Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1854-09-08
Benevolent Interpositioa.

Whatever may be thought of the taste of the com,
pliments officially addressed by Mr.. Spence. onr
Minister at Constantnople to the Sultan, we cannot
but admire the benevolent use he made of his good
impressions afterwards in behalf of the citizens Of
Greece, who were about TO be summarily expelled
from the Turkish capital He urged with effect tho
proprety OF an extension of the time (ony Is DAYS
IN whlch the Greeks were to depart It seems from
his letter that there were at that time in Pera and
the villages In the vicinity of Constantinople mn
wards of twenty-five thousand subjects of the KIM
of Greece, some OF whom were very extensively en-
gagged ip commerce, many of whom had large fam
lies and whose expulsion would involve most of them
in utter ruin. Mr.. Spence therefore made earnest
intercession in behalf of the unfortunate peopIe -
We copy few passages from his letter.
"The contest between the Sublime Porte and tbo
Emperor of Russia has elected the sympatbies Of
large portion of the christian world in behalf of tho
Ottoman nation. This sympathy, springing in a
great degree because the rights of weaker are invo
ded by stronger power, has induced some nations to
take up arms IN defence of those rights, and awaken
ed IN others deep socitude for the success Of tho
efforts of The Sultan to maintain them"
! Referring to the six months which had already
elapsed since the commencement of the war with
Russia, and the ndu granted to the subjects of
the latter Mr. Spence continues:
"Havng granted this Indulgence 10 the subject of
nation against whom is already declared, the
armies of which have already invaded his territories
whose swords have been stained with the blood f
his subjects, will his Imperial Majesty, the Sultan
refuse to extend it to a nation against whom as vet
he has promulgated no declaration of war and which
as yet has committed no avowed act Of hostility!
e The Ottoman Porte, eminent christian writer
remarks, has at all times, international subjects
given an example of moderation to the other Powers
of Europe. trust it will avail itself of this oppor
tunity of proving the lustness of the remark and
by extending the time limited for the departure Of
the subjects of Greece from lis dominions give 70
the world another example of that moderation and
humanity which has hitherto marked its policy to-
wards other nations"
Mr. S. concludes by the following explanatory par-
agraPh, which seems to us to be in good taste
I" The Rel ublic of which have the honor 10 be
the diplomatic agent near the Sublime Porto has, as
your Excellency is fully aware, sedulously avoided
all interference in the disputes which have hereto
fore disturbed the peace of Europe The misfor.
tunes, social or POLITICAL which have resulted from
them have, however, never failed to elicit from our
citizens that sympathy which happy and generous
people refuse to the unfortunate and oppressed
Entertaining violent antpathy against, protesting
no unbounded attachment for any particular nation
our Government has hitherto refraned from cavil-
ling at the course of policy pursued by any No
people, however, witness with greater pleasure every
attempt on the part of other Powers to advance the
social condition of man in time of peace or to mti-
gate the mseres to which he is subjected in time
war. Prompted by desire to accomplish the latter
object address this communication to your Excel
lency and avail myself of the occasion presents to
offer 10 you the assurance of my high consideration