New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-29

- III 4aYriot of tpAoC No. 4
vast territory knoa as sington a"y :, -on'
The northern part oBrazil b u nais ed
as consisting chiefyof a vasshe ira
versed by the river Amazon and IS tribu-
taries. The water courses are lisped with
almost impenetrable forests. me shores
of the eastern coast are low, but grad
ually rise to the mountainous region,
which rum parallel to the coast, inland,
from twenty to one hundred and fifty
miles. The soil is said to be fertile, and
vegetation exceedingly luxuriant and
the climate, except in the north, mild
and agreeable. Being south of the
equator, like other countries similarly sit
uated, the seasons in Brazil are the re-
verse of ours. The Brazilians experience
their hottest weather in December, Janu-
airy and February. This accounts for the
yellow fever in Buenos Ayres in months
when we would not look for hot weather.
Buenos Ayres is the chief city of the Argen-
tine Republic. The products of Brazil are
sugar, coffee, cotton, hides, horns, tallow,
ierked beef, cabinet and dye woods, drugs,
gold and diamonds. Large numbers of
slaves have been used proftably in search
ing for diamonds, the diamond mines of
Brazil being as famous for wealth as the
gold mines Of California. Slaves are
also used in the cultivation of coffee, cot
ton, etc., and it is to be supposed
that quite a slaveholding interest must
have grown up in Brazil, What political
influence has grown up there, under the
rule of despotic government, to change
the order of things that recognized the
right Of sproperty in slaves, We are unable
to say but believe it to be more q matter
of policy to sustain a form of government
obn5xious to Surrounding peoples and
governments than otherwise.
The inhabitants of Brazil consist of
whites chiefly of Portuguese descent
negroes, mixed races, and savage tribes
of Iniians. The government has been
quite liberal in offers Of donations of
lands to immigrants, in order to gain
| population; and when the civil war ended
here differently from what quite a number
of those engaged in il, or who sympathized
with it, desired, a company was organ
lied to go to Brazil, and partake of the
chance of slavery, which was denied them
here, and a gift Of land. The colonists
who went there from our Southern States
were sadly disappointed in all their
warnings for happiness and wealth, to-
gether with the prospect of enjoying their
favorite institution in Brazil. A few
months served to make them heartily
sick and tired of their new homes, and
they sighed to get back again to the land
they had left in disgust because they had
not succeeded in making slavery its ruling
power. Many of them died there heart
broken, and not a few were assisted back
and rejoiced at the opportunity of once
more becoming citizens of the United
States.
The vote Of the Brazilian Chambers
would indicate that African slavery is to
be abolished in the dominions Of Brazil.
This is an act of justice, if carried out,
to the poor slaves who are now held as
chattels; but with the form of govern
ment existing in Brazil at present it is
impossible that anything like rational
freedom can exist among the people at
large. They must have a representative
form of government elective at certain
periods, and there must be a system of
public education to back it up. The
South American States all require this,
in order to give them permanent and
wholesome republican rule. This is also
required in Mexico, where the republican
form of government in the past has been
uncertain, and unable at times to sustain
itself against the Vaccinations of un-
principled and ambitious leaders. The
people of Mexico, like the people of
South America, have had much school
ing in republicanism, and every year is
adding to their proficiency for self-gov-
eminent.
The time will come when, under the
tuition and example of the people of the
American Union, they will be enabled to
maintain self-government and help to re-
deem every portion of this vast continent
from foreign influence and foreign rule.
The natives of the island of Cuba
have been struggling for years to throw
off the foreign yoke that has held them
in bondage; they are struggling to-day
as earnestly as ever; and they mean to be
free. They viii be free. And the gem of
the Antilles is not the only one of the
West India islands that is painting 70 be
free; is ready to burst asunder the
shackles that prevent free trade with the
great American republic.