The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-07-23
Sketches from the files Of foreign papers re-
ceiued at the Union" office BY the lasi
arripaL from Enpluad.


readers. Scarcely syllable about Texas or about
Oregon We have some articles on free trade, some
on the right of visitation, and several on that extra
ordinary island of New Zealand, which Is becom
ing an object of great curiosity, not only to Eng
land, bu, TO the whole civilized world. We shall
make some extracts, they present themselves, fol
the amusement instruction of the readers Of the
"Union:"
RELIGIOUS DISTURBANCES IN THE EAsr.--Ths
Alexandria EGYPT correspondent of the London
Times, under date Of June 18th, writes as follows
The packet Emmetie arrived here this day from
Beyrout, whence she sailed the 7th inst. The
greater part Of the population of the mountains Of
Lebanon have taken refuge in the towns along the
coast, where the government have ordered that the
most necessous shall receive soldiers ratons Ill
such time as they can return to their homes. Tn,
principal Druse and Christian sheiks were invited
to conference at Beyrout by the local government
under tie guarantee of The European consus and
after some deberation, they agreed to sign trucs
urtil more perfect arrangements could be made
Business was at complete stand, excepting in
few articles of necessary consumption.
The following are few facts connected with IN,
recent disturbances between the Druse and Christian
populations of the Lebanon, received from good au
thority at Beyrou
In Syria, the ntrigues of the Shehab family to re
turn to power have rendered the Lebanon the scene
Of barharous civil war.
Since the Porte declared in 1912 to the five grea
powers, that the house of Shehab were not to re.
sumo the rule of the Lebanons, this numerous fam
NY have, by every means in their power, endeavor.
ed to disturb the peace Of the Lebanon, in order to
prove that the form Of government Of the two Cai-
makans, Cor the Druse and the Christian governor,
one for each sect,) recommended by the five pow
ers, and accepted by the Porte in lS42, could
be carried into effect
A person must be acquainted with Orienal-and,
what is worse, Arab intrigue and polltics-in order
TO form AN idea of the meannessand selfish heartess-
ness Of the intrigues of the Shehabs for length of
time past They bribed TO any amount, and en-
couraged the shedding of blood without remorse, if
1t Only tended 10 prove that the two Caimakans
could not govern the mountaineers of the Lebanon.
Such policy would have led one to hope that the
intrigues Of the Shchabs confined to them
selves; but it 80; and it will hardly be be-
hcyed that, in this Bbe-readng age, the chief al
lies Of the house of Shehab, in all their schemes of
conspiracy against the peace of the country, were
the clergy Foreign religious sympathies, it is to
he regretted, also aided to keep alive the spirit of
discomfort engendered by the native clergy, and
gave encouragement to the people.
The Shehabs struggled for political power; the
Catholic Arab church for ecclesiastical supremacy;
and the Maronite patriarch perceived that the
form of government upheld by the five powers, by
dividing the Lebanons into two governments, had
diminished their influence; The clergy then lent their
powerful aid to the Shehab interests, not merely
morally, but ply sically and when il came to fight
ing, went out armed, as the others True to their
policy, the Shehabs have never ceased to keep alive
and excite the hatred of the native Christians against
the Druses. They succeeded well, that, two
years back, the Christian pronounced traitor
who visited Druse, or entered into any sort of
friendly relations with him. An unfortunate priest
who contravened this rule, and visited Druse
sheik, who had shown kindness to his family, was
put 10 death by Abusamra, a military leader of the
Christians. others er hnr bnro iialv ,ynundpd
The Christians declared that they would
tolerate in any shape, with any notifications,
the rule fthe Drusesi they or the Druses were to
be driven from the Lebanon, eXterminated. The
organization of this war had been long going for
ward; and bishops, with the language Of religion
their lips, ordered the inhabitants TO provide them
selves with muskes, and powder and shot; and
the member of the Christian flock who would not
arm himself for against his neighbors was
denounced by his bishop. On the other hand, the
great mass of Druses were opposed TO war; and all
the leading chiefs had entreated their government
protect them from the ruin and desolation about to
be inflicted upon them by the conduct of the She
habs. The Turkish government, no doubt for its
own political ends, took measures TO arrest the
storm, which it apparently intended to make sub
servient to its own purposes The unwearied exer-
tons of British agents were directed to battle the
cunning intrigues of the house of Shehab, and to
preserve peace in the mountains; and, although they
have not succeeded, they turn their efforts to-
WdTuS assisting tnOSe VINO nave suffered from not
taking their advice.
The Shehabs first commenced hostilities by Sc
ries of demonstrations, which the Druses were not
slow in retaating; and state of feeling existed be-
tween the two parties, from which speedily resulted
a collision. The leader of the first attempt to
prise the Druses, was the Maronite Bishop Joseph,
of Bait Shebeb. The burning of the numerous
Drusc villages marked his way, but the Christians
were soon overcome by their more warlike enemies;
and Bishop Joseph, the first to lead in success
the first to turn his back in reverse. He fed from
Gezeyer to Yahleh and Beyrout, taking with him
the flower Of the garrison of Gezeyer his late head
quarters. This devoted town, thus abandoned was
then taken and sacked by mixed body Of Druses
and Mussulmans, and such cruelties were committed
might be expected only from Infatuated savages.
The result of this deplorable conflict is, that the
Druses have everywhere obtained the ascendency;
and the unfortunate instruments of the Infamous
policy Of the Shehabs, the Christians have been
the unhappy victims. The war has been confined
TO the mixed districts, but the whole country is a
scene of desolaton, villages burnt, and harvess de-
sroyed; the Druses, bitter in spirit and barbarous
in nature, have spared neither age sex. But on
whom falls the greatest responsibility the savage,
who acts his unenlightened mind directs; or
the educated Christian clergy, who famed the flame
which has burnt oil around
The strife from which the Shchabs hoped to gain
the fulflment of their ambitious wishes has been
their ruin and three of their emirs have been killed
III the CONNECT. Inc forte nust nave Dccn aware OF
this last desperate effort of the Shehabs the Pasha
of Beyrout has proclaimed that the old emr Bechir
has been banished from Constantinoplc to Zafran-
poll.
From the London Times July 3.
CoNsTANTNorLE, June II.
The last ten days have been marked by extraor-
binary festivities to celebrate the marriage of Me-
hemet Pasha with the youngest sister Of the Sultan
The shores of the Bosphorus have been studded at
night with Nominations and fireworks exhibited
every evening, rising from its dark waters, and fit
fully displaying its minarets and palaces. An en-
campment was formed on the plain of Haidar-Pa-
sha, in ASIA for the ministers and functionaries of
the Porte; and entertainments given there to the
rious public bodies, civil and religious, well as to
the diplomatic corps, and of the foreign mer-
chants and residents. Rope dancing, Franconi
exhibition OF Craftsmanship, and the ascent of a
balloon, were Inc entertainments provided for the
Turkish public. On any Of those days, at Haidar-
Pasha ne scene was strikngly gay and picturesque;
in fact, 1t was one of the rare instances in which
the ideal Of Eastern effect might to great extent.
be seen realized. The slightly undulating plain