Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-05-01
DOM PEDRO'S EMPIRE.


a General Review of the Brazilian
Government and Its Institutions
The Natural Ges0urces, IMMORAL
wealth ana Agricultural AdVan-
tagss OF the CountTy.
A "Brazilian" furnishes the
Pittsburg Telegraph with the fol-
lowing facts of interest concerning
Dom Pedro's empire: Brazil, dis
covered in the year 1900 by a Por-
tuguese navigator by the name Of
Cabral, was settled by the people of
the same nation. During the 1922
years that Brazil remained united
to Portugal little progress was
made in the colony. At last, fol-
lowing the general uprising of
American countries, Brazil became
independent in September Z, 1922.
Since this eyer-memorable day there
has been a general advancement in
every branch of human knowledge
throughout the country.
There are numberless mountains
of small nights, spread all over
Brazil, which lend to it a most
charming aspect. Of rivers; no
other land can boast of larger and
better ones; the immense Amazonas,
the vast volumes Of water of the
San Francisco, Tocanlius and Pa
rama, all seem to make that empire
a country of marvellous beauty
These four rivers, besides numer-
GUS Others, are all navigable, and in
their waters are seen steamboats,
carrying the flags Of all nations.
The vegetation of the country is
Justly admired by travellers; from
north to south, from east to west,
virgin forests are of infinite variety ;
indeed, Providence seems to have
chosen this pretty country for its
bountiful gifts. AS evidence of
this, one might recollect the un-
equaled display Of over 1000 differ.
ent kinds of splendid woods, by
Brazilians, at the Centennial
Gold, silver, copper, iron, etc.,
are found in almost any place in
Brazil but of these very little is
being mined. Besides the above,
carbon in any form is found there,
it being remarkably well known,
the inexhaustible Brazilian dia-
monds.
A country of so varied climate
necessarily contains a most extra
ordinary variety in the geological
kingdom. Professor Agassiz, while
in Brazil, collected in the valley Of
the Amazonas thousands of species
Of fishes, of which some are entire
ly new. Brazilian birds are known
all over the world by the beauty Of
their plumage, and a little trade is
made in their branch of industry
by supplying the fashionable world
with feathers of all shades of ex-
ceeding beauty, OF other animals
there is the same abundant supply.
The Brazilians possess a most
liberal constitution. The people are
ruled by constitutional represent
ative monarchy, the head of which
is Dom Pedro II. This gentleman
is too well beloved by his country
men, and is too much admired BY
Americans to need any praise.
There are four different powers ::
First, the moderator, or the en-
peror himself; second, the execu-
tive, or seven ministers-and Of the
seven one is premier, leader of one
Of the parties, whom the emperor
calls to direct the affairs of the ma
tionj third, the legislative, COM
posed of a chamber Of deputies and
senate. The deputies are elected
every four years. Senators and
deputies are chosen by the people
according to population, by the
provinces; but as to the senators,
they are the choice of the people
and the emperor too; whenever any
vacancy occurs in the province, the
people elect three men and the en-
peror chooses one Of them, gener-
ally the most voted; fourth, and
last, the judiciary-with q supreme
court at the capital, and similar or
ganizations elsewhere in the EN-
pire.
1t is divided into twenty prov.
inces, and every one of them has an