Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-12-07
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1896.

COnNrR FAIRrAx-srhkEr An knINr.n A1hsA'
Dcily Paper, 8s- Country Paper, IS, per onnan
THURSDAY. DECEMBER Z, 1926.
We proceed with the Essay on GREEcE,
from Blackwood's Magazine, and shall con-
cluds il tormorrow. This able article, is sup
posed TO be the first ofa series. II so, we shall
continue the numbers as they appear.
From Blackwoods Magazine for october.l
GREECE. No. !.
There was but little severity in the establish
ed tributes of the Greeks under even the Euro
mean Turks. The mode Of appor,ioning the
rent had been adopted from the usages of the
Greek Empire. A seventh Of the produce was
Get anart for the land tax. The landlord re-
ceiyed half the remainder, or larger portion,
according to his supply Of seed, stock, and ag-
ricultural tools. The capitation tax, however
exposed to vexations In the collecting, was
comparatively trivial; it was levied on every
Christian, bat il seldom amounted to more than
two pounds sterling for each family. But the
real grievances remained behind, the Turk was
privileged to compelthe Greek peasant to sell
his produce tor the public use, OF either the
Sultan, or the local government, at whatever
price the mercy of his tyrant pleased. There
were perpetual demands OF contributions In
they were compelled to supply labor Tor the
public works. This system of harassing and
plumber was carried through the whole govern
ment, and the peasants were reduced to the low
est privation. In all conquests the inhabitants
Of the open country pay heavy price Tor the
luxuriaace Of the plain, and in the levels of
Thessaly and Eubea, BGotia and Macedonia,
the peasantry lived under the sword. In the
mount ain districts, the Morea, and the country
south of Mount Etna, the Turks were more re-
luctant to settle, and thesrelgous houses retain
ed a portion Of their former, lands. A curious
tenure preserved the rights of some other
Greeks even in the more exposed territory -
1t had been the old custom OF the Asiatic So
sereigns to set apart cities and districts for the
peculiar provision oftheir queens or households.
The custom has been retained by the Sutans,
and large districts OF the more fertile parts of
Greece belonged to the Sultanas, or to the Ha-
rem in general, or even to the Mosques. The
tenantry in possession were comparatively Sc
cure and the exactions were comparatively
mild. The pentleuess of female influence was
felt in even this system of tyranny, and the
complaints of the Greek who supplied the tot
lets of the IIarem were seldom neglected by his
imperial mistress. The Greek ofthe islands was
still less subject to injury. In the Aegean, ex-
cep,ing in portions of the Islands nearest the
Asiatic shore. Rhodes, Cos, and Lesbos, the
Greeks paid only the land tax and capitation.
But on the whole this memorable people was in
the most distressed state Of any Christian ma
ton. Neither life nor property was their own.
Their government was tyranny, their revenue
was extortion, their law was the sword, they
lived under the heel Of a barbarous domination
naughty from its very ignorance, and mer-
CHESS alike by its nature and its creed
In the freedom and security of our country,
we possibly cannot conceive the long misery Of
life passed under the wild caprice and perpetual
irritation Of Turkish tyranny--the exposure of
the deepest and dearest interests of our blood
and being TO brutal passion or malignant pow
er-the bitter and constant fear thar the fruits
Of al life of labor would be sacrificed 10 the av-
arice of some insolent slave, raised into sudden
authority by his superior vilainy, & sent forth
10 live by plumber, and tread down every hope
Of honor and prosperity in the land.-God for
bid. we say in the sincerity OF our souls, that
this should last even il the subject nation were
but step above the beasts that perish, even if
there was no seed of manliness among them
If, in the long series of ages, they had never
given proof Of noble thought, or an action
worthy of human nature. God forbid, that man,
bearing the image, however Inundated, and
defled with the dust of slavery, should not at
length clear away the stain; that the day OF OPP
preston should not have an end, and the lash
and the fetter a, length cease to resound in this
mighty cungeon; or still more, that England, |
the very ,hrone of Christianity and Freedom,
should not be the first to command this merci-
less desolation of gallant hearts and Christian |
faith to be at an end, and if her remonstrances
should fail IN The majesty of justice, and by the
high privilege OF her power, delegated for such
things, finally wiring the scourge from the hand
of the goddess oppressor.
But that this unfortunate people are eminent
~ worthy of the interference aud interes, OF en-
frightened Europe, we have evidences of the
most sufficient kind. OF this order is Colonel
Leake, who, from his official residence, his pro-
fessional rank, and his peculiar study of the
people and language, is undeniable authority.
This officer tells US, in his late very interesting
Memoirs that "lhough the condition of the
peasant is, on the whole, miserable, he is in gen.
eral Industrious, much attached to his family,
anxious for the education of his children, and
equal if not superior, in intelligence, to the pea
santry Of the most civilized countries of Eu-
rope"
RI. ,>ro~oe3e ~ fell me haf thie lie t;r Rod