Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-05-07
FROM the NEW YORK EVENING posr.

CONSULAR POWERS IN THE EAsT.-In Mr.
BRYANT's letter from Smyrna, which appeared in
this paper on Saturday last, the following remarks
on the subject Of the powers and duties Of United
States Consuls at Turkey seem to call for special
remark:
The foreign Consus in the Turkish Empire have great
power under the laws Of the country and great weight
with the Government of the Sultan If Pasha Gov
Of province misbehaves himself and gives them
just of complaint application from them address
ed to the Sultan is to procure his removal can
commit any to prison, within the district for which
consul, said Consul at Beyroot me, for any
whatever and it is only after he has been prs-
for three days that the Pasha has right to send to
me inquiring the reason of his detention
But this is not all law passed by the Congress of
the United States in August S48, makes the American
Consus appointed for the Turkish Empire judges in all
causes Of criminal nature in which citizen of the
United States is the accused party Ipray you to look at
he statute and if it is not extraordinary one The
nsul both the judge and the jury and from his SEN
tnce there is appeal The usages of the Turkish En-
IRE and if am not mistaken special treaty with the
Ior sanction the exercise of this power the part Of
Geonsu Mr. Ofiey Is the American Consul at the
pcrof Smyrna He may not only throw me and the Anne
rici friends who with me- and the two Smyrnates
whcame on with us from Cairo and now in lazaret.
prison, ana keep Us lnere three on
acation at ALL but he may hang all the Americans Of
oupary tomorrow morning, without allowing us mo-
mos delay, any opportunity of procuring the reyi
si(of hasy capricious sentence Hyou should find
thaw to be / have stated, hope you win inquire
wther it ought not to be Immediately amended.
Powers like those which have mentioned ought not
toe entrusted to any but the most able and uprigh
u. An American Consul in port Of the Turkish En-
F the Sultan Of all the American citizens who
hn his districts he holds their lives and liberties in
hands. As much caution ought to be used in select
competent persons for the post for that Of the
portant judicial ofce-the highest consciousness
the soundest judgment qualities too exalted
it. Yet it is sometimes strangely misbestowed
" Not long since Prussian subject who was obliged
leave Constantnople for some msbehayior, and who
uld not return to it in private capacity, the
nited States and after interview with Mr. Webster
blamed from Mr. Fillmore the appointment of American
nsu at the port Of Constantnople He arrived Syria
Greece, with the commission in his pocket and was
waiting for American vessel of convey him
his place of destination where he expected make
Of triumphal entry, when Mr. Marsh, our Minister at
Constantinople, hearing Of his appointment wrote in
stantly Mr. Fillmore, assuring him of the mans utter
unworthness, and advising that his commission should
be Immediately revoked This DONE and the Prus-
sian received notice his dismissal as soon as it could be
forwarded to him. do give you his name, because
not quite that remember it, and being in the
azareto, have Of informing myself by inquiry
but you may perhaps find it in the list of appoint
ments at all events you shall have it in my next after
let out Of this prison. The ought to be put
record warning against hasty appointments Office
hardly suppose that the Office bestowed in thi:
ase with any distinct recollection Of its powers and
responsibilities"