Brazil.
The Times, 1824-01-26T00:00:00

Provldence, whicii watchesover the stability and preservation of na- tions, has in its profbund visdom permitted, that this empire should, after thC confirmation of its independence, and the union of all its provinces, even thosc most remote, continue to advance in the career of consolidation and prosperity. The Constituentand Legislative As. sembly laboured nvith assiduity, discernment, and activity, to form a constitution calculated firmly to plant the constitutional system, and cause it to take deep root in this extensive empire. On this im. moveable foundation, the construction of the sodal edifice was stea- dily proceeding, and such was tbe opinion entertained by foreigners of the Brazilian nation, that the principal Powers of Europe would soon have recognized the independence of the empire, and would even have been ambitious of contracting political and commercial relations with us. This brilliant prospect, which nothing seemed capable of obscuring, was dimmcd by the unexpected storm which overcast our horizon. The genius of mischief inspired restless and evil-disposed spirits with criminal designs, and kindled the flame of discord in the public mind. Some time ago it began to be seen and ascertained that there did not prevail in the Assembly that unifor- mity of true principles which distinguishes Constitutional Govern- ments; amd that harmony of separate powers whichi constitutes their moral and physical force began to waver. Various and continued attacks on the Executive Power, and its concessionrs for the sake of harmony, enervated the force ofthe Government,andsilently under- mined it. The spirit of disunion went on incrcasing; the gall of distrust overflowed ; parties were secretly formed; and a disor- ganizing faction suddenly appeared, and acqpuircd aforce whichbegan to alarm the minds of all worthy Braziliins, who, solely animated by zeal for the public good, and the purest patriotism, trembled with horror at the prospect of future dangers which they foresaw and ex- pected. lleanwhile, those men who had meditated and contrived subversive plans, and who continued to practise their sinister arts, gained over sonie honest and simple persons, by holding out theflat. tering idea of the better security of liberty-that sacred idol, always adored, but too often misunderstood; others by persuading them that the Goyernment had become despotic; and some, perhaps, by the promise of advantages which their own extravagant imaginations exaggerated. At last they carried their malgnity so far as to propa. gate that the perfidious and insidious project of a union with the Portuguese CGoverninent was adopted. The plans being laid. the means of acting on them arranged and put in motion, and the difficulties smoothed which were supposed to present obstacles in the way of success, it was determined that the conceived and long premeditated design should be carried into efiTect. One of the means chosen as miost certain was to sow discord be- tween the citizens born in Brazil and those who are natives of Por- tugal, by the means of journals written with a dexterous artifice and virulence, aiining at the destruction of the moral force of the Go- vernment, and threatening my imperial person with the examples of Iturbide and of Charles I., and also through emissaries who support- ed and propagated the same scditious'principles. The fermentation which was to Produce the revolutionary volcano being thiis prepared, the faction which had beceme preponderant'in the Assembly availed itselffor the fatal explosion of a petition from the citizen David Pamplona.described as a Brazilian bybirth,being, nevertheless, a native of the Portuguese islands,-who complained of some blows whiclh he had received from two Brazilian officers, natives of Portugal, and who, according to the opinion of a com- rnittee, was to recur to the ordinary course of law. Before day. light, andwith the most criminal forethEught, the leaders ofthis hor- rIble faction, assisted by their partisans, invited a number of persons to come arnied with poniards and pistols to iupport them, bv spread- ing terror among thoseillustrious, honourable, and worthv deputies of the Assembly, who, faithful to their oaths, mate it their sole endea. vour to fulfil the just confidence reposed in them by the noble Bra- zilian nation, and wbo, consequently, wished toe maintain the tran- quillity necessary to their deliberations. On that unhappy day, tragic and frightful scenes took place. Cries were set up, and supported in a manner equally extraordinary and scandalous. The illustrious President, wsth a prudent vigi- lance displayed in the breaking up of the sitting, put a stop to.evils which would have burst forth with te dreadful noise of an im- mense volcanot fermented by the fury of parties, by nationalliatred, by the thirst or vengeance, and by the most inflated ' ambition. Suchjwas to be expected from the great nutmber Qf pcr60ns, wzlo, within and Without tihe Atsembjy, Weredisposed to sUtlain thre pTo. jects of thi terrible-faction* and such was to be feared froit the treat quantityof arns profusely sold inthe city on the preceding days, and fromthe scan2alous aecdamationsby wbich theleaders of thu wickredparty were receisve& and extolled by their satellites:w.bn they came out of the Assebly, in despite cven of my imperial presenec. This scene of danger was again renewed. Violent and virulent speecbes from those who belong to the faction continued to fan the flame of discord, and many of their dependents, both in the galleries of the Assembly acd without, proteeted the horrible results which were the necessary consequences of the premeditated plans. To this end they demanded andobtained the establishment of. a' permanent session, under the specious pretext that it was not fit it should be dissolved until tranquillity X`ould be established. For this latter object, I had commanded the whole of the troopstomarchand assemble in the plain of S.Christovao, with the just desig ofleaving ,the Assembly in perfect libertry; and I afterwards acquainted the Assembly with this determination, in order that they rnight take into consideration the motives which -I justified it, and the necessity of providing some positive measures tending to the re-establisbment of tranquDlity. No such measures, however, were taken, but they continued, onthe contrary, to pusunetheir discussions witlh the same warmth and obstinacy; and under cover of a multitude of specous pretexts the ruln of the country was aimed at, while their first and most decided attacks weredirected towards my autust person, which was tre4ted with every disrespect that gaumny and malgnity could suggest. Nor was revolutionary fury the only feeling which appeared in these extravagant attacks. They went still farther, and aimed mvt an excessive restrictionof the attributes which belong, by the very nature of representative governments, to the head of the Executive Power and which had been conferred on me by the nation as Constitutional Emperor and Perpetual Defender of Brazil. They cven went so far as to require that the whole or a great part of the.troops should withdraw to a distance from the city; thus leaving the Government without its necessar-y vigour and sup7port. T'hedelay in adopting decisions,'whchis always 4angerousin urgent cases, and Wh'ish must finally prove fatal in the pgesent melancholy state ofaffairs-theh6rribleprosnpet of some imminent catastrophe- tthe despair of some-the pride and political fanaticism of others- the alarfin and fear of all peaceful citizens.-thedangerous state.of the country, and the dread Of the ruin and subversion of the state,-all imperatively demand prompt and efflcacious measures, and reniedies which, though appartntlyviplent, ca,tt a7qnesucceed in produding early and happy results. And what measure would be the most likely to succeed in so ar- duous andperilous a-crisis ? What dike could be found to stay the revolutionary torrent, to bear up against the force of its waves; and to paralyse them completely? No other was so obvious or so pow- erful as the dissoludon of the Assembly. Th'is, and the dismissal of the Mtinisters; pre -the' preservatives from public disorders in constitutional monarchies-; this last was put in practice, and there was tben no oiher resource left than to carry the first intp execiltion, though to the great sorrow and gride of of my imperial heart. Actuated, therefore, by these powerful mo- ives, and by the urgent necessity of saving the country, which is a supreme law, and justifies extreme measures in caseA ofgreatrisk, I commpeided the dissolution of the Assembythe decree 6f the 12th current, at the same time directing the eon'ocation of another, ac- cording to the public consttutional law, to which I am desirous to conform. -- ln that same decree, as well as In that of the 13th, which repeated a.d extended it, irrefragableproofs were given of the absolute neces. sityof adoptingsoforcibleameasure,and of my anxious desire to re-estabolish the constitutional system, whih was prodaimed by the Brazilian nation, and which can alone ensure the happiness of the empire. If circustanci a so difficult and perilous have compelled me to put n practice so violent a remedy, I have onlv to observe tlat extraordinary evils require extraordinary measures, and that it is to be hoped that they will neverberenderednecessaryagain. Thepeo. ple, now satisfied of the extent of my magnanimity and constitu. tional principles, and of n,y eamest desire to promote the national happiness and tranquillity, will desist from the commotion caused by thisdisastrous event, which is equally painfiul to myself, and will continue to enjoy the peace, tranquillity, and prosperity, which the constitution promises and secures. THE EMPEROR. Rio, Nov. 16, 1823. DECREES OF THE EMIPEROR OF BRAZIL. T, Don Pedro, &c. Having convoked, as I have a right to do, the General Constituent and Legislative Assembly, by the decree of the 3d of June last year, in order to save Brazil from the imminent danger with which she wvas threatened; and that Assemblv having perjured itself by Yiolating the oath solemnly made to the' nation to defend the inte- grity of the empire, its independence, and my dvnasty; I have thought proper to dissolve the said Assembly, and' to convoke an- other, according to the rules laid down for the convocation of that which has now ceased to exist. This' new Assembly will have to deliberate on the plan of a constitution which I intend shortly to present to it, and which will be infinitely more liberal than that which was approved by the late Assembly. Mv Mlinisters and Se- cretaries of State, in all the different departments, hav: received the requisite instructions, which they will carry into execution for the welfare of the empire. - Given at the Palace, Nov. 3, 1623; being tie second year of the irdependence of the empire. (Signed) THE EMPEROR. (Countersigned) CLEMENTE FERREIRA FRANCA. JOSE OLIVEIRA BARBOZA. Don Pedro, &. -- As I understand that rome doubts have arisen respecting the real meaning of the term " perjured," which I applied to the Legislative Assembly of Brazil, in my decree of yesterdlay, by whieli that assem- bly is dissolved, and that that expression has been supposed to com- prehend the whole national representation, I wish it to be understood that I have never confounded the worthy representatives of the peo- ple of Brazil with the notorious faction who have swayed that con- gress. I bereby declare, that draimw aust datintCn 1botwoo. to upright indivsruals who have always had in view the welfare of Brazil, and the faction that thirst for revenge even at the price of tne horrors of anarchy. The latter only were comprehended in my denunciation, as by their preponderance they were the instigators of true misfortunes which they proposed to bring upon the country. illy illinistern and Secretaries of State have also received this with insttuctions to publish it. Palace of Rio deJaneiro, Nov. 13, 1823; being the second year of the independence of the empir (Signed) THE EMPEROR. (Countersigned) FRANCISCO VILLEILA BARBOZA. IFrom *the Estrclla Brarsikira.] "The " RIO JANEIRO, Nov. 14. The composition of our paper of this day was conluded when symptoms of a nature highly dangerous to the publi peacemani- fested themselves in this capitaL They derived their origin from whatocetred in the sitting of the Assembly of Saturday last. The debate on that day tumed on a petition addressel to the Assembly by a citizen, whose house had been violated by two officers of the Msounted Artillery, who assaulted and maltreated him on the sup- sition thiat lie was the author of a letter published in a certain journal, and signed ' 0 Brasileirn Resoluto.' "The petition was referred to a committee, whose opinion natu- rally was, that the complainer should recur to the ordinary course of law, this matter not coming within thejurisdiction of the assembly. "This opinion, however, experienced ooposition. "Antonio Carlos de Andrada proposed an amendment to the ef- fect of requiring, on account of the extraordinary circumstances of Brazil, that in case the oftenders should be convicted of the crime imputed to them, they should bebanished from the empire. " In the sitting of Mlonday this amendment was the subject of a warm debate, the solemnity of which was intcrrupted by exclamations from the people in the galleries and in the halI. The President tlserefore considered himself obliged to break up the sit- ting at a quarter past one o'clock-in the afternoon. An incredible state of'fermentation was then displayed. The Emperor, beingaware thatthe sitting would bestormy, had come to the cit.,and remained whilethe Assembly was debating, in the Palace, where he received the resignation of lus Mlinisters, with the exeentoio-of the Minister of Mlarine. "In te evening the fermentation became more violent, and a great number of officers wvere observed passing to and fro on the road to St. Christ0vam. - HIisrMajesty perceiving that a crisis was approaching, ordered under arms thewhole of the regular troops and the whole of the miitia, and these forces were assembled in the plain of St. Chris. tovamn. On Tuesday the assemblym-tiet at the usual hour. Antonio Carlos de Andrada addressed the Assemblv on the collection of troops at St. Christovam, the disquietude which pre- vailed in the city, and the necessity of demanding categorical ex. planations from, the Government.^ On his motion, it was ordered that the sitting of the Assembly should be permanent. " Soon after a message was received from the Emperor, inform. ing 'he Assembly that the oflic rsof the army.in general complaiised_ ve;ry muc of being every day exposed to most odious attscks and incendiary writings, whose authors remained unpunished; that his ajesty had assembled around him the whole of the troops,to guard ag-anst disorder, as well as to secure to the Assembly freedom in its deliberations; that the troops were in a state of perfect subordina- tion; and,finallv, that it was necessary to adopt extraordinary I " To this message the Assembly answered, that thev were very happy to learn that the troops were always subordinate-; that they were not regularly informed as to the fact of the grounds of com. plaint on the Dart of the officers; that they were readv to adopt whatever measure might appear necessarv in the existing circum- stances,- as soon as his Alajesty's Governiment gave them the requi- site explanation,-. The reply of the Government was delayed a considerable time: It arrived at one o'clock in the moraing. In substance' the Govern. ment required restricting the licentious freedom of the press, and the expulsion from the Assembly of a certain number of factious deputies, the shameless advocates of anarchy and dvil war. After a long debate on this commnunication from the Govem ment, the greater part of the Deputies deClared that they could not consent to suen measures w ithout previously receiving from his la- jesty's inistersimost cirCtmstantialinformation the subject ; and that it was above all things necessary-to call for the examination of the Minister for the Home Department. This was agreed to. " On the same day (Wednesday morning) the Assembly discussed a decree, the effect of- which was to order that the European Portiu- guese and other foreigners belonging to the military corps assembled at St. Christovam should withdraw into the interior, to thediatance of at least sLx leagues from the capital. M' ellanwhile, the troops assermbled at St. Christovam continued to give proofs of a lively enthusiasm forthe Emperor. His ill ajesty reviewed them amidst shouts a thousand times repeated of attach. menttothe independenceof'Brazil, and the Constitutional Emperor. "At ten o'clock on WVednesday rooming the Alinisterfor the Home Departnent appeared in theAssembly. After his examination, the Deputies, not considering themselves sufflciently infonned, dismiss. ed his Excellency and ordered the new Alinistez of War to be sun moned, in order tat hermiht bte intirrogated. "His Majesty then apted his final resolution. - A body of troops received orders to satclh in two colum ns, to enter the city, and dissolve the Atsembly. A - " By two o'clock in the aftemoon the troops, the greater part of whom remained drawn up in order of battle m the Campo da Ac- I -lamaqam, arrived.near the Palace Several general officers entered the Assembly, one of whom delivered to one of the Secretaries the following Imperial decree :- [Here follows a copy of the first of the above decrees.I ' The decree being read, a copy was ordered to be entered on the journals,and the Presidentidedared that theAssembly was dissolved. Martin Francisco de Andrada. Antonio Carlos de Andrada, otnhtezumea,aynd Rocha were arrested as they were coming out "Besidesis thse, the Deputies V tergueiro,Belehibr, ose Bonifacio de Adrad were arrested witbout she palace of the Assembly. .reeroceedh fs bd'ng emiinate lOOtfheh1(ta given to his impezs Iaet.wh a rJl1 e*,t bjh& Or the troops in the Camppo da Accla=T,na.aj. - ~_ e,tw- tje., miade his entry into the c1ty. CcHIia Majesty theks went to performoo" h etosin fhe hr mnitage of Nos8a Senhora da Gloria, " a yhtsin'ther he.r ceivsdthe stroge,s,t proofs of the love tite6ttam dforj1iim,by the " pre tat ony a small portion of these,ets the rest were commtsticatuj bye,ve-witnesscs or colleoted from&publi rumour. We do not, how ever, make ourseives responsible fbr thern." The Esntrella Brasi1irafo.Twh_ich we.h;lve givezn extracts above, contains a long article under the date eof the 19th of November, which if it dortdisalose the precise intentions of the Bziliau Gio. vernment, cannot be supposed to speak senthinents dissleushin to the new authoritires, since it is recis o soon after the crisio whch seemns to have invested Donkedrof folr a time-,at least, withabsb. lute power. It is in the first plato remarked, that 32 monta hs A elarsed since the Revolution wofa acommplished at Rio de Janel antithat e urin g throu perg od thc erdium b f een astanitalkofPi,tf an apt o nstitution, t ofthpeople hro u Oer mLeo r; but soused thiata e the c e,thn, shouId may elloect to otaie cormnstio otution winshe yar oftheabirntha of Assemnbly ~ss a thing altogether imposbe t ta i Imperial Matjesty ought to take entiryupn o givind constituiion,which might be subeittedmone o f th lole empire. Pinafy, it is recommendeasa ltemvn all distrust, that the Government shouild be irl t~i- htn important ofilces should be given to natiePruee riltbr- cognition Of the independence of Braoil Brtil, and wu the Government shula resrt to the m ee to compel Portugal to make the recogniitio Us speedily as pea-. sile The interruption of all ormmerce beti*eeb~ Portugal ana Brazil even through the medium of neuttra Wlg 5hi~4~p ted out as a measure likely to extort the rwM ii~f-O7 th6 new em, p ie from th.m mothier country; no Portuguese producti&nsm ought to be admitted under the liretence --f en Brazilian pert. Its prposd tht a ermfor the recaplrtion should Government Portugal,anotifleaton that if did xpie wihou thereqiredackowledgmnent, Portugal coud n logerexpct he eas faourfrom Brazil, andI would even incr te rsk f bin exludd fom llcommerce with Brazill for BRAZIL. M1ANIFESTO OF HIS 'MAJESTY TrrE EMlPEROt TO TIE B RAZI ANS.