Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-10-05
Political and civil Equality in
Brazil,


Political and civil Equality in
Brazil.
The vast Empire of Brazil, through iti
Legislative body, the Chambers has passed
a measure Of complete emancipation, BY
the terms of which nearly two millions Of
African slaves are vested with all the
rights of citizenship, as prescribed in that
empire. This policy of political and civil
equality was inaugurated by its Emperor
Don Pedro H., and has by this act at
tanned the beginning of its fruition. Tbi.
emancipation measure was practically
commenced in 1865. The Emperor and
the Assembly and the people deserve the
congratulations of the whole world upon
it's accomplishment. This event leaves
little trace upon the American continent
of human serfdom, which was fastened
upon us by the sordid greed of Europeans
two centuries ago; and the spirit of civil
ization will not rest while a vestige of it
remains.
Since the prohibition of the importation
Of slaves, enacted by the Assembly in
1881, slavery in that empire ceased to be
accompanied by the horrible physical
hardships incident to the condition OF
seridom in Europe or in the United States.
The decree which abolished the trade in
slaves s, so far as Brazilian markets were
concerned, gave freedom to every slave
introduced into the empire after its Off
cial promulgatiop, and notwithstanding
the traffic continued to be illegally car
ried on for ten or fifteen years, it was
finally extinguished in 1850 Such legis-
lation was enacted as rendered manu-
mission easy, and preventing re-enslave-
meut. This policy gradually reduced
the number of slaves without an effort at
entire emancipation from 1000, 900 in
1856 to 100000 in 1870. While the alb
senee of prejudice against color, and the
social and political advantages accorded
to the emsncipsted negro from the hour
he became a freeman, has tended to keep
under subjection the iDsurrectionary
spirit, while it cultivated self-respect, in
tellige nee and habits of industry among
those who were kept in bondage.
The distinction of color carries with it
less moral weight in Brazil, probably
tn III in any other country on the earth.
The population from the period of South
American colonization, has continually
grown more and moro heterogeneous, and
now includes at least nine diitinct classes,
commonly separated in the following divi-
sions: 1st. Europeans, including Caness-
SLAMS of all natiAns, but chiefly Portuguese,
French and German; ID. Native White
Brazilians; 3D.. Mulattoes of half a dozen
shades; 4th. Descendants of Whites and
Indians called, Mamahucoes 9th. Do
mesticated Indians, known as Cabacoloes ;
9th. Indians uncivilized 7th. Free ne
groes, natives of Brazil Sth. Manumitted
negroes; 9th. Descendants of Africans
and Indians Zamboes.
The total population of Brazil in l $40,
including slaves was 11,760,0O0. Among
the wealthy, the intelligent, and politi"
cally powerful portion of this strange
mass of people, have always been found
men and women of the three predominant
ing racer, Caucassians, Indians and Ne
grots. All the pathways of social dis
tinction, commercial prosperity, and poll
ticsl honor, have been open to every man
with ambition to aspire and ability to
succeed. The children of all mingle to-
gether, and taught together in the schools,
and kneel promiscously in the churches
Had the same distinction Of race and
color been felt, as there have been and are
felt in the United States, Brazil would
have been torn and divided by insurrec'
ton and strife, score of times within
the last quarter of century, and every
stable principle of its government would
have been scattered to the winds at the
will of adventurers, or the mighty tenn
pests Of mobs.
Brazil possesses, it will be observed
by this statement, by far the most ad-
vanced civilization of all the South
American States. The monarchy is he
reditary, except in certain conditions, yet
the throne is hedged by constitutional
guarantees, inc luding the freedom of the
presa, free schools, trial by jury, hadeaS
corpus, and the right of appeal through
the various channels of wisely appoint.
cd judiciary. The members of the Assem-
bly, are chosen by an elective system
which virtually extends the right of suff.
rage to all citizens having an income
equivalent to fifty dollars in gold. The
extensive commerce of the country with
almost all the nations of the earth, and
the infusion of American ideas upon all
CLASSES of the people since the organiza-
ton of the railway system in South
America, so largely managed by citizens
of the United States, together with the
political advancement of the government,
make it seem almost a marvel that emsn-
cipation should not have been accom-
plished long ago, But the very causes
which inspire the surprise, are those which
have conduced to the continuance of the
system, leading at the same time to its
snre but gradual extinction.
BEECHER.-The New York Ee1uld in
speaking of the sermons, on Sunday, in
New York and elsewhere, says: "But
greater far than ALTO the hearts of
thnuaapds ot Iaasf-tba Rau 'uo,ry Warl