Sahmi Pasha to Vidal, October 21, 1873

Sahmi Pasha to Mr. Vidal.

To the chancery of America, to the illustrious Sir, Consul of America:

When the treaty between the Powers, prohibiting the sale of slaves, was concluded on the last day of Rabié-ervel, of the year 1273, a firman was decreed, issued by the Seder-Azam, by order of the Sultan, by virtue of which those sales were henceforth and forever forbidden, so that those slaves could not be ill-treated any longer, for they are men as we are. But we were informed that several persons are still engaged in that trade in villages, towns, and in this very city, as well as on the sea-coast. In the late stress of famine there were many such sales of black people, and these suffered very much; and there were even merchants who were engaged in those sales.

That trade is forbidden; and those slaves who come to the persons in authority are manumitted, and great attention is paid to prevent those sales. There are steamers and merchant-vessels, on board of which black people are carried away to other lands. Thanks to the justice and good grace of the Sublime Porte, orders were sent to all seaports and cities to put an end to those sales, and any person detected in having slaves in his possession shall be punished according to law, (canon,) and the slave shall be taken by force and set at liberty.

An order was given to the governors, as well as to the sheiks-el-beled, binihachi of the zaptic, portmasters, and all the officials of the custom-house and the sanitary office to give, according to law, their utmost attention to all merchant-vessels in regard to that exportation.

Any one who shall be negligent, or will not obey those orders, shall be dismissed from office, by the authority of the Mezle-Idaret-el-Ubeia, so that those orders be executed, and all sea-captains leaving this port be watched.