The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-07-11

Robert T. Clayton, United States Consul
at Para. writes to the Boston Transcript:
"At the end Of the War of the Rebellion a
large number Of Southerners were unwilling
to live under Northern rule, and emigrated
to northern Brazil. They were cordially
welcomed by the Brazilian Government and
were allowed to preempt lands on the out
skirts of the city of Santarem, which is situ-
ated on the river Amazon, about 400 miles
from Para. Certain other aid was given
them and rations Of subsistence were also
made them until such time as they might
reasonably, by occupation and cultivation on
such lands, become self-supportlng.
''If these emigrants had been men of energy
willing to work and avail themselves Of the
advantages Offered, all would have gone we'll
with them in every respect. Unfortunately,
just the contrary was the case; the greater
part were idle, ,dissolute, and worthless, the
dregs of the Southern army They went to
Santaren, where they were cordially well
coined, and everything was done for the m.
both by the authorities ane the inhabitants.
They preempted the land. hut generally did
nothing more, but lived In the city upon the
rations furnished them or sold them to pro-
cesses Of all kinds. OF course they soon wore
out their welcome, and gradually drifted away
and scattered through the country.
There were, however, among them some
few families Of very different stamp-men
Of the highest responsibility who had been
men of property and influence in their re-
spective States. but who had been almost
ruined by the result Of the war. They were
men who, placed anywhere, would by edu-
cation, industry, and energy have made their
way, and some brought with them some little
money These men received their land, and in
some cases bought large additional tracts.
They built their houses, laid out their
plantations, and were then, and bave ever
since en,pr0sperous and contented.
Their plantations are on the terra preta,
or rich, black land about eight miles south
of Santarem. although some have houses in
the city ITSELF They are engaged in the rais-
ing Of. sugar cane and cocoa, and In cattle
breeding, and also have plantations Of India
rubber trees, which are now just beginning
to yield return. One has large machinery
establishment in Santarem, where small
steamers and launches for river traffic are
built, and every year import from the United
States thousands Of dollars worth Of improved
machinery. Another, lately deceased, had a
large cooperY and barrel factory. They, or
their descendants Q0r many Of the original
settlers are dead, now own flourishing and
productive plantations, cultivated with all
modern appliances, are well-to-do in the
world and in climate which for salubrity
and loveliness is unsurpassed in the world,
are c0ntented and happy, and are probably
far better off than If they had remained in
the United States. They frequently visit
their friends In the United States, butas yet,
as far as l can learn, not one of them has left
Brazil to try his fortune in the States.
ANY English traveller who stated that
their condition was 'deplorable'tol deliber-
ate lie. As to being close to the cannibal
tribes who live in the interior of Brazil, they
are only a few days by river st,1mer from
the city of Para, and not within Ole thousand
miles of any cannibal Indians, ifindeed there
are any cannibals In Brazil. To the statement
that they are deferred from going home by
supertluity Of pride and paucity of money,
the facts above given are sufficient answer.
and their condition is anything but 'pitiable.
Owing to their knowledge and energy, they
are better off than their Brazilian neighbors,
by whom they are held in high esteem and re-
spect The greatwant Is educational facilities
as their plantations are distant from the San
tarem schools, but their children generally
have been and are sent to the United States
to be educated. "What positions they might
have occupied had they remained in the I'm
tied States no one, Of course, can say. My
object in writing is not to indulge In speeula-
tion, but to state facts, which, as above given,
are derived, those as to their early history
from trustworthy information, those relating
to their present condition from personal
knOWledge."