The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1804-05-19
TURKISH GOVERNMENT IN SYRIA

From such grandeur, how must the Sultan
look down on me rest of mankind ! In what
light must he view that earth which he pos
sesses, and distributes, but as a domain IF
which he is absolute master ; What mu
the pc 1ple he has subdued appear, but slaves
devo.cd to his service ; and what the soldi-
ers he commands, but servants by whose
means he retains these slaves in obedience :
Such is rhc real character OF the Turkish 60
vernment. This empire NAV be compared
TO q plantation III one ofcur Sugar'Is!andS
where I multitude of slaves labour TO supply
tile luxury of one Great Proprietor, under
the inspection Of 4 few servants who take
good care of themselves. There is no dif-
ference, except that the don,inions OF the
Sultan being too vast for a single admins
t%ration, he is obliged to divide them into
Smaller plantations. and separate govern
Tnents, administered in the same mode as
the united empire. Such are the provinces
rnder the gov of the Pachas. These
provinces again being too extensive, the Pa
chn5 have had recourse TO further subhivisi-
on, and hence that series of subal-erns,
which, step by step, descends to the lowest
emplovmeuts. In this graduation Of au no
ri'y, the object in view being invariably the
same, the means employed never change
their nature. Thus, power being absolute
and arbitrary in the monarch. is transmitted
absolute aud arbitrary TO all his sub-dele-
gates. Each of these is the eXac- image of
his next superior. 1t is still the SULTAN who
dictates and commands, under the varied
names of P1cba, M1tsakl1ht, Kaieiu- Mlka,n
and aga, noris there one in this descending
scale, even to the DslidGsbe, who does not
represent him. Il is curious 20 hear with
what insolence the lowest of these soldiers,
frIyIpo HE Or1are :, n lila.
IttS TIE sriH Of the Satan ; it is toe Su'tqr's
pleasure. The reason ofth.s insolence IS ea.
silv explained fer the bearer of the orders
of the Sultan becomes himself, for that mo-
ment, the Sultan. 1t is not difficult to conceive
what must be the consequence Of such an adj
ministraion, since ali experience invariably
proves, that moderation is the moss iii 1fcult
or V!rtuesi and since even those men who
preach 1t most fervently, frequently NEGLECT
to practise it: now numerous must b. the
abuses of unlimitei power in the qroat. who
are strangers both 70 fcrbearance and to Ditv
III upstairs proud of authority and eager TO
proht by 1t, and in subalterns continually
aiming at great power / L.etus nudge there
fore, how far certain speculative writers are
Justified in insinuating, that despotism in
Ihrkeyls not so great an evil as we imagine.
since, from its only residingin the person OF
- SiNl tIFIAI GAEGl VIC I1Eaf
by whom he is immedia ely surrounded. II
Is certain, to use The expression of III Turks,
r5at TIE sabre IF TIE Satan does n0r descend
1Po t5e dust; bur this sabre he entrus.s 20
the hand Of his Vizir, who delivers it to the
Pacha, from whom il passes TO TIE Nj otssl-
ia'h, to the Aga, and even TO the Lowest De-
loashe so that 1t is, in fact, wi hin the
reach of the viiest retainer TO Office. and its
destructive edge descends even on the mean
Sest heads. This erroneous reasoning arises
from the state Of the people ar Constantine.
pie, to whom the SULTAN is more a.,enf;ve
than to those OF the provinces but Ibis ~.
tention, which his own personal safc.v rem
GERS necessary there, IS paid 10 no other part
OF the empire and, even there, Il may b.,
saio TO be attended with disagreeab,e effects;
Tor, II Constantinop.e is in want of prnv;.
SONS ZEN provinces are famished for a sup
Ply fct' winch IS oil most importance to
the empire, the capital or ,hs provinces , .,
case Of war, BY which must soldiers he frr.
nlshed, and by which fed To the prov;r-
ces therefore must we look to discover the
real effects OF despotism, and, in Turkey. az
every where else, we must be convinced fhat
arbitrary power in the sovereign is IA 30
INC stars as from the sovereign it must ne.
ISSSarhy deVoiVe upon his subaiterns, and
'eCoIne more ABUSED the lower il desccuds
Slncelt is a maxim verified by Constant ev.
Perience, that the slave, become mas,e, =
me most rigorous of tyrants. Let rs now
eNamine the abuses Of this administrator
far it respects Syria.
IN each government, the pacha. be;no he
image OF the SULTAN, is. like him, an absolute
uespot. All power is united in his ners,n :.
ne Is chiet both of the military and the fu.o,
ces' OF the police and criminal Justice. NJ
mas the power Of life and death he has tbs
power OF making peace and war in =, word.
ne can 40 every thing. The mai, ch.cct RI
% much authority is 70 collect the tribu,s. tba.
-. I" transmit the revenue to the yreat me-.
f.f'etor who has conquered, & VINO nossesses
me country by The right of his te57ife lance.
ims duty Fulfilled, no other is required rom
nm; he mea Is employed by the AGENT to ~.
0o'i 'iiSn It's a master cf no concern thoes
means are left to his discretion and s,ch ;s
,he nature Ct his situation that. he cannon he
ueiIca'e IN his choice OF them for ne ran
h1'tner advance, nor even maintain himself
Owl III proportion as he can procure money.
ne pace he holds depends on the favour of
me Vi@r, or some other great officer; and
ms can only be Obtained and secured nv L;J.
ING higher than his competitors. H must
therelcre raise money 20 Day the tr.Lpte anI
@sp To- 'n%Geinnify himself for all he has
laid. SUPPORT his dignity, AMI make a
provision ~ case of accidents. Accor.
o'nG'y, the first care Of a Pacha. ON
oh'ernS on hii government, is to devise
methods 20 I rocIre money, AMI the ouickes,