as the minister of foreign affairs, who accompanied me, desired, to avoid the necessity of a triple translation. "The President of the United States of America having been pleased to select me to represent the government of the United States near your Imperial Majesty, in the character of minister resident, I have the honor to present to your Majesty my letters of credence. "The President has also charged me with the agreeable duty of offering his most cordial congratulations on the occasion of the accession of your Majesty to the throne of your ancestors. The government and people of the United States have learned with sincere satisfaction the accession of a sovereign whose elevated character and enlightened mind offer the highest assurances of the happiness and prosperity of the Ottoman empire. "The President has instructed me to convey to your Majesty the assurance that he will be pleased to avail himself of every occasion to manifest the disinterested friendship of the government of the United States for that of Turkey, and his desire to modify the existing treaty so as to improve as far as possible the commercial interest of the two countries. "I congratulate myself on having been appointed to represent the United States of America near your Imperial Majesty, and I beg your Majesty to do me the justice to believe that it will be my constant aim to do all in my power to maintain and extend the amicable relations which have existed in unbroken harmony between the two nations from the commencement of their intercourse to the present day." The reply of the Sultan was of the most cordial and friendly character. He desired me to express to the President of the United States his thanks for his friendly sentiments, and for his sympathy with the welfare of the Ottoman empire, and to assure him that he properly appreciated the disinterested friendship which the government of the United States had ever manifested towards that of Turkey. It would always give him pleasure to remember and reciprocate the good will which had uniformly marked the intercourse of the United States with the Ottoman government. He begged me to convey to the President the assurance of his high regard and esteem. After a few words of grateful welcome to myself, he expressed his sympathy with the government of the United States for the troubles in which it is involved, and the hope that the war would soon terminate with the maintenance of the American Union in all its original power and integrity, and with the restoration of peace and concord among the American people. I am happy in thus being able to report to you that the United States has a true and loyal friend in the sovereign of this great empire. The same feeling inspires all his ministers, and I am sure that this feeling is as sincere as it is warm and generous. I need not assure you that it will give me great pleasure to cultivate and confirm this good feeling in every possible way. As an instance of the loyalty of American citizens to the Union of the States, I beg to mention the fact that of the one hundred and fifty American missionaries resident in this empire there is not one who sympathizes with the secession rebellion. This fact is the more remarkable as the missionaries are from every part of the United States. Owing to their knowledge of the languages of the country, and their extensive intercourse with the people, their influence on public opinion is considerable. The prayers of all of them are daily offered for the preservation of the federal Union and the triumph of the Union arms. I have the honor to be your obedient servant, Hon. Wм. H. SEWARD, EDWARD JOY MORRIS. Secretary of State. No. 14.] Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that, in conformity with my request, the minister of foreign affairs has issued instructions to the governors of the maritime provinces of Turkey, and of the islands of the archipelago prohibiting Ottoman subjects and foreigners from fitting out vessels destined for privateering against the commerce of the United States. They are also instructed to prevent the entrance into the ports and waters of their respective provinces of privateers, and of the prizes made by privateers or by armed vessels, except in cases of marine disaster. In the latter case, they are to be allowed to remain only sufficient time to repair damages, &c. The term "armed vessels " I have deemed it expedient not to object to, as it will cover the case of the prizes of the Sumter, if, in the event of her appearance in the Turkish waters, the Ottoman government should, after the precedent of England, France, and other nations, regard her as a man-of war. * * * * * * * * With great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward. [Extract.] No. 17.] LEGATION OF THE UNITED STATES, SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 20) bearing date April 1, 1862, and to transmit to the department a copy of the vizerial of the Sublime Porte interdicting the entrance into its ports and waters of privateers or other vessels acting against the shipping of the United States of America. This order is even more stringent than stated by me in a previous despatch. It is, in fact, an absolute and unconditional prohibition of the entrance of privateers or any class of vessels into the ports and waters of the Ottoman dominions fitted out for the purpose of preying on the commerce of the United States of America. The naval vessels of the United States are not subjected to any restrictions whatsoever. This proceeding is confirmatory of the liberal and friendly spirit to which I have heretofore had occasion to refer as characterizing the relations of the Ottoman government with the United States of America. I have the honor to enclose the decree touching the prohibition of the importation of gunpowder, &c. Official copy of a vizerial order addressed to all the public functionaries of the Sublime Porte on the sea-coast of the Ottoman empire, dated the 24th Cheval, 1278, (April 23, 1862.) EXCELLENCY: According to the principles of international rights established in the late treaty made at the conference held in Paris, the use of ships-of-war and other vessels as privateers (korsan) was entirely abolished by all the great powers therein represented. The legation of the United States of America has now requested that, conformably with the preceding, instructions be given by the Sublime Porte to its functionaries on the sea-coast of the empire for the purpose of maintaining the principle adopted as aforestated. As it has, therefore, been here deemed necessary, in view of said principle, that effective measures should be taken to prevent vessels of the United States of America from being exposed to injury in any of the ports and waters of the Ottoman dominions by privateers such as those alluded to, your excellency will, in case any privateers or armed vessels preying on the commerce of the United States attempt to enter them, with or without prizes, adopt such means as will prevent them from carrying the design into execution. No. 5624.] His Highness Aali Pacha to Mr. Morris. [Translation.] SUBLIME PORTE, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SIR: I have the honor to notify you that, by a decree of his Imperial Majesty the Sultan, the importation of powder, cannon, all kinds of military arms, and munitions of war, have just received a general prohibition in all parts of the Ottoman empire, conformably with the stipulations of the treaty of commerce concluded the 25th of February between the Sublime Porte and the government of the United States of America. This prohibition will be put in force from the of March of the present year. Special regulations will soon be published on this subject, detailing the articles which the Sublime Porte may allow, as an exception, or provisionally, to be imported, as, also, the obligations to which they will be subjected on their disembarkation in a port of the empire, according to the terms of the treaty. I therefore beg you, sir, to be so good as to give such orders as may be deemed necessary to those who should be acquainted with this measure, so that masters of vessels, merchants, coasters, and others, citizens of your government, may be informed of the preceding, and called upon to submit to the measures adopted on this point. Be pleased, sir, to accept assurances of my perfect consideration. SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatches Nos. 25 and 26. I shall communicate the contents of despatch No. 26, relative to the exclusion of privateers from Turkish ports, to the minister of foreign affairs. It will be to him and his sovereign a source of no ordinary gratification to know that the vizerial order on this subject has been received in such a friendly spirit by the government of the United States. The 25th of June, the first anniversary of the accession of the present Sultan to the throne, was celebrated throughout the empire. It has been established as a public fête, never having been observed heretofore. The idea is a remarkably happy one, as it will be the only civil fête, all the other festivals being of a religious character, respected only by their respective sectaries. In this fête all the populations of the empire unite around the throne, and both sovereign and subjects are brought, as it were, into immediate contact with each other, without regard to creed or race. The diplomatic corps was received in person for the first time in the history of the government on such an occasion. The reception took place at the palace of Dolma-Bagtche, the residence of his Majesty. The following address was made to the Sultan, by Sir Henry Bulwer, on the part of the diplomatic corps. It was pronounced in French and immediately translated to the Sultan, paragraph by paragraph, by the minister of foreign affairs, who acted as interpreter of his Majesty on this occasion: "As the interpreter of the sentiments of the diplomatic corps now surrounding the throne of your Imperial Majesty, permit me, sire, to assure you that it is our most earnest desire that every returning year may find the day we now celebrate consecrated by new benefits conferred on your people, and rendered happy by the spectacle of an empire owing its prosperity to the energy and wisdom of its sovereign. "We thank you, sire, for affording us this opportunity of uniting our felicitations with those of your subjects. If they regard your life as the most şure guarantee of their future, we entertain but one idea in the expression of our hope for the well being of Turkey and the long duration of your reign." After a short response to this address, the Sultan passed down the line, speaking to each member of the corps. When he came to me he inquired in quite an earnest manner as to the state of the war in the United States. I replied that it was a great calamity for us as well as for the world; that it was waged on one side for the destruction of a government which had been to the people living under it a source of countless blessings, and on the other for the preservation of the American Constitution; but that it would soon end with the maintenance of the Union and the free institutions of the country. His Majesty replied that civil war was an incident in the history of all nations, and he begged me to convey to the President his most ardent wishes for the prosperity and continued union of the republic of the United States. I thanked his Majesty for his kind wishes and assured him that both the government and people of the United States were gratefully sensible for his friendship and good will, and particularly so in this dark period of their history. The manner of the Sultan, while addressing me, was very cordial and manifested a perfect sincerity of purpose. * * * * * * Having been recently asked by persons connected with the leading European legations here my opinion as to the success of any propositions of mediation in the American war, I have uniformly replied that the President will never give his assent to any foreign proposition for the dissolution of the Union, and that any attempt to carry such propositions into effect would disturb the peace of the world. With great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, E. JOY MORRIS. Secretary of State. Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward. No. 32.] LEGATION OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, SIR: I have the honor to inform you that Ahmet, one of the assassins of the American missionary, Rev. J. G. Coffing, who was murdered some months since in the vicinity of Alexandrette, was executed by decapitation at Adana on the .25th of September last. The proceedings, according to the report of the United States consular agent at Adana, were conducted with unusual solemnity, in order to make a lasting impression on the public mind. The firman ordering the immediate execution was presented and publicly read, after which the sound of a trumpet was heard, and the prisoner appeared in chains, followed by one hundred regular troops. Khoorshid Pasha, the governor of Adana, the consular agents of the United States of America, France, Russia, and Italy, followed in procession to the place of execution. After the criminal had been surrounded by the armed soldiers, the chains were taken from his neck and feet, a jug of water was given him to drink, and he was allowed to perform his prayers and ablutions, (being a Mussulman,) which lasted for about half an hour. Afterwards he was made to kneel in the centre, his eyes being bound with a white handkerchief; and in the presence of the above-named persons, and at least 5,000 spectators, he underwent the punishment of his crime. Not a single word was uttered by any spectator against the execution, and many, in sign of their approbation of it, exclaimed aloud, 'Padishah sagh olsoun !"—"May the Sultan live!" The confederate assassin, Kaleel, is secreted in the territory governed by Mustapha Pasha, kaimakan of Payas. As he does not appear to be acting in good faith, in redeeming his promises to deliver him up, I have sent in a note to the Porte requesting his removal from office. I hope, however, that the efforts of Khoorshid Pasha, the energetic governor of Adana, to whom we are much indebted for bringing to justice the murderer Ahmet, will also be successful in securing Kaleel. I beg to repeat my acknowledgment of obligations to the government of the Sultan for the steady support it has given me throughout this case, regardless of expense and local and religious prejudices. The instructions sent hence, at my request, to the local authorities, were of such a nature as to compel them to the most active exertions, and they were enforced by the presence of Faik Bey, specially by the Porte to superintend these proceedings, and to see that they did their duty. From first to last, J. A. Johnson, esq., United States consul at Beyrout, despite the pestilential fevers of the country and the perils of secret assassination, has pursued this case with most extraordinary energy. His conduct is of such a rare character, and characterized by such fearlessness and conscientiousness in the discharge of duty, that I deem it an act of justice to respectfully suggest that it is deserving of your especial commendation. Such an officer does honor to the government he represents. The persevering pursuit of the executed assassin through the mountains and wilds of Syria, and the summary manner in which he was brought to justice, will do much to enforce respect for the lives and property of American citizens residing in or travelling through the Turkish empire. It is the more striking because of the impunity which criminals have too often enjoyed who have murdered the subjects of other Christian powers. With great respect, your obedient servant, Hon. WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State. E. JOY MORRIS. |