On the 23d of December, O. S., Mavrocordato opened the sittings of the general assembly by the following speech. I have given a translation of it, to enable the reader to judge for himself, of the sentiments that animated this most unjustly abused patriot; and of his talents as an orator.
“Unbounded as was my joy, on treading the soil of
Western Greece, to learn that your patriotic efforts, your resolution and
courage, had defeated all the plans of the enemy; forcing his numerous army,
which threatened not only to swallow up this part of Greece, but also to invade
the Peloponnesus, to abandon with loss and shame the confines of liberated
Greece; no less great is that which I, this day, experience in seeing myself in
the midst of so numerous an assembly. I cannot but entertain the liveliest
hopes, that it will give birth to many important consequences. For I can
affirm, it has spontaneously taken place; owing to the persuasion, felt by the
inhabitants of this country, of the necessity of meeting, to examine the state
of things in the different prefectures; to inquire into their respective wants;
and to deliberate on the mode of providing for them. Led by these motives,
since you have with one mind felt the ne-
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“If it be often difficult for two or three individuals to agree in their opinions, this is certainly yet more so in a numerous assembly. But that harmony, which has for its basis the impartial examination of what concerns the public weal, far from being detrimental, proves on the contrary of the greatest utility. It leads to the discovery of what is most useful, the end aimed at by every one, when, as above observed, the principal object is an unprejudiced inquiry after truth. That, which gives rise to the most injurious consequences, and which not only you must avoid, but rectify, should it exist amongst you, is the spirit of discord; the exacerbation of your passions, and the concerns of civil broils. Against these you must establish, as the only safe and desirable barrier, union, impartiality, and brotherly harmony.
“I deem it superfluous to enumerate the manifold evils,
to which similar discords may give birth; or to quote instances from history;
when we have the examples before our eyes. May what we have hitherto suffered
serve us as a lesson! I shall venture, however, to say, that fearless as I have
ever been of the enemy’s forces, which experience has demonstrated we
were competent to repel, and which, in future, we may yet more confidently set
at defiance, I ever dreaded the consequences of our internal dissensions;
because I have in reality seen, that they produce more evils than the efforts
of the enemy, were they even double what they are. I am not single in holding
this opinion. This apprehension has not been felt by me alone. Many wise men,
all the friends of
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“I cannot credit the excuse, alleged by many, that
poverty is the cause of our dissensions, and forces us to wait for, instead of
attacking the enemy. This poverty I cannot perceive. On the contrary, after an
attentive investigation, I know that Greece possesses all the necessary means,
and even more than is requisite, to carry on the war. It suffices, that we pay
attention to the administration of these means; that they be not squandered;
that government may employ them, where, and how it is necessary. But let us
even suppose, that Greece cannot afford these means; that, notwithstanding the
best administration, her revenues do not suffice to meet her exigencies; and
that we are obliged to seek abroad for pecuniary assistance; will discord prove
the best mode of obtaining our purpose? Certainly not; for who will advance
money without knowing to whom he lends it; whence and how it will be repaid? A
loan is made to a government; but, before a government can negotiate it, it
must have it in its power to offer sufficient guarantees to the lenders. But it
enjoys that faculty only when it is obeyed; and when every citizen concurs to
support and strengthen its authority. The contrary of this is the source, from
which
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“As for me, gentlemen, in compliance with your demand to the Chief Government, to send me here, in order to settle the affairs of this part of Greece, I now find myself before you. I am bound to confess to you, that I am not aware of what utility my presence can be, if true union and friendship do not reign amongst you. Whatever good may arise, it will not be derived from me; but from your resolution of carrying it into execution. If you are united, you are, of yourselves, competent to do it; but neither I, nor any one else, can prove useful to you, should you be disunited.
“It is perhaps necessary, I should make a few
observations on a rumour, which, I see with pleasure, is void of foundation.
Some persons report, that one of the chief purposes of the present assembly is,
to cement an union between eastern and western Greece, and to separate it from
Peloponnesus. An intention of this kind never could exist in the mind of any
genuine patriot. For all such must feel the necessity of union and
centralization. Separation is entirely out of the question. If the war,
existing on continental Greece, cause expenses, which the limited revenues of
its prefectures are not sufficient to meet, while in Peloponnesus the revenues
exceed the expenditure; it is meet, we should request of the government to
consecrate a portion to our wants. If we know, that the revenues are
squandered, it is just, we should demand the rectification of those abuses; and
in order to facilitate the attainment of this desirable end, we should
strengthen the Government; but never separate or give occasion to fresh
dissensions be-
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“It appears to me necessary to the maintenance of order in your assembly, that you should appoint two secretaries to keep the journals of your sittings, and to write whatever you may deem necessary.
“Although your meetings be public, yet, in order to avoid confusion, two or three individuals of every prefecture should be chosen as representatives.
“As numerous affairs will be brought before you, it is necessary, for the sake of order and despatch, to appoint commissions, which shall examine the details of affairs, and make you reports, which will be submitted to general and mature investigation, and be approved, modified, or rejected according to plurality of voices.
“As to me, gentlemen, if my opinion can prove useful in any of your deliberations, I shall explain it freely and impartially. I shall state it without reserve. You will hear and judge it. For the moment, I submit to your investigation several propositions, the solution of which appears to me to be the essential object of the actual meeting.
“Again, I trust, you will observe in its perfect integrity that union between you, which alone can lead the affairs of our country to a happy termination.
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“A. How can an end be put to the abuses, existing in the prefectures, and sufficient protection given to their inhabitants, to induce them to return to their occupations, in order that the country may not remain a desert?
“B. How many soldiers must be maintained on full pay, and from what sources can the money and provisions, necessary to keep them, be drawn?
“C. How can harmony and order be made to regulate our military operations; and thus ensure their success?
“D. How can the disputes between the military chiefs, as to the division of the prefectures, be settled?
“E. What measures can be adopted to consolidate national union, to terminate disputes, and to strengthen government?”
During the seven days, the assembly lasted, owing especially to the predominance of military interest, the second proposition was maturely and almost solely considered. Many violent discussions arose, before the number of troops to be kept on foot could be settled, and still more so, when they came to decide how many men each capitano should command; every one wishing to be foremost on the list. It would be superfluous to relate the various other resolutions, entered upon by the assembly; for not one of them was put afterwards into practice; those, that made them, being the first to infringe them. I shall however, by way of epilogue, submit to the reader a translation of the letter, they addressed to the government, before the meeting was dissolved.
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“It is impossible, the venerable government should be ignorant of the manifold calamities, these regions have, during the last two years, suffered, from the presence of two powerful invading armies. We judged it expedient to form an assembly, composed of the deputies of the principal prefectures of Western Greece, in order to deliberate in common, and devise some slight alleviation to our sufferings. The return of the inhabitants to their villages, ruined by the enemy; the introduction of order in the administration of public revenues; the determining the means of protecting these countries against future invasions of the enemy; the preparation of expeditions against him; the establishment of internal tranquillity;—these have been the principal subjects, we have taken into consideration during the sittings of the present assembly. We have determined, to maintain a body of 3000 soldiers; among which, we include the Suliots and all those, whose profession from their youth upwards has been that of arms; thus, to procure to them the means of existence; and, at the same time, provide for the defence of the country and good order. This corps will include the whole of our military. They are satisfied with the usual pay, fixed by government: viz. three dollars per month.
“The chiefs and officers will content themselves with
receiving less than usual; for they have resolved to follow a system of the
most exact public economy; and not only the military but also the other
functionaries are ready to submit themselves to the severest laws, for the
maintenance of good order; and are satisfied to receive only what suffices to
defray their indispensable expenses. Yet with all due economy, how moderate
soever may be our expenditure, our
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This letter, signed by the Capitani, Eparchs and representatives of
Mesolonghi, Anatolico, &c. was presented to the senate, at a moment, when it would have
been very much embarrassed to satisfy their demands. Forced precipitately to abandon Argos,
as before related, this body had retired to Cranidi,
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