The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-25
THE EFFORTS OF PORTUGAL TO ABO.
LISH SLAVERY.

from the NJ Y. Times
The kingdom of Portugal has followed in the
footsteps of its larger though younger sister, the
United States. By a royal decree of the 25th of
February last, published in the official gazette
on the 9th of the same month. the abolition of
slavery is declared in all the Portuguese colo
nies. All slaves are to be considered free and in
condition similar to that of Chinese labOrers
who by their own act have bound themselves TO
labor in the English and French colonies. This
is to be their condition until April 20, 1878,
when, in accordance with the decree of April %,
1858, they will be entitled to all the rights and
privileges of Portuguese citizens, and all engage
ments and contracts which may have been made
by them in their former condition will thence
forth be null and void.
The Portuguese Government has ever used its
best endeavors to put stop TO the slave trade,
both by the establishment of naval stations on
the coasts of Africa and by the faithful eXecu-
tion of the treaty of lS42 with Great Britain the
terms of which are similar to our slave trade
treaties with that power. Carrying ont strictly
the provisions of this treaty, and sincerely de-
voted to- its humane principles the Portuguese
Government has found no sacrifice too great to
put a stop to this Infamous traffic, though the
difficulties it encountered were very great.
For many years the abolition OF slavery has
found able and untiring champions in the Portu-
guese Parliament, such as the Marquis dc Sa Ban
dera now President of the Councils OF Minis
ters, and the Counts de Lavradio and de Ayrila.
The Marquis especially has for many years past
sustained the same principles MS those advocated
by Lord Brougham in the British Parllamentand
Charles Sumner in our own Senate
A series of laws in regard TO this subject prove
how desirous Portugal has ever been to see
slavery abolished in its colonies. decree OF
December H. 1854, declared that
"tAll slaves belonging to the Government shall be
free and ordered that the names OF all other slaves
shall be registered within thirty days. at the eNpra
tion OF which time all slaves whose names nave NOT
been presented or inserted in SAID register shall De
considered as free.'
By compensating his owner, every slave had
the right to acquire his own freedom. The
emancipated slaves, together with their children
were placed under the protection OF the Govern
ment represented by commissions established II
the several capital cities of the transma
rine colonies, and of which the Bishop OF the
diocese was to be the permanent President.
On the oath of July, 1876, law was promuI
,rated declaring free all children thereafter Dorl
Sf female slaves i'm Portuguese colonies. u
course the effects of this law would have beel
the eventual abolition of slavery even II no OJhe
measures for that purpose had been adopted
Rnt bv the decree of April 20, 1858, OF whicl
we have already spoken, the total abolition 0
slavery in the Portuguese colonies was AAc'
for 1878. ,..., 1..i,o u
All these measures prove the sincere desire o
Portugal to put an end to slavery ana II Is no
without interest to observe how TINS couhIr
endeayored centuries ago TO better the cohdlIlo
of n class which only many years later Decail
the subject of the humane sentiments ana CIV
Iizing efforts of other more powerful nations,
On the both of March, 1870, the King Oh fol
tugal ordered