Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-04-26

|
tnat the refusal OF the Sheik Islam TO consent 10 tb.
measure was the cause Of bis deposition If th, ,tste
ment De correct IL Is beyond all comparison the most i-
since the destruction OF the Jauissares for !, n
roni which Sultan Mahmoud himself recoiled bopgb
oen contemplated as one OF the most essential con-
o'uons OF the regenerations Of the empire In fact .
measure so contrary to the preudces Of the Muumsns
and the interests Of the Ulemas could hardly b.y h.s
with any chance Of safety the Sultan or hi.
ministers unless he had the support Of q coosder.hle
iorce IN the immediate neghborhood Of the cap,. mi
even now We shall not be surprised to learn tbat oo.
snd o. .ns description has been followed BY agitation
ana excitement among the hussnlman population
The mosques and religious foundations OF tie Ottoman
empire from important spiritual corporations e.erci.nor
an independent legal and theocrs DO In the st.
me uiemas or masters Of the law and the Koran are h
oe posseeors OF the vast wealth belonging To these oun
aaons and at the same time, the e1pounders Of The
ah and fundamental laws Of Isam they enoy an author
y TO which the highest powers in the State baya 80.
compelled to bow The insecurity Of property under an
Government, and many other causes have induce
urkish iando "ners from generation to generation To
assign over the fee simple OF their estates 10 The
reservng only the usuuct themselves and er dr.ct
male descendants Land thus held BY the mosques or
gous corporations became pdeooE or II il termed In
India re and is held for ever In mortman sucb Isnds
nave hitherto been exempt from taxation and personaI
aud this tenure has 50 increased and Extend
y 'ne mere influence Of duration and security In am
empire where all other property is Huctuatnv and ina.
cure ,na iu three quarters Of the soil OF The Turk ish
domnons are said to be held in this manner To di.pos
nese powerful corporations Of landed property which
tney nave held for centuries by the wood bond Of eg,
usage and religious veneraon-to resume the direct an
oi the Sultan over so large portion of the lands
OF the empire, one-thrd OF which allotted to the
mosques by Aahomet, the Couquerer-and To def tho
whole power which the Uemas and religious orders NAV
aoe 70 pus forth in defence of their vested rights n
certainly one oil the bolde5t taken n
emergency.
But we entertain no doub. that this resumption Of
ans IS an indispensable preliminary the real reform
anu progress OF the country Sooner later in its histo
y every Christian State has undergone H. and the vast
possessions winch the superstition the rapacity Of ior
mer placed 10 the hands Of the church have been re-
stored 10 the common Of society The social reyo-
uton which Is being effected in Turkey by the emancipa
ton oil the Christians, and the establishment of prpei
Pe oi equay between all races and religions Of the en-
pure leo oy an inevitable consequence the abolition Of
tne exclusive supremacy which the Mussuans have hh-
erto exercised over the largest portion of the soil
IN TOE Archipelago and in the provinces from which they
are excluded by treaty And, although changes of this
nature are never accomplished without the dangers and
suerings nseparable from revelations. the future strength
s9a naepenaenGe OF Turkey depend the introduction
totally distinct from that which has reduced 40
msgnihcent an empire to the verge Of dissolution
are lou that the 'ast message received at Berlin
rom the Emperor Of Russia and conveyed that Court
6y fnce George OF Aecklenburg Is the effect that the
emperor VIII evacuate the Pincpaities whenever the
western foWes have obtained from the Turks by treaty.
Ine emancipation OF the Christian population. The West.
ern roWes nave sought as little possible bind the
Porte by treaty to any such conditions and il is not pe
Tor their object that the concessions made to the
Christians should be the result of any compact with
ioreign government but matter of fact the Porte
already conceded infinitely to its Christian subecrs
on the friendly representations Of the Allied Powers than
could ever have granted to the Of Russia and
the Emperor Nicholas is disposed To make the enamel
patton of the Christians the of peace or war he
at once withdraw from the Princpaes be has invaded
SINCE We have gained for the Christians OF the East
oy defending the rights Of Turkey than be claimed by at
tacking them We cannot however regard the
last forwarded to Berlin by the Prince Of Meckenburg ss
serious honest overture and We fear thew are
ed 10 serve very different purpose The object of the
Court Of Russia IL If possible detach Prussia and Aus
ia altogether from the alliance Of the Western Powers
and even to induce them repudate the principles TO
which they have given their assent by the Protocols Of
Fienna To accomplish this purpose the most obvious
course s 10 put forward proposition peace sufficiently
plausible to enable the German Powers 70 make il pres
text Tor them 70 desert the interests Of Europe though
NOT ucient real and important to the operations
| of the Western Powers.
Such proposition has accordingly been sent Tn Berln
where, as we have strong believe both the King
OF Prussia and bis Minister watching for ar
nifty 70 evade the ASSURANCES given by them only as week
10 the Chambers and to beray the confidence which has
been unduy placed in those by
atives of the people Il is however in Berlin ONLY and
not IN NenDs that these scandalous intrigues of the Rus
sian party are carried with activity and success for
the language and attitude Of the Court Of Austria
Russia and towards the Western Powers continue to be
totally different from that of Prussia and the yery e1is.
tence Of Germany independent nation depends on
the triumph OF the principles which Austria adheres
upon the base and hortsighted views OF the Court Of
Charottenburg. No language which could with pro-
prey employ would adequately describe the policy Of
the hing OF Prussia and regret add that Baron
hanteunel, in whom We for time disposed to
place confidence has incurred strong suspicion of dup
city and bad faith which the disgracel as hey
directly opposed the he proessed at no dis
ant period his firm resolution pursue We had hoped
he might be the Hardenburg of Prussia but we fear be
will prove another Hughwiz and lose n mean subsection
10 foreign intrigue the credit he enoyed as the Min
lister Of an independent Crown.