Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-11-30


racy. The greater part of the Rayas resi-
dent in theplaces where he published his ana
themas, far from remaining faithful subjects.
preceded the other Greeks III the rebellion.
Thus, amongst others at Callartha, a
| town In the Morea, which is the birthplace of
that Patriarch, the Rayas were the first i'm the
instruction they killed Il number OF MussuI-
men, and committed numberless excuses and
cruelties. The Sublime Porte asccrtaincd
that the Patriarch took an active part in the
conspiracy, and that the insuirection Of the
Kayas OF Callartha was his work, in coniunc-
hoo with other istigators, at first by writing,
which fell into their hands, and afterwards by
the dcciaratiOnof certain subjects of the Greek
nation, who continued faithful to their duty.
d" Now every government has a right To ar
rest and punish, without mercy, such male
factors, IN order to preserve tranquility in its
dominlons and amongst its people. In sedi-
tiDn and rebellion especially, no distinction of
religion, sect or rank, whether high or low,
should be made; wherefore the Sublime Porte,
Immediately after having discovered the gull
OF tho patriarch and his partisans, deposed the
former, and that his station might not remain
vacant, ltapponted successor. Having thus
deprived the patriarch of his dignity, and re-
uuced HIM to the condition of an ordinary
priest, capital punishment was inflicted on
to the time and moinont of his execution
The supposition declared by the Ambassador,
that the time and place of the execution were
10 he considered as a premeditated insult to
religion, is entirely gratutous the Porte never
nad such purpose IN its contemplation the
construction, which is altogether false one,
has never been put upon it by any friendly
power; such an idea never entered the imaci-
nation OF any person in the empire or out of
the empire. Finally, the Sublime Porte, in
this present note declares and repeats, as it has
already notified ut several times, officially aud
with strict adherence 10 truth both 10 the
Ambassador and TO the Ministers of the friend
y powers who have discussed the question,
that it entertained no intention of vfying or
insulting religion.
The treaty of kainardic stipuates, in cf-
feet, that the Christian religion is to be pro-
tected but religion and guilt are very different
things. Even though the protection of the
unofending Christian subjects ofthe Porte had
not been stipulated in that treaty, 1t would
have been always extended to them, in pur-
suance OF the ancient prescriptions OF the holy
law oi Mahomei the proof is, that the Greeks
VINO nave not yet taken part in the revolution
ENJOY the most perfect tranquility and ;acu-
rity.
:; The annals of the Ottoman empire also
present other examples OF pa,riarchs upon
whom capital punishment has been inflicted
according TO the statutes OF the empire and il
would not he necessary To seek for tllcnl i'm
the history OF other countries. However. il
VIII not be improper 10 remark, that the Sub
lime Porte Is not ignorant, that under the reign
of Peter l., Gar OF RUSSIA, the Russian patri-
arch was put to death for crimes of which he
was guilty, and that even upon that occasion
the patrarchal dignity was totally suppressed
IN that empire. This fact being on record in
the history OF Russia, it is surprising that a
minister, such as the Ambassador, from whom
nothing escapes, can be ignorant of il. Such
an instance being found in the Russian empire.
1t IS obviousthat henceforward somuch clainor
VIII not he made on that head. The assertion
that the Sublime Porte caused the churches
to he demolished, is totally destitute of foun-
dation. The number Of old churches at Con-
stanbnopie and III The Ottoman empire, not
| DULY IS undiminished, and its particular mode
of worship exercised by each nation without
molestaton, but also if any church fall in ruins,
| ON the request ofthe Rayas, the Government.
consulting the Mahometan law, and acting ac-
| eording to the good dispositions and paternal
intentions with which it is constantly animated
towards ITS faithful subjects, grants them per-
mission, as is well known, to repair or rebuild
it on the same plan.
|
| ed 10 nave recourse to rigorous measures to
chastlse and Subdue the peryerse subjects who
have risen In rebellion by land and sea through
out the whole extent of the Ottoman empire
| But whilst thai rebellion and perverse spirit
| winch have already made such progress, cor
tlnue to he augmented and propagatcd from
Gay TO d@y, how can the Porte contemplate
any relaxation in the severity of its measures.
or change in the system il is pursuing?
The Sublime Porte is aware that thn
course marked out by the Greeks tends to or
game general revolution. Nevertheless. il
has not Invested itself of that compassion
winch 1t has always entertained towards lis
subjects. 1t has not renowned the mcasur,
! at mlldncss and moderation finally, il has not
ceased to extend its protection 10 those who
have not manifested evil intentions. and il ha.
confined itself to the punishment of those who
nave raised the standard Of rebellion Ii Ina,
| not siud the rev OlutiOn OF the Greeks being
general my conduct should not he the sam,
towards all Of them without exception. ~
rms, however, is certain, that if n similar event
had happened IN another empire, far from
acting with so much moderation and clcmeu
cy, the sword of vengeance would have faller
upon all.
" 1t IS again declared, that each OF the affair
! IN question is really what they were repre-.
4 stntcu 10 ne ny the Sublime Porto IN its Off
ciai communications from the beginning to tn,
present hour and that the Ambassador las
viewed them in false light In the interview,
and communications which took place upon
these affairs with the ministers Of some friend.
ly Powers, explanations were openly supplied
Icgarding the different objects ia dispute, ant
every one Of the Minister'S animated by Z
spirit of moderation, declared that on this oc.
caslon reason was on the side Of the SubIim,
Porte. None Of them used the same ofEnsiv,
n expressions which our friend the Anhassndn