The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-11-04
Term. of the Brazil Emancipation

II ts
The Emancipation Act of Brazil received
the sanction of the Regent Sept. 2Sth, passed
the Senate Sept. 9th by vote of 80 to 4, and
the Chamber of Deputies Aug. 2Sth, by vote
of 81 to 80, where it was introduced May 18th
by the Minister of Agriculture. The follow
ing abstract embraces the leading features of
the law
Art. J. All children bora Of slave women
in the Empire siuce the date of this law shall
be free.
These minors are to remain with their moth
ers until they complete the age OF eight years.
The owner of the mother will have the option,
either to receive from the State 5000, 1. e., $3.50
United States gold, as compensation, or to
have the use of the minors services until
he completes the age of a years. The money
compensation shall be paid in bonds, drawing
the annual interest of 6 per cent, and which
SHALL lie held extinct at the end OF thirty years.
The minor may redeem himself from the bond
OF service by previously rendering, either by
him or by another person, pecuniAry cOmpen-
sation to the owner of bis mother
Another section provides that if the slave
mother obtains freedom, those of her children
under eight years of age, who are in the power
of her owner, by virtue of section l, shall be
delivered up to her unless she prefers to leave
them, and the MASTER agrees to keep them.
Sill another section provides that the appren-
tceship OF the children of slave women shall
cease before the children reach the age of eli eht
years. if it be declared, by sentence of Grim
inaI court, that the owners of the mothers i'll
treat them by inAicting excessive punishment
or them.
The second article empowers the government
to deliver to associations authorized by it what
ever children, born OF slaves since the date OF
the law are allowed to 60 at large or abandon
ed by the owners of the slaves
Art. 8. In each province of the empire as
,clay hol hn frAA
by the quota yearly available from the fund in
tended tor emancipation.
The emancipation fund is formed from 1st-
The tax on slaves; 2d-The imperial taxes on
the transmission OF property in slaves 2d-The
product OF six lotteries annually, exempt from
| lotteries granted and permitted to be drawn
hereafter In the capital of the empire; 4th-
The lines imposed by virtue of this law; 9TH
Sums voted in the imperial, provincial and
municipal appropriation hillss 6th-Subscrip
lions, donations and legacies for the purpose.
| Art. 4. To the slave is permitted the lorna.
ton OF a peculium, from what comes to him a:
donations, legacies and inheritances; and will
what, by consent of his owner, he obtains by
his la6or and savings. The government shall
provloe IN the regulations for the placing aud
safety Of said peculium.
| Sec Z. under article 4, provides that in case
OF ahenation or transmission ofslaves, it is Tor
Diaden, under penalty Of nullity, to separate
man anu Vile, or children under IL years o
| from their father or mother.
| ART; . declares the following slaves free
l. Inc slaves belonging the nation; to whom
the government may give whatever employ
ment it thinks proper.
z Ihe slaves given in usufruct to thu
| Crown.
!. slaves belonging to unclaimed estates
E. slaves abandoned by their owners.
II tnese last abandon such slaves because o
sickness, they shall be obliged to maintain
them, except in case OIL. poverty and the amour
! OF sucn maintenance shall be fixed by TIN
| orphans judge.
O. IN general, the slaves liberated by virtu
OF tnls law are to remain for five years unde
the inspection of the government They ar
pound to hire themselves out, under penalty o
being compelled, if living in vagrancy, to labo
IN tne puDllc establishments.
nevertheless, the compulsion to work shall
tract of hire.
AIt. provides that the process in suits 10
ireeoom snail be summary, and that there sinai
be ex- oihcio appeals whenever the decision
are against freedom.
Art. . provides for special registration o
Az tne slaves in the EN- pre- and impose peh
aItles TOT iniraction, charge of non-performanc
tner eoi on the part of masters.
1t would appear that this act, at best, is bu
half way measure, but probably the best tina
! could be secured at present,