Page 297 - Beholding Liberty!

ΙΙ.7.C.1
Law of the Legislative on the collection
of gold and silver utensils from monasteries and churches for the issuing of currency, aiming at the departure of the national navy
(Corinth, 5 April 1822)
Archives of the Greek Regeneration, vol. 1, no 157 contained in the “Codex of the laws”
Library of the Hellenic Parliament
LAW OF THE LEGISLATIVE for the immediate selling off of gold and silver utensils of monasteries and churches (with the exception of the icons, holy chalices and tongs) for issuing currency, the aim being the departure of the national fleet and cancellation of the «unjust» and «unholy» purposes of the ene- my (Corinth, 5 April 1822). Through this «obligatory choice», the Greeks are called to defend the faith, country, freedom, honour, their assets and their very existence, as it is stated. It is also stressed that such an action does not undermine the respect for the Holy Church, the founder and bridegroom of which, namely Christ, «loved simplicity, modesty and poverty».
ΙΙ.7.C
Financial affairs
THE ERUPTION OF THE REVOLUTION inevitably dis- turbed the up to then economic activities of the local populations, creating at the same time new needs, such as finding economic re- sources for the maintenance of the troops and provision of military equipment. A frequent phenomenon were local fundraisers, selling out the golden and silver vessels of monasteries and churches, as well as taxation of the agricultural production, while spoliations were also not absent. An important source of drawing financial sup- port, were also the generous donations of Greeks and Philhellenes, such as Eynard and Lord Byron, who contributed from their own personal fortunes to the Struggle, as well as the philhellenic fund- raisers in various European cities, but in America, too.
In the Second National Assembly, in Astros Kinourias in 1823, an “hypothetical Account” (budget) was submitted, which calculated the overall revenue and expense of a six month period. Despite the fact that there are serious objections concerning the accuracy of the data, the revenue did not reach even the 30% of the expenses.
The crucial issue of funding led to the search of capitals from aboard, which in the end was fruitful as it secured two loans on the part of England (1824-1825), with burdensome conditions and as collateral the public estates and revenue. Despite the ephemeral hopes these loans raised, their management was the source of new problems for the fighting Greeks.
When Kapodistrias took the power in January 1828, he wrote in his diary: “I found the public Exchequer not only empty but burdened by foreign debts of 2.400.000 pounds”. In the Kapodistrian period, the adopted by the Governor fiscal policy tried to cover the state expenses, without though bringing the desirable effects.
Η ΑΦΥΠΝΙΣΗ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΣΜΟΥ Από την αρχαιολατρία στον Φιλελληνισμό 297