By the spring of 1861 affairs had assumed so serious an aspect, that even the Porte could not but awake to the danger which threatened that portion of the empire, and to the necessity for immediate and strenuous measures.  This danger lay not so much in the aggressive power of the rebels themselves, as in the ulterior results which it was calculated to produce.

It required little foresight to understand that the movement was destined to be the germ of a general insurrection of the Slavonic Christians of Turkey, which would lead to the partial or entire dismemberment of her European provinces.

In this dilemma the Sultan’s government bethought them of appealing to the only man in the empire who was capable of grappling with the difficulty.  Omer Pacha was taken once more into favour, and was despatched to the scene of discord.  A Slave by birth, but tied to the interests of his imperial master by the devotion of a lifetime, no more fitting choice could have been made.  With alacrity he proceeded on his mission—­a mission which required both courage and address, energy and endurance.

He commenced his task by issuing the following proclamation, in which he called upon all to return to their allegiance, in full assurance that it was the intention of the Sultan to carry out the reforms which had been guaranteed by the Hatti Humayoun of 1855.

     ’What this proclamation is I let you all know.

’His Majesty the Sultan has appointed me the chief of his armies in the Roumelian provinces, and has sent me here to carry out in this mission all the just privileges, which have not hitherto been fulfilled.  In obedience to the commands of the Sultan, I have come here to show to you how kind and good are the intentions of our sovereign to his subjects, and to announce without distinction to Mussulmans, Greeks, and Catholics together, the following decrees:—­

     ’1st.  Every village has the power to name one or two chiefs as
     representatives, whom I will acknowledge.

     ’2nd.  Every district has the power to name one or two
     representatives whomsoever the people of the district may choose.

     ’3rd.  The Christians shall have full religious liberties, and shall
     be permitted to build churches and place bells therein, like all
     the rest of the subjects in the empire.

     ’4th.  The Zaptiehs (police) shall not be permitted to locate
     themselves in your houses, but an appointed place shall be set
     apart for them in every village.

     ’5th.  The arrangement which has been made at Constantinople
     touching landowners and the agriculturists, and to which both
     parties have assented, shall immediately be put into execution.

     ’6th.  The taxes shall be collected by your own chiefs, and
     consigned by them to the officers sent by our Sultan to receive
     them.