, 1864-08-16

Correspondence New York Tdbuue.1
.coasrAA1Ror7r, Ju!r ~, 1861.
foRcrDLE SEIZURE or ALL TIE PROTESTANT
MISSIONARY ESTABLISHMENTS IN CoSsTAS-
T1SoPLE.
All Constantinople is In ferment. The
greatest excitement prevails among all class.
te: On Sunday last, all the converted Turks
who could be found were suddV1ly seized
and thrown into prison. On Monday the es-
tablisbments Of the American Board. the
Amesiean At Bible Society the Britisn blbls SO.
eties, were seized By an armed force. the
occupants elected, and the buildings sealed
up.
This summary proceeding WAS the most
fsg' ant violation Of the treaty Of rights ever
heard Of IN this city. Aside from al regilg-
tous questions, this Ia the most serious act
upon which the Turkish Government ever
ventured.
AL the treaties with Turkey make foreign
residents responsible directly to their own
embassies Or consulatea, and Turkish po.
lice officer has no more right to enter their
London.
In the lace Of this right, which has never
before been degraded, American and Eng
1sh citizens were forced By armed soldiers
out Of their offices, and their establishments
were seized without the elghtest notice,
In spite Of their solemn protests. It America
and England do Iot compel the most ample
apologies for this outrage, there will be no
safety for their citizens IL Turkey: This
principle is the Magua Charta Of al foreign
ers N this land. It Is due t. the Hon. John
I. Brown. American Charge d'AHaires, to
say that thus far he has acted Ia the most
energetic manner, and has won the highest
praiee from both English and American resi-
dents. Sir Henry Bnlwer, the English En-
baseador has as yet done nothing.
SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THIS ATTACK UPON
PHoTEsTANT1sM.
If the Turks can be believed, these extra
ordinary movements originated with the
Sultan himself.
The Rev. Dr. 'Pmuder Of the English
Church Missionary Society, has written
within few yesrs, several very good but
very strong books against Mohammedanism,
which have been printed ia London, md pfi-
been very extensively read, and have excited
the fanatical Moslsms very much. These
books nre now put forward rs the sole cause
tor the action Of the Government, not only
against the society who published them, but
also against the American missionaries, who
believed the books nl-timed, and have op-
posed their circulation.
But as fur as cau be learned, there are po-
lftfcal reasons for this action on the part Of
the Government, which have probably led
them to put forward these books as p!ausi-
BILE pretext with which to blind the eyes Of
the astute English Embasador,
WIDESPREAD MOVEMENTS AMONG THE TURKS.
The majority OF the Turks in Constantine
pie artnot at heart true Mohammedans. The
better educated are Pantheists, full OF French
rationalism. The others are unsettled.
Thousands OF New Teetaments have been
circulated amorg them and In various other
ways they have come under the influence Of
6hr3a% hnrNr,fn0r FhH$a
tians. A large party wish to reform the Mo-
hammedan faith. Il Is said the5 have adopt
| ed the name Of Prote6tauts and have petit
| toned the government to recognize them
| and give them a mosque to worship In.
These things. In an exaggerated form hare
come to the knowledge Of the Sultan, who
has been informed thst the Ministry Of Fdad
Pasba favored this movement. To save
| themselves from this odium and from ineyft-
able disgrace, it became necessary for them
| to take some violent measures against the
| Protestants-wbich would satisfy tue Sultan
quiet the faratic2l party and frighten those
inclined to this new way. II the English
| Emtassad0r bad been q man they would not
have yentured to propose to him such an In.
| famous scheme for Strengthening themselves
| by overriding treaties and baselY Insulting
English and American, citizens. The highest
English legal authority here. the Judge OF
the Supreme Consular Court, pr3nonnces
|
rights of foreigners Which the Turkish Gov
erGment ever committed.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT DID AND HOW THEY
DID IT.
For weeks past the Missionaries have been
beset with spies ut every step and on Sunday
lsst I'll the Turks who have been baptized
we're arreeted-one On the premises OF an
Of the house Of an American missionary and
arrested In the street. Without any other
| charge than being Protestants, theJ were
| thrown into the prisons Of bool-exce pt
one 6ellm Agba, who was released after an
| hour'a detention, during which time, how
eyer. he was subjected TO the grossest In
suits. It fs not known why be was released.
The others still remain In close confinement
| With no immediate probability Of escape
This Is religious liberty In Constantinople.
on Monday the printing presses nsed By
the Protestant. societies wcro nil seized and
force appeared at the building occupied BY
the American Buard and Bible Societies. Nj.
Washbutn was ordered to close the building
Immediately. He refused. and referred the
officer to the American Embassy. The man
! replied that be knew nothing Of the Ameri-
building to be closed. It was again
refused. and he then said that, in
case Of such refusal, he WIS or
| dereG to lave the buil1ing and station 70
| soldiers ut the door. He did so, and Mr.
| ". ehburn hastsred to The American Embas.
ey to enter protest against this outrage In
his absence the officer returned aud found
there Mr.. Bliss, agent Of the Bible Society,
He informed him that he had now perempto-
r. orders to cloee the building at any cost.
Mr. Bliss ct course refused to leave, but was
informed that Ee might have hls choice to
walk ont or be carried ont by the armed sol
diers. The etreet was filled With an excited
crowd, and he did not deem 1t 0ise to make
any further resistance. The building was
then closed and sealed. Other Protestant
establishment were closed in the same way,
and an English clergyman arrested and held
for a time In custody.
The earnest re1nonstrance of the American
Charge d Affairs on Tuesday brought an or
der Tor the opening Of the rooms Of the
American Board and the Bible Societies
the building being still under the charge O
the police, however, who were engaged al
day yesterday and again to day, in taking AZ
account of aIl the books stored 10 the build
ing. It ia believed that the police will bt
withdrawn to dag, but in Turkey nothing i
certain al hour beforehand.