Our Relations with Turkey.—The appearance of an American squadron, at the mouth of the Sea of Marmora, particularly at the present crisis of the Greek struggle, is well calculated, from its novelty, to excite the conjectures of the European Powers. One of our frigates, many years since, visited Constantinople. If we recollect correctly, it was the Philadelphia, Capt. Bainbridge, and that one only. To our vessels of war, during the existence of peace between this country and the Ottoman Porte, no impediment will probably be opposed in the passage of the Dardanelles—but the Black Sea, the ancient Euxine, is closed to American commerce. Other nations have, by treaty, been allowed to navigate its waters, and the Russians, in the two successive establishments of Cherson and Odessa, have effected very favourable depots for the transit of their own, and the introduction of foreign merchandize. The produce of France, Spain, and Italy, is thus imported through the Mediterranean, and the fabricks of Russia are returned, without the distant and difficult navigation of the Baltic Sea. To the merchants of the United States, the facilities to be derived from a free navigation of the Black Sea, have long been desirable, and one or two intelligent gentlemen have published their thoughts upon this subject, with a view to arrest the attention of government. The difficulty appears to consist in this—that we have no commercial treaty with Turkey (in which mode the right has been conceded to other nations) nor can we have one, while we have no Minister at the Court of Constantinople. The objection to sending a Minister is understood to arise from the preliminary necessity or usage of sending magnificent presents which appears not to be in accordance with our republican doctrines of equality. Leaving alone the weight of this objection, if it be entitled to any, it is capable of demonstration that our commerce would derive great advantages, should the Turkish Government grant it free access to the Black Sea. It is presumable, therefore, that the visit of Com. Rodgers' squadron has this object in view, particularly as there went out in his ship, in the employment of the Government, the celebrated Mr. English of Boston, who has been a General in the Turkish service, and possessing the confidence of the Porte, is likely to enjoy uncommon means of conciliation and favour—while, on the other hand, his knowledge of the Greeks, and their language, will enable him to procure the most satisfactory information of the Grecian struggle; in which, all Americans feel so deep an interest.
Charleston Courier.
