Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-07-17
Mn. WISE AND BRAZIL.

ficuty between our Minister Mr.. WIsE) and the
Brazilian authorities. That letter reaching us
through respectable channel, and being the most
recent account of the affair, we thought fit to insert
it. though representing the conduct of our Minis
ter somewhat uniavorably. We subjoned to it,
however, the remark that the letter might be from
preudiced source, and that we could not willingly
believe that it did justice either to Diplomatic
or Naval Officers at Rio Janeiro. We find, in
the last number Of the New York Evening Post,
statement of the case from correspondent very
different from that given in the Journal of Com
merce-one which, we are happy to see, exculpates
our Minister and Naval Officer from all blame.
The essential parts of this counter statement
copy below, in Justice to the gentlemen whose con-
duct has been arraigned:
EXTRACT NEW YORK
ssI have to full conviction, from inquiries lately
made in Rio, that the American Legation has not only acted
Justly but temperately in this affair.
GA quarrel occurred the landing between sailors
belonging to the United States ship Saratoga. Their
rade quietly taking them down the boat for the pur
pose of conveying them board One of their officers Ga
leuenan being shore and informed of the row, repaired
to the spot for the purpose of facilitating this desirable result
and relieving the city possible OF the disturbance
which the ARRAY might have occasoned and that in the most
expeditions and usual manner, when suddenly few beggary
black fellows in military tappngs inerposed and rescued the
offenders from the hands Of their and officer and
carried them off to the municipal guardhouse Now where
Mr. Editor do you suppose this police office situated
Why in the very basement of the imperial palace This is
the holy hoies of whose awful sancy and earth
have been called upon to punish the violation. :
The officer followed peaceably to this palace prison, for
the purpose of representing duty bound to do the
of his Sailors when he found himself suddenly and violently
repued with fixed bayones by the soldiers at the door Sur
psed by the suddenness of the attack and obyng the in
slant merely the instinct of sepreservaon, the officer drew
his sword which, part of the insignia Of his rank alike
required by naval usage and the positive of SERVICE
he OF carried with him but Immediately afterwards
anxious pay every Difference the authorities and
tie the affair of the sailors speedily possible he grace
fully and unsolicited delivered up his sword to the sergeant
duty. He confined for several days. and when be-
rated, reluctantly upon the demand of Minister,
cndeavored to make appear act of grace, which still
imposed upon our Government the obligation of furnishing the
insolence of its officer.
Now, sir, this plain sthiement received the spot
from unprecedented eyewitnesses of the transaction What
Just OF offence the Brazilian Government make of
it Mr. Wise, who called upon by his position to de-
mand the liberation of the officer uniusy imprisoned and
whose ship in readiness SAIL conducted the affair with
all the temper and courtesy which could reasonably be
Pected Yet he was pretended had aggravated the matter
by claiming exclusive jurisdiction American sailors upon
the coast Of Brazil Will it not convince every unpreudced
mind that there is predsposition every thing
of quarrel when he learns that the only foundation of
the charge IS that Mr. WISE in his able correspondence with
the Brazilian Government merely alluded PEASANT this
fact that, in the universal practice of nations comfy
if not dictated by absolute necessity, any growing
turay out of considerations of courtesy and mutual
nence, allow officers Of ofwar degree of concur
rent jurisdiction their drunken Sailors for the purpose of
getting them board ship with little delay and expense
possible in strictly More, and where injuries had
been done to the property of citizens shore In
this instance Brazilian had been hurt threatened. The
quarrel was purely domestic between two Sailors which
being settled not only in the but also in the usual
mode-since this perhaps the first instance of such inter-
ference upon the part Of the authorities who have heretofore
have been informed, rather afforded facilities officers in tho
execution Of their duty.
" may be wrong sir, but this strange pertnacy of the
Brazilian Government in pressing this affair, looks
something like desire OF selling peex for getting rid
OF able and uncompomsng enemy Of the slave trade
Mr.. Wise has lately proved himself cannot conceive of
any other reasonable mode of accounting for it. II is well
known that this horrible traffic has never been more actively
conducted than it is
"Mr Wse active and able exeons to prevent the pros
ttution Of hscounys flag this unhoy purpose while it
appears have gained him the hate of those who would par
tcpate the profit of this internal tade have for him the
thanks of Lord Aberdeen and the lasting gratitude Of the
friends Of humanity throughout the world defy any one 10
rise from the perusa Of his eloquent and imprisoned appeals
to his countymen upon this subject without being impressed
with equal admiration for his talents and love and esteem for
his character without according all his sympahes this in
teigen fearless and wamhearted son of the South who
has boldly and ably consected his time and bis energies
to the of Africa and the interests of Unqueston-
ably at the head of the Diplomatic corps the Of Brazil
no unpreudced countryman but be proud of him
specimen Of American mind and who enjoyed his
cordial old Virginia hospitality abroad but must entertain
recollection ofhis kindly, frank agreeable
''The ocuar ausion Of Mr.. Wise upon merely private
and conviva occasion to the birth of an American infant
which is attempted be perverted into grave charge
against him. scarcely known Of m Rio, and is altogether
ridiculous for serious consideration"
The election of Messrs. WILSON and Tuck as
Members of Congress from New Hampshire was
calo h,ytb o &c 4