Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatch No. 38. I am gratified to learn from that despatch that my conduct in the recent missionary murder cases has been approved by the President, and that the complaints made on that subject by Dr. Anderson have been recognized as unjust.
There is no American mission which is surrounded with greater embarrassments than the one of which I have charge. The government of the interior of the empire being intrusted to. the governors of the provinces, the maintenance of law and order depends almost exclusively on them. As, unfortunately, these officers are selected less for their peculiar fitness for such appointments than for their qualities as courtiers, or as a reward for successful intrigue, good government in the provinces is a mere chance. At a distance from the seat of sovereign authority, and enjoying absolute control within their pachaliks, the governors exercise a most despotic sway. Often they stimulate to outrages, if they can profit by them, and accept bribes for the protection of crime. They sometimes exact from the people the double amount of the taxes levied on their provinces, appropriating to themselves the extra half.
When the government of a province is corrupt and lax, crime runs riot, the highways become infested with robbers, and there is but little security for life and property. Foreigners resident in or travelling through these districts become exposed to all kinds of molestation and violence. When a foreign legation reports these acts to the Porte, it often finds that some court influence is brought to bear to protect the governor, to shield him from the incriminations directed against him, or that all kinds of pretexts are sought to stifle investigation into his acts. The governor, if he is called upon by the Porte for an explanation of his conduct, sends back a bold denial of the charges or some cunning justification, which is forwarded to the legation as a satisfactory answer. At this stage of proceedings it is difficult to know what other course to take than to demand absolutely and peremptorily the removal of the governor from office. This I have been obliged to do in two cases, and have succeeded, with great difficulty. As I cannot influence the appointment of a governor, I can only hold him to the strict discharge of his duty, so far as American citizens are concerned. This is done through the medium of vizerial letters, which in all necessary cases I make a formal request for and obtain. The next step—and this is the most difficult of all—is to see that these orders are promptly and fully obeyed. Unless I have a consular or special agent resident at the provincial capital, it is difficult to enforce the governor to the performance of his duty.
It will be seen from this statement, that it is a very different thing to have to deal with such a hydra-headed government, and with one which is moved from a common centre, where lies all the power and directing force and executive authority. To this add the prejudices of race and religion, more obstinate and violent in this empire than in any other part of the world, and the fear which [Page 1175] always exists with the Porte of exciting civil war between neighboring districts of opposite faiths, and some idea may be had of the vexatious embarrassments which surround a foreign minister who has to deal with the government of such a country.
It is next to impossible for any one to properly discharge his duties as American minister here who is not conversant with Italian and French, as English is not spoken by any of the cabinet ministers, and is almost unknown in society outside of commercial circles. I have found it necessary to study and acquire Turkish. In no country are so many different languages spoken, and nowhere are linguistic attainments so indispensable to the proper understanding and prosecution of diplomatic business.
The cultivation of cotton is increasing rapidly in this empire. The crop of cotton in Asia Minor in 1861 amounted to fifteen thousand bales, and it is estimated that the crop of 1862 in that part of the empire will reach, if not exceed, sixty thousand bales. Great efforts are also making to extend its cultivation in the region around Adrianople.
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The Porte has recently found it necessary to establish a censorship on books, periodicals and newspapers in all parts of the kingdom. This apparently harsh measure has, in its opinion, been rendered necessary by the active anti-Ottoman and anti-Mussulman propaganda being made in the empire among the Greek population, under the auspices of Russia, and Greeks resident in other countries.
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With great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.