The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-09-29
From The Baltimore Sun.
From the Baltimore sun
,R SPENCE AND THE GREEKS IN TURKEY.


h Mr. Spence our minister at Consantnople, TO the sui
n il cannot but admire the benevolent use he made OF
ood impressons afterwards in behalf OF the citizens OF
Greece who were about to be summary expelled irom he
turkish capital" There has been no doubt with us that
NJ snence in all that he has said and done has been ac-
mated by the best impulses But impulse may be SAID
i. not an available qualification for diplomacy. True
o,ob bevond doubt We may add, however, that d.
sr,acv Is not very essential element of repubcanism
I'm the contrary we getting rather too diplomatic III
omacy as at present pracsed and understood Is ou an
other name for ntrigue and at this moment all Europe
agoo about some real suspected man@uvrlng OF MI
s,js in Snaiu We want an outspoken diplomacy Tor
h United States and when attempt the intrigue anu
ionerv which characterize the diplomacy oil Europe, 1t
80, "a bnad that we shall always turn out bungegs IN
Tho and Mr. spence when introduced to the sultan was
immersed with the conviction that Russia mao invaded
Turkish territory and tramped upon la" lSs vi lio our
tan Mr. Spence was right In his address he AeEer re-
trred 10 the allies their purposes or ad lie spoke siih
, viii; reference TO the wrongs OF Turkey Mt the hands
f russia And we take for granted that in this view oil
,h case there are few OF our citizens who do not agree
With Mr. Spence The interference and designs OF England
and France ms parties to quarrel between turkey ana nus
a mas be and is differently estimated Ia hls country AS
we have hipted before far they are concerned the ~
,erests of humanity the rights of Turkey are micro
erops points in the general issue England is tor Eng
land France for France but Nj SpenGo spoke for Turkey
III
the American legation Constantnople that through hr
Spepce the United States most prominent in eectual
Dterpostion behalf of the oppressed and prescribed
Greek inhabitants of that city And with some pride
as well as qualification that find the tone of Mr. Spenees
communication With the Porte upon this subject every
thing that should be- and emiHeny canent with his
position rs the representative of the American republic
Whatever may have been the obnoxious policy of the Hell
lenc government with respect to Turkey Mr. Spence took
the humanitarian view of the case, and exhibited to the
Sultan the rights Of independent of the wrongs Of
government The letter of M Spences of sufficient interest
TO induce us to lay it entire before readers II adj
dressed presume Reschid Pacha Minister of Foreign
Affairs though the official document only indicates that it
was addressed to "the Porte"
LEGATION or THE UNITED STATES,
Gqnstantinople, April o. 1854.
The undersigned minister resident Of the United States
Of America near the Sublime Porte acknowledges the
ceipt of copy of an official note addressed TO NJ Metaxa
envoy extraordinary and minister plenpotentary of the
King Of Greece in to from him to the Sublime
Porte which your excellency did the honor
NIT to the lst Of April.
From this note have learned that the diplomatic and
commercial relations between the Sublime Porte and the
kingdom of Greece ended the LIST OF April and that
the subjects Of that government have been allowed fifteen
DAYS after that date to depart from the capital of the Otto
man empire.
As there are at present in Rera, and the villages in tue
vicinity of Gonsantnope upwards of twenty-five or thirty
thousand subjects of the King Of Greece of whom
very extensively engaged In commerce. many of whom
have large families and their expulsion from the Otto
man empire within the time mentioned in your excellencys
note will involve most of them in utter ruin, trust that
the representative of nation which regards with
commiseraon the misfortunes of it matters not of
what country he is subject my intccesson in behalf of
these truly unfortunate people will not be deemed obtru-
sive
Did desire prove to your exeelency that the harsh
nea of international law adopted in times gone by in
reference both 70 the persons and the property OF an enc
yB subjects found in the dominons of belligerent pow
e. have yielded to the mde precepts incucaed IN mod
ern times by humanity and morality could present to
your exceeney better proof of the fact than the
unanimous and liberal conduct of his imperial Majesty the
Sultan towards the subjects of the Emperor Of Russia
now residing in his territories
Since the declaration of war by the Sublime Porte mp
yards of six months have elapsed aud yet the subjects of
the Gar permitted to remain within the dompions of
the Ottoman nation,
Will his imperial Majesty refuse to extend to a weak
power the indulgence which he has generously and hui
namely granted to powerful enemy2
The contest between the Sublime Porte and the Emperor
Of Russia has ELECTED the sympathies of large portion OF
the Christian world in behalf of the Ottoman nation THIS
sympathy, sprnging in great degree from conviction
that the rights of weaker invaded by stronger pow
has induced some nations TO take up defence o,
those rights and awakened il ppe,s deep 2ocitude for
e of tile efforts Of the Sultan maintain them
Of these nations there is which has not in past
times endeavored TO soften the rgors of by allowing
subjects of an enemy reasonable time after its declaration
10 recover to dispose Of and to withdraw their effects
from its territories Many Of these governments have not
only Incorporated sipqlaons TO that effect in their trea-
@ bt most Of them have made special provisions for the
Security CT the persons and property the subjects of
ehemy found in er domnions at the commencement OF
hosilities ''
To enumerate examples of this desire 10 ameorte the
condition Of the persons thus crcumsttnced BY extending
% the ample time arrange their commercial affairs to
dispose of their effects to enable them TO depart with
their property without subecting it TO the damages and
losses consequent upon hurried and forced removal
would be but mention other examples Of the obedience
of nations to those dictates of humanity and mercy
Gently illustrated by the humane conduct of his imperial
Majesty the Sultan towards the subjects Of the Gar OF Rus
STA Having granted this indulgence to the subjects of
nation against whom is already aec,ared the armies
which haze already invaded his territories whose swords
have been stained with the blood of !s subjects will his
imperial Majesty the Sultan refuse to extend it nation
against whom as yet he has promulgated declaration
war, and which us yet has committed avowed act Of
hostility
ine ottoman Porte eminent Christian writer re
arks has ~ al times ON international subjects given
example Of moderation TO the other powers of Europe
F5t " viii avail itself Of this opportunity of proving the
qsiness Of the remark and BY extending the time limited
Tor the departure Of the subjects Of Greece from its domn
long give TO the world another example that moderation
and humanity which has hitherto marked its policy
wards other nations
Should his imperial Majesty however deem it impoitt
70 grant an extension of the time designated in your excel
enys note to NJ Metxa all the subjects of Greece
resident IN his dominons, hope he will be induced to
pu further indulgence TO tno2a VINO nave Families
dtng IN the territories of the Sublime Porte The wives
ana children Of such persons would become hostages fol
Their good behavior
III transmitting this communication to your eXcellency
tated it, fr
Inc republic Of which have the honor to be the dplo
aue agent near the Sublime Porte has as your excenc,
siuy aware scdpousy avoided all interference in the dis
@ WncH haze HERETOFORE disturbed the peace of Europe
social or political which have resulted from
eb nave however failed 20 elicit from our citizen,
mat sympathy which happv and generope ,aole nave,