“The most remarkable circumstance is that these Armenians who have undergone execution have the modes of their death commemorated on their sepulchres by the effigies of men being hung, strangled or beheaded. In explanation it is stated that having become wealthy by their industry, they suffered as victims to the cupidity of former governments, not as criminals; and hence their ignominious death was really honorable to them and worthy of a memorial. An inscription on one of the tombs of this class is as follows:
“You see my place of burial here in this verdant field,
I give my goods to the robber,
My soul to the regions of death;
The world I leave to God,
And my blood I shed in the Holy Spirit.
You who meet my tomb,
Say for me
‘Lord, I have sinned.’
1197.”[75]
Sultan Mohammed II after he made Constantinople his capital appointed Bishop Onaghim, of Brousa, patriarch over the Armenians in his dominions in 1461, as the head of his people with certain privileges. This custom of appointing the patriarchs by the Sultans continued for a long time. But it did not prove to be the popular way, on account of abuses of procuring the offices, and unqualified persons often obtaining the appointment by the influence of their friends. The nation, therefore, obtained the right from the Porte to choose her own patriarch by suffrage. The appointment, however, had to be ratified by the Sultan of Turkey.
Some prominent Armenians drew up a Constitution in 1860 and presented it to the Turkish government for approval. The Porte approved it with a few changes. The following is the introduction of the Constitution:
“The privileges granted by the Ottoman Empire to its non-Mohammedan subjects are in their principles equal for all, but the mode of their execution varies according to the requirements of the particular customs of each nationality.
“The Armenian patriarch is the head of his nation, and in particular circumstances the medium of execution of the orders of the government. There is, however, in the patriarchate a Religious Assembly for particular affairs. In case of necessity these two unite and form the mixed Assembly. Both the patriarch and members of these Assemblies are elected in a general Assembly composed of honorable men of the nation.
“As the office and duties of the above Assemblies and the mode of their formation are not defined by sufficient rules, for this reason different inconveniences and special difficulties in the formation of the general Assembly has been noticed.
“As each community is bound according to the new Imperial Edict (Hatti Humayan 6-18 of Feb., 1856) to examine within a given time its rights and privileges and after due deliberation to present to the sublime Porte the reforms required by the present state of things and progress of civilization of our times.
“As it is necessary to harmonize the authority and power to the religions of each nationality with the new condition and system secured to each community.
“A committee of some honorable persons of the nation was organized, which committee prepared the following Constitution.”