Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-09-21
THE TURKISH SULTAN.

agricultural products of the districts around them.
THE TURKISH SULTAN.
The arrival at Washington of an Envoy or Spe-
cial Agent from the Ottoman Government naturally
attracts attention to the character of the young Sui
tan, and the spirit and principles which appear to
have guided his policy, and, SO far to have marked
his reign
During the past year the public attention has
been frequently called to the position of the Turk
ish Empire, and the position which its Sultan as
sumed among the other Sovereigns Of Europe. 1t
was year of tful import to the Liberties Of those
people Who had heretofore enjoyed any, and it often
seemed that the moment had arrived when the
power f royalty, at least Of the despotic form of
royalty would fall before the power Of the masses.
1t seemed that the prediction Of frances glory, as
well al its scourge-the great NApoLEoN-was
about Il be fulfilled and that Europe with her mil
lions would become either republican or Cos
sack" There are many, too, who thought to see,
amidst The rage of political elements the advent Of
mans worldly delverance, and that he was here
after togovern himself or, at least, have his own
wishes bear their due weight on his destinies.
Amidst the many rapid changes of that period,
when kings fed before the demands Of the people,
or were compelled to accede to their wishes, it
might readily have been apprehended that the Otto
man Sultan, the despotc sovereign Of the East,
would also be carried away by the many different
and heterogeneous classes over which he reigns,
and perhaps be overrun by the successful arms OF
Europe. We have read and heard
much of the reforms made both by his late father
and by himself. They certainly have no tendency
to circumscrbe the privileges such they are, OF
the inhabitants of his empire; but, on the con-
trary, to render them happy by the enjoyment of
knowledge, which is the chief source Of political
freedom to any people. 1t is a remarkable fact
that whilst the rest Of Europe was convulsed, all
parts of the Ottoman empire remained quiet and
faithful to the young Sultan, whose benevolent
measures had gained the affections and entire con-
fidence of his subjects. What great moral spec
tacle to us Americans, to see Mohammedan prince,
and the hitherto great despot Of the world, advan-
cling the cause Of man struggling for his liberty, by
protecting him in the hour of his failure. We need
scarcely add that we allude to the most noble and
mapnanimous conduct of Sultan ABD AL MAGID
toward the unfortunate Hungarians.
Scarcely any one is ignorant of the circumstance
of Hungary being country naturally strong by
its geological features on one side covered by
high and impossible mountains, and on the other
by vast sandy plains, which clog the advances Of
armies and render military performance imprac-
ticable. 1t is filled with people entirely distinct
from The rest of Europe by language and charac-
ter. Their religion is generally Protestant. They
are not excelled perhaps not equaled, by any other
people for their bravery and military spirit; whilst,
at the same time they celebrated as agricultur-
lists. They offer powerful barrier to the advance
of Russian arms against Turkey, and the Ottoman
Sultan must naturally have looked upon their
struggle with no little self.interest. Their cause
was his own, and their enemy the most dreaded
one Of his throne and empire. England and France
prevented him from joining in the struggle per-
laps, had the wishes of his troops and Mohamme-
Ian subjects generally been consulted, the assist
,nce which he was able to offer the Hungarians
night have secured the independence of Hungary,
md thrown back Russia full century, if not in
Iced, forever, in her supposed designs upon Tur-
ley. 1t would have been most popular move,
nd its results to the East incalculabe. But the
land of power laid low the hopes of brave peo-
le The greatest misfortune that can befall man |
hen was theirs. They were compelled to fly be-
ore an overwhelming force; to forsake their coun-
~, their homes forever, and to seek shelter within
he territory of Prince whose empire has hereto
pre- been considered barbarous and uncivilized.
n this same Sovereign they found benevolent
-iend, who succored them in the hour Of their
reatest need. Four thousand Hungarians and .
'oes, mostly officers, among whom were KossuTH,
)EaB1NsKI, BEN, and BATHIANY, were received
vith hospitality truly Mussulman. They were
Il provided for as well as it was possible; the
ultan gave them the same pay and rations as his
wn troops, and NJ. KossuTH was still treated as :