Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-26
THE UNITED STATES AND BRAZIL.


a statement, compiled from New York papers,
of the leading facts of the difference which arose,
early in February last, at Rio Janeiro, between the
Minister of the United States to Brazil and the
authorities Of that country. These facts, as follow,
mainly derived from letter originally published,
as it appears in the New York Herald on the 4th
of this month, which entirely escaped our attention
at the time, and does not much appear to have
attracted any body elses, or if it did, was couched
in terms of such dsparagement to our Minister and
naval officers at Rio Janeiro, to be supposed to
be prejudced and exaggerated throughout.
From this letter it would seem that an American
merchant brig, by name The Porpoise-one of those
spoken of in Mr.. WIsE's correspondence-ha
been chartered by Brazilian merchant for year,
to proceed to any part of the world, the 23d
ultimo seized in forcble manner on her arrival
from Quilemane, by two boats crews of the United
States vessels Of war, in all thrty-two men, with
drawn cutlasses, upon suspicion that the captain
and crew had been aiding and abetting the slave
trade. The seizure was alleged to have been made
by permission of the Brazilian boarding officer; and
upon application to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
verbal consent to hold vessel and crew until the case
had been investigated. The Porpoise was conse-
quenty anchored under the guns of the u. S.
frigate Raritan.
While correspondence was being carried on be-
tween our Minister and the Brazilian Foreign Min
lister on the subject, the Minister of Justice gave
instructions for an armed force, consisting Of six
IL
the Porpoise and demand the release of vessel, crew.
and passengers. The Commodore refused to deli
yer up the vessel and crew, but gave up the pas
sengers, with which the Brazilian officer was obliged
TO be satisfied, not having force sufficient to ex-
ecute the remainder Of his commission.
In consequence Of some apprehension that the
American Naval Commander intended taking the
vessel and crew out of the harbor by force, the
Brazilian Government is said to have reinforced its
forts at the mouth of the harbor with five hundred
men, the night of the 29th January with the intent
to resist such proceeding.
The American authorities, upon further consider
alton, gave up to the Government both vessel and
crew. The Brazilian Government once in posses
sion of the brig and crew, Notwithstanding the
request Of the American Minister for their redelvery
under the plea that the vessel was forfeited to the
United States for violating its laws,) refused to
accede to his demand, and it was said would Eber-
ate both vessel and crew. tits supposed, however,
that the vessel will be held until instructions come
out from the owner respecting her.
/ The city Of Rio Janeiro, it is said, "was in :
state of great excitement while this question NJ.
LIZ ell
per cent, and every gun that was fired, or boml
exploded, was Immediately thought to be. the com
mencement of hostilties between the American
vessels of war and the forts.''
i II was also rumored that during the excitement
the American Minister had demanded his passports.
and retired on board the frigate Rartan
| The New York Commercial Advertiser of Tues
day contains statement, by an apparently we'll
informed person, confirming the main facts as above,
but representing the Minister of Justice to have
g acted very foolishly," and to have been "inAu-
enced by the slave Dealers concluding as follows:
/ "A few days after the Porpose was released, as
but little could be proved against her, so well was
her business hidden and no law or treaty authori,
| zing Americans to seize in Brazilian port any
vessel without the consent of the Brazilian autho-
rites. They, being all in favor of the save-rade,
i insisted on their right, and she was given up She
Il was first held by their courtesy and that would
Il have lasted till now on any other subject but The
slave-trade, that is a sore one.
MR. WISE will no doubt go on with his inves-
tgation, and may yet have difficulty with the Bra
zilians, but the Porpose case is probably now
remembered by few at Rio. At the last date,
: March l, few appeared to think of it besides
those Immediately interested, and they feared no
difficulty"
This is, we believe the true state of the case !;
our Minister having erred if at all. in carrying too
far his purpose to stop the slave-trade in American
hands by any power which he could bring 70 bear
upon it.
| We have reason to suppose that the Brazilian
Government has not considered the brief msunder-
standing between our Minister and its authorities on
this occasion Of sufficient consequence to be msde
subject of remonstrance to this Government.
To show our readers, however, what is said on
this subject by those who have not the same dispo-
siiion as we have to respect the motives of Mr..
WIsEs action in this case we translate for our read
ers the subjoined notice of the affair from paper
published in the Spanish language in the city of
New York, 1.-THE passage in italics being so marked
in the Originally
Faom THE NorrcIoso AMRos MusDos, APRIL 49,
Brazil AND THE UNITED SrarEs.--Thc Government Of
the United States which has ill now thought to exercise with
IMMUNITY maritime dcsposm towards all the other new Gov
of th,e~ A -