[Extracts.]
Mr. Morris to Mr.
Seward
No. 51.]
Legation of the United States of
America, Constantinople,
April 30, 1863.
* * * * * * * *
I have not deemed it necessary to make any reply to the enclosed note of
the minister of foreign affairs relative to the affair at Bitlis. The
protection which I asked for our missionaries there, and which the
Caimacum refused to give, having been granted, I do not deem it
expedient to enter into any further discussion of the subject.
I am gratified to be able to inform you, that the two remaining members
of the band of brigands which murdered the Rev. Mr. Merriam have both
met violent deaths. One of them, Satchly Mustapho, was killed by the
keeper of a khan, with whom he had taken refuge near Slemnia; and the
other a few weeks since, of the name of Hufiz, having attacked some
peasants near Bourgas, was killed by one of them. I am determined, if
possible, to secure the capture of Kaleel, the confederate of the
executed Ahmed in the murder of [Page 1186] Rev. Mr. Coffing in Syria. For this purpose I
have instructed Mr. Johnson, at Beirut, to offer, on my private account,
a reward of one hundred and fifty dollars for his delivery into the
hands of the governor of Adana. I have also had new vizerial orders sent
to the governors of the Syrian provinces for his arrest. I fear he has
taken to the mountains of the Taurus, where he can enjoy the secret
protection of chiefs in a district of country over which the Porte
exercises but a nominal control.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.
P. S.—I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of despatch No.
55.
[Translation.]
No. 7211–6.]
Sublime Porte, Department of
Foreign Affairs,
April 7, 1863.
Sir: I have received the note which you
were so good as to address me under date of the 2d of March, with
its enclosures, relative to the complaints made against the
Armenians of Bitlis by the Protestants of that city, and the
American missionaries now there.
The imperial government cannot approve, much less tolerate scenes of
fanaticism. It has always condemned religious hatred and
persecutions, wherever they are found. But these passions, which
ignorance engenders, are the most often super-excited by the
unmeasured zeal of a proselytism which appears unwilling to be
stopped by any consideration. Such seems to be the case in the
present circumstance. We possess, on this point, information drawn
from authentic sources, and which present the affair in entirely a
different manner than that of the reports which have reached you.
The Armenians arose against the conversion to Protestanism of some
young persons scarcely 13 years of age. The missionaries who had
converted them kept them shut up in their own houses, when, on the
complaints of the parents, the local authority had to interfere and
have them restored to their father. You are aware, sir, that the
Caimmakam did, in this circumstance, what was strictly his duty. He
could not, nor ought he to, refuse his aid to a father whose child
had been almost taken from him, and who certainly had a right to
claim it.
No one can contest that the principle of liberty of conscience
receives a most extended application in all parts of the empire. But
we believe, that in carrying divisions into the bosoms of families,
and in speculating on convictions which are not yet formed,
proselytism commits an immense wrong to this principle in the eyes
of our public, who witness daily abuses of it, and among whom
religous sentiments are so active. The imperial government is as
desirous as any one to see more amenity in the relations existing
among the Christians of divers rites, but, at the same time, it
agrees that this cannot exist but as a matter of reciprocity.
Be so good, sir, as to accept the assurances of my perfect
consideration.
E. Joy Morris, Esq., Minister Resident of the United States of America.
