Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1843-10-19
DESTRUCTION OF THE HISTORIAN CHRIS.
TlANS BIZ THE TURKS

dwei'ing In primitive simplicity and happiness in
their mountain Businesses, have been sought out
by the blood hounds Of Mohammed, and doomed
10 apnihiation. The circumstances connected
with this sad event are melancholy in the extreme,
and are detailed by a correspondent of the Lon
don Morning Chronicle writing from CONSTANT
noplo under date 18th August, as Follows
You have been informed of the combination
between the Pacha OF Mosul and several power
i9i Kurdish chiefs for the exterminaton of the
Nestorian Christians Chaldeans. Letters re-
ceived the day before yesterday contain a deplo-
Taoie account oil tho results of the attacks of the
United troops. They had penetrated into the
centre OF the Tiyaree district burned the villages
and churches, destroyed the crops, and put the
inhabitants of both sexes to the sword. Three,
or according to other accounts five brothers of the
Patriarch have been slain, his mother was cut i'm
hall, and his sister horribly mutila,ed. The Pa
trlo'ch himself had fled 10 Mosul, and taken re-
huge I'm the British vice consulate. Thus n sect
which had preserved its independence during GEN.
turles, and had resisted tho prosecuting sword of
islam, when welded by the most powerful and
most intolerant of the followers of Mohammed-
which, In Its simplicity and isolation, had main.
tained tho doctrines and forms of a primitive
church for above fourteen centuries and which
mad escaped the corruption of religion, of morals
ana OF character, so conspicuous in all other
christian sects OF the East-has now, in the
weakness OF Mohammedanism and in the strength
OGSu ueHNclSu over 10
destruction.
Although tho Turkish authorities meri, the
strongest condemnation for the part they have la
Ken In this massacre, yet there are others con-
cerned who are almost equally responsible for the
results. The history Of the fall of the HISTORIANS
is new example OF the consequences of a sys-
TEN pursued by foreigners in the East, which we
cannot contemplate without the utmost indiuna-
ton. All those who have been the direc, or indi.
rect instruments Of their destruction, although
they may not have anticipated a result of so seri-
Gus nature to their inirigues, aud although they
may now shelter themselves under the cloak of
religion, have been guilty of great crime aganst
humanity. In their mountain Businesses the Nes-
'orans mad retained their Independence for centu-
RES. The first western traveller who succeeded
IN penetrating into them, was Dr. Grant an Anne
fican missionary. His object in visiting them
was the establishment OF schools and other means
oil instruction. No sooner had DR.. Grant met
with some success in the mountains, than the
Roman Catholic missionaries at Mosul, supported
by French political agents, endeavored TO counter
act IT.. The English High Church was also iea-
ions OF American entertainments in the midst OF
sect sui generating Episcopacy and an addi-
tonai firebrand was thrown into the country las,
autumn, In the person of the Rev. Mr.. Badger
During last winter the three parlies-the Ameri-
can, the Puseyite. and the Roman Catholic-have
waged an open warfare amongst themselves
The Americans, who had been first in the field,
only acted on the defensive the influence they
nad already acquired among the HISTORIANS, ena-
bied them, without much difficulty to retain their
position. Inc object OF the two remaining par
Ties was TO EJECT the Americans, and 10 establish
their own influence. They did not act in concert,
LOT their mutual enmity cquaIled their hostility
me Americans. No means left untried TO
effect their object. The agents of the Church of
tohle received the earnest co-operaon-in fact,
became the tools-of the French political agents
Mr.. Badger enjoyed the support of the British
local authority.
report began to prevail that the Americans
were assisting the HISTORIANS to build forts i'm
their mountains. The ignorant inhabitants of the
surrounding country, and their Governor. the Pa
cha OF Mosul, readily believed the assertion
Tor some time access to the mountains, from the
west, was denied to the American missionaries
Mr.. Badger and the Rolnanists renewed their Sc
parate attacks. Both had interviews with the
Patriarch, and both believed that they had esta-
pushed their Influence. The suspicious of the
Pacha OF Mosnl were excited from both parties
ne received accusations against their respective
adversaries, tending 10 increase his alarm. Mr.
badger pointed out the danger of Roman Catho-
lic!sm and French influence in the mountains the
french, IN return, the danger Of English influence
AT length, the combination we have described
was formed, and those alone who were innocent
nave fallen victims to the intriuues of men who
announced themselves TO them as their only sa-
vlours-ihe ministers Of Christ, and tho teachers
of civilization.
Strict justice compels us to state that the Ame-
Ticans are in this instance without blame. They
estaoIshed themselves first in the mountains, and
their efforts were success fully directed TO the i'm
ProVement CT the inhabitants, without any ute
rior political design. We believe that had the
Church OF England zealously co-opera,ed with
them as Protestant Christians, instead of opposing
theIn as beretical enemies, the disasters we have
described would not have occurred as it is, one
OF the most ancient and most interesting sects in
tho mountaineering from its origin, from its
language and from the purity Of its Christianity
has been sacrificed to the religions quarrels of
American Independents, English Puseyites, and
French Roman Catholics
The second event TO which we have above al
iuded, as showing disposition on the part of the
Forte, to return 10 the ancient anti Christian sys
tenn, is the threatened execution of an Armenian
which IS hourly expected, notwithstanding the
oil the foreign embassies. The only crime of this
man Is the recantation Of profession of Mahom-
mechanism, said to have been made in an hour oil
Intoxlcation. Should the Porte persist in his ca
pital punishment-which there is every reason to
fear will be the case--the sympathies of all
Christians Will certainly be enlisted against the
government Since the unfortunate Servian az
fair, the Porte has assumed an attitude which
may, perhaps, be justified by plausible arguments,
but is inudcious in the extreme, and NAV end i'm
the destruction Of this country. Abandoned by
Europe in question which intimately affected
her power, her pride, and her independence, Tuy-
Key has made last effort 20 regain the position
she enjoyed century ago--a position of isolation
and defiance. Such the feelings of the pre-
sent Ministry and the Dvan. We may talk Of
Russian int nd -,