The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-08-05
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THE DEMANDS OF RUSSlA--THE
EASTERN QUESTION.
The precise demand of Russia, as stated at
the close of our last article, was, that Turkey
should pledge herself by treaty stipulation,
thst he ancient immunities and privileges
of the Greek Church should be secured to It
for all time to come. There was odemand
for any formal recognition OF Russia a. Pro-
tector.
Tn regard to the nature OF the contract thus
reou;red. Prince Menschikof. as shown by
Bishop Southgate in the historical sketch
before us, repeatedly braved his demand
first, requiring aconvention, the highest form
of diplomatic contract; next, Vizeriai let
ter. in which the Grand vizier becomes the
contracting party in behalf of the Sultan; ana
finally, note from the Minister for Foreign
Affairs, the lowest form of engagement INTO
which Turkey ever enters, and which IS IN
Turkey one of the most ordinary modes OF
temporary expedients, and generally remains
in force as long as tho minister who gave II
remains in office. One of the GROUNDS apon
which Prince Menschikoff enforced TINS de-
mand, was, that the Porte, having SO repeat
edly deceived Russia, in the matter OF the
firmans relating to the Holy Places, the EN-
peror would require treaty stipulation, thal
the rights of the Greek Church should not
hereafter be invaded. 1t is this demand upon
the Sultan, with reference to the government
Of his own subjects, which is complained Oh
as violation of the sovereignty OF Turkey.
Bishop Southgate admits that this COM
plant would be well founded viewing .ho
question as now arising for the frst tune De
tween Russia and Turkey, and viewing the
sovereignty of Turkey as standing TILL now,
unimpaired towards all foreign nations. But
he proceeds to prove that there is no Chr's-
tian Government, not even our own which
treats Turkey as sovereign and independent;
and that, since the battle of Navarino' she
has not only existed by European sufferance'
but has been governed by European dicta-
tion-dictation daily exercised by one or the
other of the Five Great Powers; and that,
not only in matters affecting their own inte-
rests, but in affairs purely Turkish, and in
the interior administration of the Govern
ment. That even the American Government
,es not recognize the sovereignty of Tur-
kew, is shown by the fact that, like the Gov
ernments of Europe, it does not allow the o.
toman Government to administer justice to
anv of its citizens in the Ottoman Empire.
The foreign criminal is delivered up to the
minister of his country, or else allowed to 60
at large. What kind of sovereignty is that
which does not possess the prerogative OF ex.
9 'cising its own laws over all who reside
within its territory?
tits next shown that Russia, in the demand
of Menschikof, asked no more for herself
than was guaranteedto others.
In the year 1s4l, the European Powers
formed compact, in which they agreed that
the integrity of Turkey should be preserved,
and that she should be taken under their united
tut;eage, state of things entirely destructive
of the idea of Turkish independence. In
1874, England and France united in de-
mand upon the Sultan, that he should abro-
gate the MOhommedan law, which requires
that man apostatising from Mohommedan-
ism, shall be put to death. In vain the Sui
tan struggled against the requirement; In
vain he urged that the law was fundamental
law of the Empire; that it was law of their
religion; that, based upon a dream of Mo-
homed, it was, in their estimation, revealed
law of Deity; that an attempt to abrogate it
would create a rebellion. England and
France were inexorable, and the Sultan was
compelled to promise, in his own handwri-
ting, that the law should no more be execu-
ted. Compare this" continues Bishop South
gate, with the demand OF Russia. She did
not ask that any law be abrogated, but only
that the ancient and acknowledged immuni-
ties andrights of the Greek Church be secur-
ed to it in the future, by written pledge
She does not ask that the royal word be CIV
en-, but simply note from the Minister of
Foreign Affairs If she is thereby bringing
attaint to the sovereignty of Turkey, what
have England and France been doing?"
Again, England has more recently demand
ed that the Porte recognize as separate sect
the seceders from the Eastern Churches to
Professionalism, and in this demand she has
also been successful.
Another and very striking illustration of
the argument is given by Bishop Southgate
in the case of a sect of seceders from the Sy-
rian Church to the Church of Rome which
occurred in ls4l. These seceders seized
large amount Of valuable Church property
the clear and admitted property of the Sy
rian Church, and all the efforts of the Syrian
Bishop to recover possession of it at the
Porte proved unavailing. Upon enquiry, it
was found that the French Ambassador was
opposing a settlement, and upon the Syrian
Bishops protesting against this interference
ofa foreign power, the reply was that France
was the acknowledged Protector of the Eos
tern members of the Roman Church a. :.
the words of the French Ambassador .,ha
hereditary Protector of the Oriental Cath
lies In this character, the French Amh..
sador had interfered; in this character he va.