The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-03-02
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY N TURKEY.
Important Movements In CsHstaatinoplc, Rdi-
gious and Diplomatic.
PROClEDINGS OF THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE
INSTRUCTIVE LETTER OF Mr.. RICHTER.
CONFINED DIPLOMATIC COSTGREssEs.
Hlghly Interesting Letter to the Grand v1ser
from the American miaister,
IN n Xn

ne letter Of Minister Mr. Carroll Spence to the Grand
ver sppsaeg for the asolltior throughout the ark
ish dcmniors Of death penalty against Mahomssans
who have turned Christians, cory from this weeks
Issue of the Ne rk Observer cd sehoo. ressytsr
IN organ:-
[Cor esp pdsnce Il the New York 0oserysrl
DEATH PENALTY IN TURKEY.
CoSsIASInoPLz Dec. 81 1865.
"Reminiscences Agdiax Religious Persecution
Minister'S address TO the Stan Rsr Mr. Rightcv's
Lefer-Grea. Religious Aoee@erae Ant'eipated,Nep
Cds1 Of Persecution BoRishapsnt and he Batsaddo
tits remarkable now lie Bible is spres ling among
the hchamn edAns, aud that too without any direct
sor. il thei: beh. They are coming to our dsposto;
ries OF their OWE accord, and purchasing and
reading the fcsiptuies, ann in nsny instances
rsnoun,iIg he a,s'em Of the 'aiss prophet,
and embracing the gospel of Christ though sas law OF
the ,ran the penalty OF death all Mus
who receive Christian faith and bsevs that
Christ and not Nah mined is the true prophet OF GOD;
and Sayi:r of the world.
Much effort is made from ysr gus sources to
the repeal Of this n otous law at eas. pledge from
the Sultan that ii -h.il no longer be enforced
A branch Of the Evangelical Alliance has been sstab
hshed at Constannope composed OF Christians rom al
the Protestant churches represented here whose pr ne
pal object in 10 secure liberty q conscience FOR all
throughout the Turkish empire. The Evangelical
of religious h,erty 10 the principal scy-seiens of
Europe, nciuc ing he Queen OF Great Britain,
Prussia the En- peror Austria the Sultan OF Turkey,
and also to the President Of the Uaiie1 States Favor
able already beep received from several OF
these Powers, and instructions she subject
have been their ambassadors 1t Consan.inops,
who have seyeray reptesented the case % the u oms
Porte and demanded q repeal of ths ha rhAroui law
deputaon las also eeen appointed by The Constantine
pie branch Of the Alliance to present the petition re
ceved from the Paris Conference into the hAnis OF his
Mjesy S1i-sn. They selected 10 represent the
four different 1lcns1ties, English French German
and American. We called upon his highnes the Grand
vizier and stated to him the object ct mission to
convey q memorial into the hauds OF the Sultan,
praying liberty or conscience kis dominions, and
repeal Of The Turkish law which iracts the Pc naty
of death upon all native born Nus.uimans who embrace
the Christian faith re received very kindly and
cd he vaa hat a
sened but referred to the Mr ster oi Foreign Affairs
proper channel for bringing the SUBJECT before his
We afterwards sde visit TO his highness the MIN
mister Of Foreign Affairs and were received IN miar
cour,e. He took the paper from our hands
and read it entirely through in oui presence, then
bowed, and sssul ed that he wonl place the docu-
rial Divsn would take the subject into considesa-
ton. THIS surely, is quite another reply shan We
mignt ave anticipated from Minister OF the
sultan upon question tia. undermnes the very basis
OF the NChan me1an ie1gton
fhs Hon. Carroll SPENCE, American Munster 20 me
Porte has presented the following oicil comuiunica
tie sultan tue subject COPY Ok which have
iueoea puecaton eeiipg assuIeS hat it would
provs general Interest 10 the friends O. religious oer
in America by seti5g forth in condensed vies the
vaiiors effected in Turkey ana elaborate ar
gums eipg the mediate repeal Of tbs exstiog law
Not~i S andna these good sauencss exerted at the
Capiti persecution of Aohsmmeaans for receiv
, me = s is
from recently received from the Pew Mr. schnei-
Ger, Of Ain alb, near Aeppo
q
high reputation for sancy and greatly reversnced
by ths -uAs OF that place. curing tne sst summer began
nothi m re ran a and prophet; and
that Christ the true and spotess prophet OF
God the cby mediator. Tbis man is SHOWN to have
been ing Hvy Scriptures for several years past
and very an,ilaciy acquainted with their
doctrines
OMIT uumler ef uusse O. ans OF AiutAb have also
been OF less influenced by HIM cad rom eighty to
hundred have been in tie habit u inssins together
and hste ming to his ins = uctiOns.
When the above declaration made 10 that open
manner very naturally grea. excitensut was pro1ucci
In the town, and several Turks made complaint :, the
Msd9no or Turkhh Court against ths der Tish and five
six NJ his leading asseciates
present began to persuade and Aster and At length
threaten him, but IL TO purpose. He stn adhered
indexiby to his former declaration and those that
apprehended with him dclsrsd that they cherished the
same sentiments an were ready to share his fate The
Governor, seeing that there was hope of inducing
the. BY persuasion threats to reeant said that he
would inform his supeler, the Pasha of Aeppo of the
circumstances, and await his orders.
About one month AFTER which about tns time
needed TO get the orders Of The PashA The dervsh AID
other banished 10 BiIigk, in the nterior and
tbs others 1--WE Fix in number) bastinadoed until
never sS.s TO- sus deo.son 81
made regard to the prophet They received about forty
blows esca on tie bare feet
Such IL the punishment inflicted upon Nussulm ans at
the present day In Turkey tor openly proc aiming their
faith in Christ the true prophet and mediator which
few since not merely Punishment the basti
nado but immediate death.
We trust however that the Protestant pausnces now
ia operation Constantinople will prove efectua
sniy securing the repeal pquitous death PEN
atty hut also rmAn the Sultan that all persecu
ton m nscence sake shall henceforh cease throughout
his DON inors that Mohammsdans may he suffer
ed feeiy to becon Christians vi bout the fear OF i'm
prisonuent, Punishment or death. Sincerely yours,
HON. CARROLL SPENCE TO THE GRAND vIZIER.
UNITED STATES LEGATION,
CoysrANTNoPIs, Nov. Is, 1856.
To HB HIGHsEss ALI PASTA, GIA,D vizIR:-
In union y it'll some of my colleagues The Sub
lime Porte beg 70 call the attention Of your Gxcelency
to subect In which my government feels deep inter
est aLude TO the abrogation OF the la making it
capital fence for Mussulman to renounce Isamsin.
Before assigning to your Excellency the which
have induced V address, the present communica
ton permit to ark, that the diplomatic repre-
bominors Of the sultan desire arrogats myself
right TO interfere in the civil religious regulation, OF
his hsjesty's government Permitting Intervention
the part of other nations in domestic concerns the
government Of the United States claims light to inter-
s.nnot but feel an interest In ali questions in which it's
either from political religious motivss in
,eressd and the expression of that interest this
occasion suggestive of the repeal of law which A.
fecs the subjects of another country hopes that de-
10 procure for them the religious freedom
iyed BY N own citizens win entite it's suggestions to an
Az the representative however, OF republic the con-
ss,tuon o. wn,sn * aims a.. Isns on the part rs
ment Of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
1.-The territories and honor Of which have been
open TO the believers in all faiths-the laws Of which
operate alike on the followers Of a prophets hatter
myself that shall escape the imputaten Of an oAicous
suggesting TO It, the abrosation offs law which compes
usn 70 purchase the most estmsbls Of all rights, rec
IN Of conscience, at the expense Of his life. r.
however, I entertained any scruplss Of delicacy in
addressing your Exoslency upon . suhjsc, so init.
n Atey connected with the reogious organization
forms already made by his Majesty the sultan, to
smeorats the condition and TO contribute the happi
and prosperity o. his subjects would have induced
TO abandon them. Frankly and freely propose to
present TO your Excellency consideration such sugges
tiops ~ deem advisable in support Of the request which
make hs Msjestys government, drawing from the past
concessions made by him 70 his Christian subjects in
favor Of religious freedom, hope that he will accord
empire.
Your Excellency is doubtless Of the fact that
msuy the causes and which in times gone by
3ei ated spirit Of religious persecution, and sanction
ed The enactment of laws Furnishing spostscy with DEATH
Sse ceased exist and now regarded Dy mankind
inadenuae too bal haroua for the