The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-02-15


some dozen families from that and adjoining
parts are uniting in forming colony to emil
crate to Brazil.
sswhilst ndone can dispute the right Of every
man to choose any location on the face of the
earth that will improve his condition, ne ought
to be well assured Of that result before taking
such an important step as emigrating to dis
tant country, especially with family. Brazil
undoubtedly offers greater inducements to
southern emigration than any other country
Of this continent. Mexico Is out OF the ques-
tion, except to men who have capital and
active business habits. It will, ere long, be
abandoned by the French troops, and after
that abandonment 1t will become again prey
10 its chronic disease OF revolution and anar-
chy. But Brazil has had for many years an
orderly and prosperous government. The En-.
peror is a wise and popular sovereign. The ter
ritory is immense second only in extent to that
of Russia and China. Nearly two thirds of it
consists of high lands and mountains. The
extent Of cultivated land, however, is said to
bear very small proportion to that Of the
whole country-perhaps not more than two
per cent.
The Government of Brazil is a hereditary
monarchy. The political powers recognized
by the Constitution are legislative, executive,
and judicial. The legislative power resides in
the General Assembly, consisting Of q Senate,
whose members are elected for life and chosen
by the provinces, and Chamber Of Deputies,
elective and temporary. The laws Of this
body are subject to the sanction Of the Empe-
ror. The Emperor calls together the General
Assembly, declares war and concludes peace.
Brazil is divided into eighteen provinces, for
the purposes Of district government, and
their affairs are administered by as many pre-
sidents. The administration Of justice Is
very defective. The army consists Of fifteen
thousand regular troops, and Of regular and
local militia the former may be dispatched
on foreign service, while the latter does not
leave the place Of their abode. Every man
from sixteen to sixty who is not already
enrolled in the regular militia or troops Of the
line may be called upon to serve in the local
militia. The established religion of Brazil is
the Roman Catholic, but all other religions
are tolerated. Monas teries and nunneries are
extremely numerous in many parts of Brazil.
The Saints days are said to be celebrated in q
manner as splendid as at Rome itself. Most
of the schools established in the country are
under the control of ecclesiastics, though
several respectable academies have been
opened in most of the large towns by parties
not under their guidance. But, speaking
generally, there are said to be no means in
Brazil by which even the children Of the mid
die classes can acquire anything like good
and useful education.
The population is of very mixed character.
The native Brazilians, those born of Portu-
guese parents in Brazil, can scarcely be more
than one-seyenth of the population. They
are said to inherit the idleness and inactivity
of their European ancestors. traveller
remarks " that the very narrow compass in
which the necessities of the poorer classes are
confined is almost Incredible" Another
authority says: "The wealthy inhabitants
of the country differ only from those Of the
city in their greater ignorance. Wealth alone
possesses value in their eyes ; knowledge and
character appear to them almost superfiuous
The stranger, therefore, who cannot boast OF
wealth is, in their estimation, q very insignifi-
cant person. This is a marked popularity OF
the Brazilian character. In the principal
.eaports there is considerable number Of
European settlers, but the bulk of the popu-
lation of Brazil outside the native Brazilians
is African slaves, free negroes, and Indians.
There is hardly any political division of castles,
and, says a we'll informed writer, " very few
of those CALLING and degrading distinctions
which have been made by all other nations in
the management Of their colonies. 1t is true
that, according to the old code, people OF
color are not eligible to some Of the chief OFF,
GERS of government nor can they become
members of the priesthood but from the
mldness Of the laws the mixed classes have
gained ground considerably, and the regula-
1ions against them are evaded or, rather, have
become obsolete. Marriages between white
men and women of color are by no means
rare ; and the circumstance is scarcely observed
upon unless the woman be decidedly Of dark
color, for even considerable tinge will pass
for white" Voters must have a property
qualification, but there is no qualification OF
color.
The laws of Brazil as to slaves are peculiarly
humane, and latterly there has arisen in the
-slaveholding provinces an anti-slavery
sentiment, which has manifested itself, If we
mistake not, in the General Assembly. 1t is
not beyond the bounds Of probability that the
n-slaveholding and slayeholding provinces
of Brazil viii witness repetition OF the aoo-
lition agitation in the United States, ending,
unless concessions are made TO the abolition
party, in the same conyulsions of society which
have disturbed our own country. Spain and
Brazil are the only nations Of Christendom
which retain slave institutions In any portion
of their dominions, and emancipation in this
country Will give au biupCeAS ~ Wv "So~A'~~@
cause which even they may not long be able
10 withstand.
The mineral wealth OF Brazil Is immense.
It's vegetable products include sugar, coffee,
cotton, cocoa, rice, tobacco, wheat, yams,
oranges, figs, &c. The increase OF cattle and
horses, descended from European stocks, has
been astonishingly great. The rapacious ami
mails are too numerous to be agreeable. The
forests are fun Of them among which are the
tiger-cat, the hyena, the jaguar or tiger OF
South Afaerica yenomous reptiles OF all
sizes abound. The ugly malady OF soitre is
not uncommon in the eotherwise healthy moun-
tain region, and the cities Of the coast are sub
ject to the rayages Of yellow fever.
Brazil has been for some time engaged In a
war with Paraguay. which must increase 70 q
considerable extent the burdens OF taxauon.
This. however, In so prosperons q country WIZ
be only temporary evil. SO long as the
present Emperor lives It's Affairs Will pe