or otherwise cause any one to perish by poison or
by any other moons until a regular judgment has
been passed. No one shall hurt another's
honour ; and each shall possess his property with
liberty, and in fear of no one. The innocent heirs
of a condemned person shall inherit his property,
nor shall the goods of the criminal be confiscated.
These imperial concessions extend to all our
suitjects, of every religion, without exception. Per-
t fect security is accorded to all the inhabitants of the
empire in life, honour, and fortune, as wills the
text of our law.
With regard to the other points, which must be
i regulated by enlightened opinions, our Council of
Justice, augmented by new members, and by the
“djunction of the 'Ministers and Nobility of the
empire, shall assemble in order to prepare laws for
I the security of life and fortune, and the regulation of
imposts. Each person in they assemblies will state
I freely his ideas, and offer his advice.
The laws respecting military service shall be de-
bated in a military council at the palace of the Se-
' raskier. When tile law is prepared, we will give it
our sanction, and write with the Imperial hand a

heading.
The institutions being to cause religion and
government to flourish, we will permit nothing
contrary to our promise. Vie will have these laws
placed in the chamber of the Prophet's mantle, and
will then swear to them in the 'presence of the ule-
mas and the grandees, making the grandees and

ulemas also swear. Whoever shall infringe these
Jaws shall be punished with the legal penalty ; and
a penal code shall be drawn up for the purpose.
All venality and traffic of offices shall be abo-
lished, as the great cause of the decadence of the
empire.
Thee dispositions, being a revocation of old
usae,es, shall be published at Constantinople and
throughout our empire, and communicated officially
to the Ambassadors resident there.
May the High God keep you in his guard, and
malediction on those who shall act contrary to these
institutions.