Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1853-12-01
The Turkish Empire.

AuS LuIhlsu Elupli0s
The frequent use of the words "Sultan,"
"Porte," &c., &c., in the newspapers pub
fishing accounts of affairs in Turkey at the
present time, are enormously understood by
many persons.
1.-The Sublime Porte," is the official title
Of the Government of the Ottoman Empire,
and not the title Of any officer Of the govern
ment, as many suppose it TO be. a
The Ottoman Emperor is called Sultan,
or Grand Sultan or Grand Seignior, accord-
ing to the fancy Of The person speaking or
writing. They all mean the same thing.
Pachais the Governor of province, and
according to the Importance of his province,
he is distinguished by one, two or three
tails. Every Pacha has his own army in
his own province, distinct from the grand
army of the empire, A Pacha with three
tails has the powerto punish with death
any agent whom he employs, or any indi-
vidual who seems TO threaten the general
safety.
Bey is a sub-governor under the Pacha.
The Divanis the Council Of State, and
consists of the principal ministers.
The Refs Effendi is high chancellor o.
the empire, and stands at the head of all the
body Of attorneys-which body is thought
TO contain the best informed men of the ma.
ton.
Cadi is a sort of judge or justice Of the
peace. To order the bastlnado on common
tpeople, to impose a fine on rich Greek oil
European; TO condemn thief 10 be hanged
is about all of the duty Of an ordinary Cadi
l. The power of the Sultan is absolute. He
appoints and displaces at his pleasure al
the great civil and military flnctionaries
and is master Of. their lives and fortunes
! When any State officer dies, whatever hi
possesses at his death goes into the poke
of the Sultan who is also master OF thu
lives and fortunes of every subject, ant
when any one dies without male issue, h
becomes heir 10 the estate. In case there
are sons, he claims only one-tenth, and The
sons retain the other nine -tenths. But they
do not own any Of it--no man can own o.
hold any right in fee simple to any inherited
property He is only tenant for life, ant
the Sultan's claim comes in at every mans
death. The clerks of the Grand Treasury
make their own valuation in settling estates
at as high rate as they please. 1t offer
happens that what is left after the one-tentf
| is gone is almost valueless.
In the cities and large towns, the Crane
Seignior is eurtailed in the exercise of thi!
unlimited authority by the presence of 81
many well informed persons as there always
are in cities, and through whose influence
he expects to gain favor and credit in tint
of need.
A secret police, in pay of the emperor, il
usually abroad, and the smallest pretence
are enough to confscate citizens prop
erty.
The people, when they choose to rebe
against their tyrants, set the city on fire
and almost always find support in the jeal
ousy Of some disappointed or ambitious per
son of influence, and sometimes in the in
dignant probity of some powerful individ
ual.
In the political state every man who i
invested with power is at liberty TO dele
gate that power entirely to another. Thu
the Sultan is vicegerent of the prophet
Every Pacha is a representative Of the SUI
tan, and the Bey is representative of tn
Pacha, and SO on in military progression
till every soldier carrying an order has: hi
authority, thus multiplying oppression, whic
falls heavily on all classes.
All public places and employments ar
openly given to the highest bidder. Thus
Pacha having paid high for his own offie'
in turn disposes of those in his line to thos
offering the highest price, taking care to il
demnily himself at the expense of thos
under him. The same system pervades a
Turkish society--the least favor or servic
conferred must be purchased by present
Even the sentence Of the Cadi and declar;
ton of witnesses are purchased in the SAN
way. This system is the more dreadful, ;
every grade of judges pronounce sentene
from which there is no appeal.
The present Sultan is said TO be higl
minded man, and in favor of reformir
many of the abuses of his government
There is room enough certainly.-( Bostc
: Transcript.