Year: 1866

day, to secure a handsome policy, while
it is exceedingly difficult to secure an
mount equal to the policy in any other way
| From the Augusta Constitutonallst


DR.. J.. McF. CASTOR and Brazil.


Upon the invitation of citizens of Cuth.
bert, this gentleman lately delivered a lee
ture, in the Presbyterian church, upon the
government, religion, institutions, manners
and customs, climate, soil and productions
of the empire of Brazil, having spent since
the downfall of the Confederacy, about five
months in that country. I propose here q
short review of his lecture, for the benefit
of those who may feel an interest in that
subject. As to myself, I am native Of
Georgia, and entertain a steady purpose Of
adherring to her through all her changes
Of fortune that may befal her during my
life. As to DR.. CASTOR, he is evidently a
gentleman ofintegrity, fairness and candor,
and of no ordinary intelligence and power
of discrimination. His person is agreeable,
his manners pleasing, and style of impart'
ing his information, while it is not oritori.
cal, but conversational, is brief, perspicuous,
instructing, and entertaining. While there
is no effort at display, there is none at con.
cealment The attractive and unfavorable
features of Brazil, as home for Southern
ers, are stated with apparent fairness; no
persuasion is used, but all are left to form
their opinions and shape their course upon
their convictions of duty and the prompt.
ings of interest, after listening to plain
and uuadorned narrative of facts.


The Government he defines to be we'll.
defined constitutional monarchy, resem-
bling, in many of its features, that of Great
Britaiu-having subsisted nearly fifty years
since the revolt from Portugal, the mother
country, and the establishment of Brazilian
independence, The Legislative branch Of
Government, consisting of Senate and
House of Deputies, much resembling the
British Parliament The Senate is chosen
for life of the members, but it is not hered
itary. Each province in which vacany
may occur nominates three persons out of
which number the Emperor selects one,
who is the Senator for life. The Empire
is divided into provinces, somewhat like our
States, regulating to some extent, their own
in:e al affairs, and over which the Empe-
ror has but little control Their judicial
system is we'll defined and we'll subserves
the ends of justice


Charges for violation of criminal law are
preferred by Magistrates instead of Grand
Juries, and then tried by jury as here
The Catholic is the established religion of
the Empire, but other religions are freely
tolerated. Slavery exists in Brazil on a
similar plan to that We had before the late
emancipation. Their slaves are as good la
borers, or, perhaps, rather better, and are
about as subordinate as those we held in
the Southern States. Their prices fuctu.
ate much recently, in consequence of the
generally prevailing notion of the people
that, at no distant day, the institution will
be abolished DR.. CASTOR gave it as his opin
ion that such would be the case within a
few years.


Free laborers can be hired in Brazil, of
a class which is not reliable for the perform
auce of a contract Of any considerable length
of time-but who work we'll for a short
time. Arrangements have been put on foot
by enterprising individuals who propose to
introduce as many European laborers as
may be demanded-and of class that is
reliable.


The officials and intelligent citizens
warmly favour emigration Of people from
the Southern States, but are not disposed
to do any thing which might give offence
to the Government of the United States.


The language of the country is compare
lively easy, especially to those who under
stand the latin. Dr. CASTOR learned in the
course Of four months, to communicate with
the people without an interpreter, which he
had had up TO that time


He divides the population into three
classes. The first is an educated and intel.
ligeut class who compare very favorably
with the best class in this country, in learn.
ing virtue aud integrity, benevolence and
hospitality, and all the virtues that tend to
make Them agreeable companions and re-
liable friends


The second is class of honest and indus.
trioaS people, not much educated and far
less polished 10 their manners.


The third and lowest class is made up
Of. idle and iudoleut people who live with.
out labor, for which the ceuDtry is we'll
adapted, and who are ignorant, filthy and
worthless


was much astonished to hear the Doctor
say, what I think it probable he must be
mistaken about, that the proportion of the
first class to the aggregate population,
is as great as it is in the Southern States.
THIS may be true in few localities, and
possibly throughout the Empire. If so, one
of the greatest objections to emigration is
obviated. A stranger unable to speak the
language and to some extents guest of the