Papers Relating to Foreign Affairs, Accompanying the Annual Message of the President to the Second Session Thirty-eighth Congress, Part IV
Mr. Morris to Mr. Seward.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that I have deemed it my duty to issue the following circular to the United States consuls in this empire. It is based on information from the legation at Turin:
[Circular.]
Sir: Information has been received at this legation that a steamer, recently built in England, and called the Southerner, is about to proceed to the Mediterranean, under the command of Captain Page, of the rebel navy, for the purpose of preying on the commerce of the United States.
I have the honor to request that you will advise me by telegraph should said vessel make her appearance in your vicinity; and that you will also telegraph the same to the commander of the nearest United States vessel of war, or to any consul through whom intelligence may be most promptly communicated to him. The utmost vigilance is expected of you in this respect.
Respectfully, your obedient servant,
A most important reform in the customs administration has just been decided on by the Turkish government. All of the inland custom-houses, except those on the frontier, are to be abolished. The revenue derived from these sources is to be commuted for a uniform octroi duty to be levied upon all the towns and villages in the empire. The old system was very oppressive, as all goods, whether of native or foreign production, entering or leaving the larger towns, paid heavy customs dues. These dues have operated to the special injury of the subjects of the Sultan, as foreigners are exempted by the late treaties from duties on exportation on every article the product of the soil or industry of Turkey. Native subjects were, at the same time, subject to a three per cent. duty on removing goods from towns where custom-houses existed. The reform will also incidentally benefit foreign commerce, by cheapening the price of articles the traffic of which lies almost exclusively in native hands.
The revenue from customs continues to exhibit a remarkable increase. That for the months of March, April, May, and June, 1863, exhibits an excess of 11,946 purses (500 piastres to the purse) over the corresponding period of last year, or an increase of 146 per cent. over the same months in 1861. This is the more striking in view of the fact that the custom-house duties have, according to the new treaties, been reduced one per cent.; for the present year being seven per cent. The above amount does not also include the duties on tobacco, salt, building timber, &c., &c. The chief credit for this increase is due to Kiana Pasha, director general of customs. Through his energy the smuggling heretofore carried on with impunity in the principal ports of the empire has been to a great degree extirpated, and order and efficiency introduced in every branch of the revenue collection service.
In case of a European war, growing out of the Polish question, the embarrassment of the Porte will be great. It will be difficult, if not impossible, for it to preserve a neutral position. Should it be involved in war, it may find its first enemies on the frontiers of its own territory. The spirit of the governments and populations of Servia, and Moldavia, and Wallachia is extremely hostile to the suzerain power, and their hostility is encouraged by the secret intrigues of leading European powers. They would seize upon a general war [Page 372] against Russia as a most propitious season for achieving absolute independence and of commencing the final dismemberment of the Turkish empire. If successful, their example would encourage similar attempts in other parts of the Sultan’s dominions.
In Servia, notwithstanding the settlement of the troubles of the last year— by the agreement on the part of the Porte to withdraw the mussulman population from Belgrade, and to destroy the two fortresses held by the Turks in the interior of the Principality, and that the mussulmans dwelling around these and the other fortresses should leave the Servian territory—the Servian government refuses to fulfil its part of the convention. It has not paid any part of the indemnity pledged to the Turks whose houses were pillaged during the troubles at Belgrade. The Porte has fulfilled all its stipulations. The Prince of Servia, while limited by a treaty to only such a military force as is necessary for police purposes, is constantly augmenting his army. It has now reached such proportions as to render it a just object of suspicion to the Porte. In vain the great powers are invoked to enforce the provisions of the convention of Paris, to which the Principalities owe their present form of government. While publicly professing extreme concern for the preservation of the integrity of the Ottoman empire, most of them are secretly promoting plots for its destruction.
In view of these eventualities the Porte is steadily increasing both its land and naval forces. Four vessels of war have recently been constructed here, and five iron-clad frigates are in course of construction—one at Constantinople and the others in England. The army was never in such a high state of discipline as at present, and which is maintained by frequent military exercises on a large scale in open camps. The latest improvements in fire-arms have been adopted in lieu of the old weapons.
Apprehensive, in the event of war, of hostilities on the part of Turkey, Russia is massing a considerable force on the Asiatic frontier. The Porte having asked for explanations from the representative of Russia, has as yet received no satisfactory answer. It may possibly be the design of Russia, if an attack should be made on her own territory, to counteract the plans of the allied powers by carrying war and insurrection into the Ottoman empire, and thus create political complications of the gravest nature among the allies themselves.
The recent signal victories of the Union arms at Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Port Hudson have been received with great satisfaction by the friends of American liberty and union in Turkey. To none have they given more real joy than to the members of the Turkish government, all of whom, the Sultan himself included, have been our steadfast friends throughout the varying phases of the contest. They are looked upon as the sure presages of an early restoration of the American Union.
I have received no despatch, up to the present date, since No. 56.
With great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, &c., &c., &c.