Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-04-15


making peace favorable TO the Mahomctan ma
ton. Up TO this time, most of the articles had
been executed, the conferences respecting the
persons to be unidentified s. respecting Servia had
also been entered upon, and although these two
fairs were not of a character 10 be arranged with
good grace, they were, nevertheless, taken into
consideration acts of violence Russia, however,
did not stop them. The military reforms adopted
by the Sublime Porte offended her; she was awar
that some day that surrender might hurl back up
on her the evils which she had prepared against
Islamism. From that moment she resolved to
leave no moment of relaxation 10 Mussclmen.-,
Russia, England, and France, among themselves
agreed TO establish forcibly the liberty which we
have mentioned above. About year ago, the
three powers simultaneously demanded the liber-
ty Of Greece, by the means of their ambassa-
doris officially and openly; quite simple
concession. The Sublime Porte could not sub
scribe to tbis,neiher according to law, accord
ing to reason, nor according TO policy, nor ac-
cording TO religion. The Mussulman nation was
indignant at all and ii is quite impossible de
irnpoSsibilitc) that it should be consented 10. The
Ottoman Government endcavored TO prevail on
them to renouncc their prejudices, by every sort
OF arguments and answers, but its language prudu-
ced no effect Proud OF their power, they obsti-
nately, and vigorously persisted to press their de-
Inands; and they finished by sending fleets into
tho Mediterranean; they openly hindered the Z
egyptian and Ottoman squadrons, destined for that
purpose, from attacking the Islands. These two
squadrons having entered the Port of Nayarin,
were there TRANQUILITY waiting the orders of the
Sublime Porte when the Russian, English, and
French fleets suddenly entered the same harbor,
and all three began to fire at once, and every
one knows the catastrophe which resulted to the
Imperial squadron.
The three powers, having openly violated sub
sistng treaties, and declared war, the Sublime
Porte had right to retaliate and act otherwise
than it has done towards the Ambassadors, the sub
jects, and the vessels which were in this place
But the Ministers of those three powers have EN-
thatr hxIa iarit, tbati
the commanders of the Imperial Turkish fleet,
who had been the cause of the battle: the Sublime
Porte, considering the circumstances, remained
still silent, and by last effort of policy, invited
the three Ambassadors TO abandon altogether the
affairs of Greece. Deaf to the voice of Justice,
those lntdes did not to require that their de-
mand respecting the independence of Greece be
admitted such as it had boon made. Ii may even
be said thattheir solicitations become more press
ing. In n word, the hostile intentions of the
Franks against lsamism became evident. Never
thcless, for the purpose of gaining time, at least
ill summer, every possible show of moderation
was used in the conferences and conversations
which took place some weeks ago. Ii was re-
peatedy declared TO the ambassadors, that as soon
the Greeks would sue for pardon, their faults
would be wholly forgotten that their goods their
persons, their estates, would be restored that
they would enjoy perfect tranquility that
they should be relieved from the payment of the
capitation and other tributes which they owe since
the beginning OF the that besides in
der to crafty the three Powers, they would be ex-
empt from all tribute for the space of one years and
that all the privileges which the condition of Ray
abs allowed would be granted them, but nothing
beyond that limit
In the course OF the conferences the Sublime
Porte earnestly requested the ambassadors TO trans
nit TO their respective Courts those friendly decla-
rations and sincere explanations, promising that
the armisice which they ha:. ,ie-,anded would be
observed until the SHOULD be received. This
invitation only served to increase their pride and
their pretensions. hey declared that they
would consent 10 nothing so long the privileges
which they claimed should not be granted TO the
Greeks inhabiting ancient Greece, that is to say
the Morea, Attica, and the lies Of the Archipelago
and they announced that they would depart all
three together.
Thus have affairs come to this point If at pre-
sent God should preserve us fiom it) after nav
ing witnessed such conduct, and been asked such
conditions, we were 10 give way, and 20 concede
The independence of the Greeks, the contagion
would soon extend to all the Greeks settled in
Someiia and Anatolia without the possibility of
arresting the evil. They would ali pretend to
the same independence: they would renounce
their duties Rayahs, and, triumphing in year
or two over the generous Mussunan nation;-
they would finish one day, by suddenly impos-
ing laws upon u.s. God preserve US from it, and
the ruin of our religion and our empire would be
the inevitable result Whilst, thanks to Godl the
numerous provinces of Europe and Asia are
filled with an immense MusseIman population,
does the sacred book and does our law permit US
through fear OF war, TO let our religion be trod.
den under foot, and to deliver ourselves TO the
iniidels from hand to hand, our country, our
wives, our. children, our goods, and our pro-
perty!
Though, in the origin. the whole world was
in the power of the Infidels, nevertheless, at the
birth of the true religion, Ged, aiding the faith
tul, our Musselmen brothers, who have appeared
and disappeared since the happy time of our
Great Prophet, up to this day, through the eff
iect OF their sincere devotion and unconquerable
courage, thought nothing of the number of the
Inildels United in heart for the defence OF
religion how many thousand times bave they
not put thousanos of InGdcls to the sword? How
many provinces and states have they not thus
conquered, sword in hand? As often az we shall
be united like them, and that we shall affront
battles for the glory of God, the Most High will
enlighten us with bis inspirations, and our holy
Legislator Will cover us with his tutclary agis;
his absent companions will become our guides:
and who can doubt that, under their auspices we
should not gain the most brilliant victories?
IL the three Powers, when they see us deter
mined, as in the past, to reject their vain dc
Inands, accept our answers, and our explanations,
and desist from the Greek affair, il will be we'll
1t, on the contrary, they should persist to force
us to accept their demands, even though, accor-
ding to the tradition which says that all the In
ildels compose but one nation, they should all
league themselves against us, we would recon-
mend ourselves to Cod,--we would place our
selves under the protection of our Holy Prophet,
and, united for the defence of religion and the
empire, all the ViZicrs, all the Ulefnas all the
Hidgsls, and, pe.haps, even Mussulnen, would
form but one single corps.
This war is not, like all former wars a political
conflict to acquire provinces or TO settle frontiers
The object Of the infidels is 10 annihilate Islam
ism, and to tread under foot the Nussulman ma
ton. II must ther, fore he considered ,r,rcI,.