ARRIVAL AT MARANHAM--CHARACTER OF DISTURBANCES THERE--I ASSUME THE
MILITARY COMMAND--PROCLAMATION COMMANDING SURRENDER OF ARMS--CONDITION
OF THE PEOPLE--CORRUPTION OF THE AUTHORITIES--MURDEROUS
PROPENSITIES--DIFFICULTY IN DETECTING ASSASSINS--LETTER TO MINISTER OF
MARINE--PACIFICATION OF PARAHYBA--DOUBTS OF THE PRESIDENT'S
SINCERITY--HE ESTABLISHES SECRET AGENCIES--EXTRAORDINARY
MEMORIALS--PUBLIC COMPLAINTS OF THE PRESIDENT--BRUCE ENDEAVOURS TO
INTERCEPT THEM--MY REPLY TO THE MEMORIALISTS--LETTER TO THE MINISTER OF
MARINE--ENCLOSING COMPLAINTS OF THE CONSULS--BRUCE PREPARES TO RESIST MY
AUTHORITY--COMPLAINTS OF THE BRITISH CONSUL--HE CONSIDERS MY PRESENCE
NECESSARY--LETTER OF THE FRENCH CONSUL--DETAILING SHAMEFUL
ATROCITIES--DANGER OF COLLISION WITH FOREIGN STATES--SUSPENSION OF THE
PRESIDENT--PROVISION FOR FUTURE GOVERNMENT--CONDUCT OF THE FACTION AT
RIO DE JANEIRO--NO INSTRUCTIONS SENT FOB MY GUIDANCE--LETTER TO THE
MINISTER OF MARINE--THE MINISTRY HAD PREVIOUSLY DEPOSED BRUCE--BUT
TURNED ON ME FOR ANTICIPATING THEIR OWN ACT.
We arrived at Maranham on the 9th of November, and ascertained that the
city and province--as had been reported--were in a complete state of
anarchy, arising from causes almost incomprehensible. The leaders of the
army had risen against the authority of the president, Miguel Bruce, and
fighting was going on when we entered the river. The strangest part of
the affair was, that both parties declared themselves supporters of the
Imperial authority, whilst each accused the other of plotting to form a
republic. Bruce kept possession of the city by means of negro troops,
from amongst whom he had also picked his officers, conferring upon them
regular commissions; the result being, that their excesses kept the
respectable inhabitants in a state of constant terror, so that my
arrival was hailed with the greatest satisfaction, and addresses of
congratulation were sent in from all quarters, even the ladies adopting
the unusual course of sending a deputation to welcome me.
I immediately demanded from the president a report of the condition of
the province; but before this was presented, memorials from every part
put me in possession of the causes of disorder universally prevailing.
The general complaint was, that the president had established an
autocracy, refusing the co-operation of a council, as required by the
constitution, and that under his individual authority, military
disorders of all kind prevailed, even to murder, whilst outrages of the
most revolting nature were committed amidst cheers of "Long live His
Imperial Majesty;" thus using the Imperial name as a sanction to the
perpetration of acts the most unlawful and injurious.
The President Bruce was the same individual whom, on the expulsion of
the Portuguese in the previous year, I had temporarily appointed
President to the first provisional Junta under the Empire, which body
was quickly superseded by a Government elected by the people. Possessing
influence amongst the Portuguese, of which faction--as afterwards
appeared--he was a prominent supporter, he had contrived to get himself
reinstated as head of the provincial Government, and was apparently
following the policy of the Portuguese faction in power at Rio de
Janeiro, viz. that of keeping his province in a state of confusion with
a view to disgust the populace with the Imperial rule, and so dispose
them, should opportunity offer, to favour the views of the mother
country. This policy, as has been said, was marked out by the agents of
Portugal; but Bruce, with every disposition to favour the views of the
parent state, was not the man to be entrusted with political strategy of
this nature. The fact being that, though possessed of a certain amount
of cunning, Bruce was unfit to be entrusted with authority at all--much
less to exercise that which recognises no control--so that the disorder
which prevailed was rather a natural consequence of his own want of
capacity, and arbitrary system of government. Finding every one against
him, he was gradually throwing himself on the black population for
support, promoting emancipated slaves to the rank of officers; and it
was generally acknowledged that had it not been for our opportune
arrival, both himself and the whites who remained in the city might
speedily have fallen a sacrifice to the force which had been organised
for his especial protection.
On the other hand, the opponents of the president were not only in arms
against him, but there were two or three family parties fighting each
other under the Imperial flag! and carrying their revengeful animosities
to an outrageous extent, which threatened the extermination of one, at
least, of the contending parties, if not the total ruin of the province.
To deal with these parties was, from their mutual recriminations, more
difficult than had they declared themselves inimical to the Imperial
Government. In one thing, however, they were all agreed, viz. in
opposition to the president; but as his was the constituted authority,
this was precisely what I did not intend to sanction.
It was clear to me that the first remedy was the appointment of a proper
military authority, and as none could be trusted, I apprised the
president of my intention to assume the chief military command during my
stay, or at least until order was restored, issuing a proclamation to
that effect.
As hostilities were still going on, I sent an order to both parties to
lay down their arms, with which mandate the anti-president party
immediately complied, and dispersed; but as the savage blacks under the
authority of the president attacked their now unarmed adversaries, and
committed great excesses, I seized and put them on board some vessels,
anchoring these under the guns of the flagship, and retained the whole
as prisoners, thus keeping them out of the way of further mischief.
The surrender of the arms was effected by the following proclamation,
which also explains my motives for this measure:--
Whereas, it is essential to the interests of the empire in general
and to the province of Maranham in particular, to put an end to
all public disturbances, whether arising from the contentions of
individuals, or from other causes; and whereas, the Constitution
has provided not only for the administration of justice in civil cases,
but also for the summary trial of military offences.
Be it henceforth known that--all persons armed, or commanding
or acting with men in arms, or aiding and assisting any body of
armed men in the support or defence of any persons assuming or
pretending to authority as chieftains, or attempting to alter the
Constitution by force--are hereby subject to military jurisdiction
and shall be tried by military law accordingly. But this regulation
is not intended to prohibit individuals from meeting together unarmed,
for the purpose of uniting in an application for the redress
of grievances, or petitioning His Imperial Majesty on points connected
with public or private interests.
And whereas, military arms and ammunition have been obtained,
by numerous individuals on the pretext of using them for private
defence--it being essential to public tranquillity and general good
that people should have recourse to the protection of the laws, and
not to violence for their security--notice is hereby given, that all
persons in possession of such military arms are to deliver them up
to the chief military officers in their respective districts, to be
deposited in the public armoury. Whoever shall be found in
possession of arms after the termination of this present month of
November, shall be judged according to military law.
Given on board the _Pedro Primiero_ this 12th day of November,
1824.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
This proclamation is adduced in order to shew the condition of the
province on my arrival, which it does more fully than would pages of
description. To these difficulties were now added the chagrin of Bruce,
at having his military authority superseded, though his civil authority
was not only uninterfered with, but supported. Still, having the orders
of His Imperial Majesty to use my discretion in tranquillizing the
disturbed provinces, it was not my intention to permit His Majesty's
views to be frustrated by undue deference to a Governor, whose folly and
despotism combined, had been the chief cause of the disturbances, though
I well knew that the course I was pursuing, even though approved by His
Majesty, would bring down upon me the indignation of the Portuguese
faction in power at Rio de Janeiro.
The proclamation had the effect of procuring the surrender of arms to a
great extent, followed by the disbandment of all irregular forces
collected by the contending chieftains, so that apparent tranquillity
was everywhere enforced.
The great point was to establish permanent order, which, had we gone
away, would soon have been broken. As, since the reduction of
Pernambuco, there was no other field for my active services, and as I
had no instructions how to dispose of the squadron, I determined to
remain at Maranham, and employ myself in consolidating the good already
produced, till further commands from His Imperial Majesty; for having in
the preceding year expelled the Portuguese from the province, its
welfare was a matter of interest to me, and I felt assured that were His
Majesty acquainted with the want of unity existing, authority would be
given to carry out my views.
In Maranham, as in the other Northern provinces of the empire, there had
been no amelioration whatever in the condition of the people, and
without such amelioration, it was absurd to place reliance on the
hyperbolical professions of devotion to the Emperor which were now
abundantly avowed by those who before my arrival had been foremost in
promoting and cherishing disturbance.
The condition of the province--and indeed of all the provinces--was in
no way better than they had been under the dominion of Portugal, though
they presented one of the finest fields imaginable for improvement. All
the old colonial imposts and duties remained without alteration--the
manifold hindrances to commerce and agriculture still existed--and
arbitrary power was everywhere exercised uncontrolled; so that in place
of being benefited by emancipation from the Portuguese yoke, the
condition of the great mass of the population was literally worse than
before.
To amend this state of things it was necessary to begin with the
officers of Government, of whose corruption and arbitrary conduct,
complaints--signed by whole communities--were daily arriving from every
part of the province; to such an extent, indeed, was this misrule
carried, that neither the lives nor property of the inhabitants were
safe, where revenge, or baser motives, existed for the exercise of acts
of oppression[1].
[Footnote 1: Numerous original, but lengthy, documents are in my
possession proving all these facts.]
I therefore addressed a letter to the president, warning him that such
things ought not to be tolerated; that reports of excesses committed by
those under his authority were reaching me from all quarters, the
perpetrators deserving the most severe and exemplary chastisement; that
I had determined to investigate these matters; and under the reservation
made--of personally acting under extraordinary circumstances--would
visit these cases with severe punishment, should the reality come up to
the representations made.
The recklessness of human life was amongst the more remarkable features
of these excesses. Only a short time before this, I had granted a
passport to Captain Pedro Martins, as the bearer of an offer from an
insurgent party to lay down their arms, but he was murdered on his
return. This atrocious act, perpetrated, as I had reason to believe, by
some factious adherents to the president's party, from motives of
revenge, was unfortunate, as affording a pretext for others who were
ready to submit, to continue in arms for their mutual protection. I
therefore directed that all troops under the authority of the president
should remain where they were until further orders from me; and demanded
of His Excellency to use every endeavour to apprehend the parties guilty
of an act so disgraceful to the Imperial cause, that they might meet
with due punishment.
Finding no effort made to apprehend the murderers, I addressed to Bruce
the following letter:--
It is with great regret that I have learned the atrocious act committed
by your soldiers against an officer having my passport
for the purpose of endeavouring to tranquillize the province, by
inducing the dissentient party to lay down their arms. This is
a matter so disgraceful to the cause of those by whom it has been
perpetrated, that I must enforce on your attention the necessity of
exertion to apprehend all persons who may be suspected of having
committed this crime, and send them immediately, prisoners, to this
city.
I have further to direct, in the name of His Imperial Majesty, that
the troops under your command shall remain where they are until
further orders from me, as Commander-in-chief of the military and
naval forces of this province, notwithstanding any authority or order
which you may heretofore have received, or which you may hereafter
receive--except from me--to the contrary.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ
It is almost needless to say that the guilty parties--though doubtless
well known--were permitted to escape with impunity; the president
alleging as his excuse, "the insufficiency of the regular troops to
preserve the tranquillity of the city;" this remark being intended to
throw upon me the responsibility of having secured on board the black
savages whom he had organized. My reply was, that--"for what I had done,
I was responsible to the supreme Government and the public, and if he
could not find means to preserve the public tranquillity, I must do so;
as he must be sensible that I had acted with propriety in relieving him
from a portion of the labour and responsibility which he had hitherto
sustained."
On the 28th of November, I forwarded to the Minister of Marine, at Rio
de Janeiro, a full report of these transactions, from which the
subjoined are extracts:--
The completion of the task of tranquillizing Cearà in a manner
I trust satisfactory to His Imperial Majesty, was, in a great
measure, effected by the pardon promulgated in the name of His
Majesty--consigning to oblivion those occurrences which would
otherwise have agitated the public mind. The only exception
made was the intrusive President Araripe, and this, because,
instead of availing himself of the first proclamation of amnesty, in
which he was included, he retired into the interior with a band of
robbers, in order to excite further disturbance. The consequence
of this obstinate perseverance in disobedience on the part of
Araripe, has been his death, and the capture of all his followers.
The restoration of Cearà to its allegiance and tranquillity having
been thus accomplished, we proceeded to Parahyba, where all was
tranquil, the inhabitants having unanimously declared His Imperial
Majesty Constitutional Emperor, the moment that they became free
from the terror of their more powerful and military neighbours at
Cearà. Some dissensions, however, remained in the province. With
respect to Maranham, things are different: no republican flag has
been displayed--nor, as far as I can learn, did any intention exist
on the part of the inhabitants of raising the standard of rebellion;
the state of civil war in which we found the presidency arising
from personal animosities amongst some of the principal families,
especially between those families and that of His Excellency the
President. Certain it is, that all were united against the President,
who, to protect himself, had recourse to the assistance of the lowest
classes of the community, even to emancipated slaves. The result
has been, military disorders of all kinds--and there is no outrage
which has not been perpetrated.
The general complaint against the President is, that the constitution
has in no way been put in practice; that he has not
established any lawful council; and that he has been guilty of
arbitrary acts. The original documents relating to these matters
are enclosed for the judgment of His Imperial Majesty.
I humbly hope that His Imperial Majesty will perceive that,
although I had no express authority to interfere in internal disputes,
yet it became my duty--on finding the province in a state of civil
war--without any General-at-Arms, or other military officer of
sufficient authority or capacity, to restore public peace--to take
upon myself powers which I trust have been used for the benefit of
His Imperial service. In order that the Imperial Government may
judge of my proceedings, I have the honour to enclose copies of
proclamations, and other documents relative to my transactions.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
On the 4th of December I was not a little surprised at receiving from
President Bruce a letter requiring me to banish certain persons
obnoxious to himself, amongst others Francisco de Moraes, who had been
the first to set the example of submission to the proclamation issued on
my arrival. This most unreasonable request I refused--writing to Bruce
that dissensions were not likely to be healed by punishing those who had
laid down their arms on the faith of a proclamation issued in the name
of His Imperial Majesty; further assuring him that, if he did his duty,
he would not find me remiss in endeavours to relieve the province and
himself from the miseries and difficulties with which he had been
surrounded.
On the 5th of December I had the satisfaction of receiving a deputy from
Parahyba, assuring me of the perfect pacification of the town and
province. On receipt of this gratifying intelligence I transmitted to
Parahyba a general amnesty, coupled with advice as to the folly "of
rebelling under erroneous impressions of circumstances with regard to
His Imperial Majesty, which could not come within the sphere of their
personal knowledge, and hoping that, for the future, they would duly
appreciate the beneficence of a sovereign who desired that his authority
--limited by the Constitution--should be felt by his people only through
the exercise of justice and benevolence."
It was a vexatious task to be thus constantly exhorting the disaffected
in the Northern provinces to confidence in the Imperial Government,
because I knew that they had but too good reason to be dissatisfied--not
with the Emperor--but with his administration, whose hopes were founded
on anarchy and intrigue. It was therefore my practice to exhort them to
rely on His Imperial Majesty--it not being within the scope of my duty
to draw the distinction between the Imperial wishes and the sinister
practices of those by whom His Majesty was surrounded.
During the period of my absence I had been pressing upon the Department
of Marine at Rio de Janeiro the necessity of a speedy adjudication of
the prizes belonging to the squadron, according to the written order of
His Imperial Majesty. On the 5th of December I received an evasive reply
from the Auditor of Marine, stating that "he did not consider himself in
possession of all the laws and regulations whereon his judgment should
be founded in regard to seizures made or vessels captured by the naval
forces of Brazil." A miserable subterfuge!--as though it were any part
of my duty to supply an official with "laws and regulations" on such a
subject. It was quite evident to me that, despite His Majesty's orders,
no adjudication was intended, nor was any afterwards made; but in order
to prevent complaint of neglect on my part. I transmitted, on the same
date, to the auditor the whole of my documents, with a request that they
might be returned.
From the state of the province on my first arrival, I had entertained
suspicions as to the President's sincerity; and as outbreaks were again
of frequent occurrence, notwithstanding the general desire for
pacification, an investigation into the causes of these elicited the
fact that he was secretly sending agents to promote disturbance, for the
purpose of revenging himself upon those now disarmed, who, before my
arrival, had opposed his arbitrary authority.
To such an extent was this carried, that memorials reached me begging my
interference, as the memorialists could not now defend themselves. Two
of these memorials, signed by upwards of three hundred of the
respectable inhabitants of the province, were of such a nature as to
render hopeless the perfect restoration of order so long as the
President was permitted to exercise the autocracy, which, contrary to
all the principles of the constitution, he had irresponsibly assumed.
In order to account for a step which I subsequently considered it my
duty to adopt, it is necessary to give some extracts from one of these
memorials, signed by a hundred and fifty-two of the most respectable
inhabitants in a distant part of the province:--
"That the most demoralizing excesses are permitted amongst
the soldiery, and, in order to preserve his influence with the troops,
the President permits them to murder with impunity--even Europeans;
the perpetrators of these acts being not only unpunished,
but rewarded, whilst military commandants and others attempting to
repress these disorders are dismissed; so that absolute authority is
established--the public money being squandered on the soldiery, in
order to support a criminal despotism.
"Your Excellency must have witnessed the state to which the
province was reduced on your arrival, the people being compelled
to have recourse to arms in order to ward off a multitude of vexations.
Your Excellency must also have observed how quickly they
laid down their arms at your summons, of which circumstance the
party of the President availed themselves to sack and plunder the
towns and villages everywhere in the country; the tears, desolation,
and misery of so many villages and estates, accompanied by the
blood of the murdered and wounded, remaining eternal monuments
of these crimes.
"The President and his followers, convinced of the abhorrence
with which such atrocities were viewed, availed themselves of the
false pretext that such acts were necessary for the Imperial service,
the people being in rebellion against him.
"At the present moment he has given out that he has three thousand
men ready to support him in the Presidency against the measures of
your Excellency, and it is a fact that, in various parts of the
province, he has troops, militia, and arms; whilst the commandants,
appointed by himself, are all ready to execute his measures.
"If your Excellency should unhappily quit the province, whilst
matters are in this state, it will be totally desolated--its commerce
annihilated--and its agriculture abandoned; confiscation and terror
will be everywhere established, accompanied by rebellion towards
the Emperor. If you will remain, we, the undersigned, undertake
to support the squadron, in the absence of funds from the Imperial
treasury.
"To terminate these evils, we beg to represent to your Excellency
that there is only one remedy. President Bruce must be deposed
and sent to Rio de Janeiro, with his coadjutors, who are well known,
in order that his acts may be lawfully investigated, and punished
as justice demands; and that, in the interim, there should be
elected by your Excellency, from amongst the more respectable
inhabitants of this province, a person to represent to His Imperial
Majesty the horrible state of things here existing, and to implore
His Imperial Majesty's interposition for its salvation--your Excellency,
in the meantime, assuming the civil and military government
of the province, until His Imperial Majesty's pleasure can
become known. And we further beg of your Excellency that you will
name able magistrates, of known probity, to the respective districts,
and cause oaths to be taken, in order that the respective Camaras
may proceed to the work of saving the province from tumult and
anarchy, by observing faithful obedience to His Imperial Majesty
and by the administration of laws for the government of the people.
"Maranhaõ, Dec. 11, 1824."
Signed by one hundred and fifty-two
of the principal inhabitants of the province.
A similar document, signed by upwards of a hundred and fifty of the
respectable inhabitants of Alcantara--upon whom excesses had been
committed in no way less reprehensible than at Maranham--had been
forwarded to me on the 6th of December; but, as the complaints were of
the same nature, it is unnecessary to do more than advert to the
circumstance. In addition to these, I received a statistic list of the
murders and robberies perpetrated throughout the province, under the
agency of those placed in authority by the President. The whole of these
documents were retained by me as a justification of any contingency that
might arise, and are still in my possession.
The Maranham memorial reached me on the 14th of December, and had
scarcely been placed in my hands, when a letter arrived from President
Bruce, deprecating its reception, thus shewing that he had previously
been made aware of the contents, and--as I had afterwards reason to
believe--had attempted to intercept the memorial, but had failed in so
doing. After glancing at the contents, I made him the following reply:--
SIR,
I have this moment been honoured with the receipt
of your Excellency's letter, and have to state that the document to
which you allude had not been delivered to me five minutes previous
to your Excellency's communication, and that I have not yet had
time to read it.
Your Excellency may, however, rest assured that if the said paper
contains any thing injurious to the interests or dignity of his Imperial
Majesty, I shall not fail to take such steps as the occasion may
require. All papers that have been presented to me, it is my intention
to transmit to Rio de Janeiro, where the Imperial government
will judge of the motives of the writers, and of the contents of their
communications.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
Dec. 14, 1824.
My reply to the memorialists was as follows:--
Maranham, Dec. 18,1834.
GENTLEMEN,
I have read your memorial with attention, and
regret that you should have occasion to detail complaints of so painful
a nature, the more so as I do not know whether I am authorised
to remedy the evils otherwise than by such measures as have been
already adopted.
According to the Constitution, you ought to find a remedy in the
laws; but if any authority, commissioned by His Imperial Majesty,
has improperly placed obstacles in the way of law, to His
Majesty only can an appeal against such conduct be made, for they
who attempt to redress evils arising from a breach of the Constitution,
by violating that very Constitution place themselves in an
equally disadvantageous position with the object of their accusation.
As regards the deposition of the President, which you request, I
frankly confess to you, Gentlemen, that whatever may be my private
opinion as to the course most advantageous to you and the province
in general--and even to the President himself--I should feel extremely
reluctant, except in a case of manifest and extreme necessity,
to take upon myself a responsibility which might possibly subject
me to the displeasure of His Imperial Majesty, and would most
certainly expose me to be continually harassed by prejudicial reports
and false accusations, supported by artful intrigues, against which
neither prudence nor rectitude could effectually avail.
To mention an instance of this, within your own knowledge, you
all know that, last year, when this province was annexed to the
empire, the property of Brazilians under the flag of Portugal, and of
all resident Portuguese, was by me respected and unmolested. You
know, too, that all the public property of the Portuguese Government
in the arsenals and magazines was left untouched, and it is
equally true that upwards of sixty contos of reis (60,000 dollars) in
specie, and one hundred and forty contos (140,000 dollars) in bills
taken in the Portuguese treasury and custom house, were left by
me in the hands of the Government of Maranham, for the payment
of the army. Yet, notwithstanding these notorious facts, it has
been audaciously declared by the Portuguese authorities composing
the prize tribunal at Rio de Janeiro, that that very army--which I
had thus left the means to pay--_had served disinterestedly at their
own expense, and that I was a mercenary and a robber!_ I may add,
too, that the Junta of Maranham contributed in no small degree to
this calumny, for, after they had secured the money, they refused to
give me a receipt, though the sum I had so lent for the use of the
army was, and still is, the indisputable property of the officers and
men of the ships of war who were instrumental in freeing this
province from a colonial yoke.
In short, great as is my desire to render you every service in my
power, I am not willing to interfere in matters over which I have
no express authority--because I do not like to risk the displeasure
of His Imperial Majesty, attended, as it might be, not only with
sudden dismissal from my official situation, but even with heavy
fines and imprisonment; not to mention the sacrifice of all those
pecuniary interests which I possess at Rio de Janeiro, where I have
enemies _eagerly watching for a pretence to deprive me of all to which
I have a claim_. Neither am I disposed to afford to those persons
any opportunity of giving plausibility to those calumnies which
they are ever so ready to utter, nor to be under the necessity of
placing myself on my defence before the world against their false
accusations.
I have the honour, GENTLEMEN,
&c. &c.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
The memorial of the inhabitants of Maranham was, together with other
complaints, forwarded by me to the Imperial Government, accompanied by
the following letter to the Minister of Marine:--
December 16th, 1824.
MOST EXCELLENT SIR,
My letters 278-279, will have acquainted your
Excellency of our proceedings here up to their respective dates, and
will also have afforded the Imperial Government such information
as I could collect regarding the origin and progress of the disputes
which have so unhappily prevailed.
It was my hope that--by taking their implements of war from
the hands of the contending parties, and removing the most disorderly
portion of the military--the public mind would have
subsided into tranquillity. It appears, however, that--from the
constant alarm occasioned by the "_Pedestres_," and other irregular
troops lately maintained by the President--the public still continue
in dread of being exposed to outrages, similar to those lately committed
on their persons and property. The terror excited is
universal, and as the people must be well acquainted with the
character and conduct of persons with whom they have been bred
up, I cannot bring myself to believe--however desirous to support a
President nominated by His Imperial Majesty--that all the
respectable portion of the population, without exception, entertain
fears that are groundless. Indeed, from all that I have seen or
heard, there is but little reason to hope that his Excellency the
President has any intention to govern this province on any other
system than that of the Captains-General, under the old Portuguese
government; that is to say, rather according to his own will than
in conformity with the dictates of justice or equity.
Certain it is, that, up to the present moment, the Constitution
has never been put in practice, and even military law has not been
adhered to. Numerous persons have been banished without accuser
or declared crime--others have been thrown into gaol--and the
greater portion of the principal people who remained had--previous
to our arrival--fled to the woods, to avoid being the objects of the
like arbitrary proceedings.
The representations which I now enclose to your Excellency as a
sample of the numerous documents of a similar nature addressed to
me, will, at least, lead His Imperial Majesty to the conclusion that
such complaints could not have arisen, and continued under the
government of a person calculated to preside over the interests
of so important a province.
Your Excellency will find a memorial from the French Consul,
marked No. 7, and the other Consuls have only been restrained
from sending similar representations from the consideration that,
on the squadron quitting this port, the consequences might be
highly prejudicial to their interests and those whom they
represent.
I would further state to your Excellency the remarkable fact
that the President--after having continued a _high pay_ to the
soldiery during the existence of those disorders of which they were
the instrument--did, at the moment of my taking the command,
send me an old order respecting the diminution of the pay of the
troops, which order he himself had never put in execution. And it
is still more extraordinary, that he since refused _any pay whatever_,
to the small number of troops of the line, who are continued in
service for the preservation of the tranquillity of the city.
Since my last letters, I have been using all possible diligence to
get the remainder of the firearms out of the hands of the lower
classes of the population. Many, however, have been withheld--a
circumstance which gives additional importance to the extraordinary
fact, which I have only by accident learned--that the
Junta of Fazenda, acting under the President, issued an order
on the 6th of December (an attested copy of which is enclosed),
_authorising the sale of powder, and that too, under the false pretence
that "all motives for suspending the sale of powder had ceased."_
I have not words in which to express the astonishment I felt at this
extraordinary proceeding. I shall only add that, as soon as it
came to my knowledge, I gave orders that such sale should not be
permitted, and I have since directed the whole of the powder in the
magazines at Maranham to be embarked and deposited in a vessel
near the anchorage of the ships-of-war; by which precaution I
consider the security of the white population to be in a great
measure secured, till His Imperial Majesty shall be enabled to
take such steps as in his judgment may appear necessary.
Were I to detail to your Excellency all the facts that lead my
mind to a conclusion that this province will be entirely lost to the
empire unless a speedy remedy be applied to the evils which here
exist--it would be necessary to trespass upon you at very great
length; but as the brother of the Secretary of Government proceeds
to Rio de Janeiro by the same conveyance as this, your Excellency
and colleagues will be able to obtain from him such further information
as may satisfy your minds regarding the state of this
province.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
It was not long before I learned that in many parts troops were being
secretly organised to support the President's authority against me, but
this was met by removing from command those officers who had either
permitted or encouraged military insubordination; supplying their places
with others upon whom I could better rely.
An occurrence, however, now took place which threatened to involve
Brazil in serious difficulties. From the indiscrimination of Bruce's
troops in their career of injury and plunder, some renewed outrages had
been committed on French subjects; for which the French consul required
reparation from me, as having assumed the chief authority; at the same
time again demanding passports for himself and the whole of the French
residents, in case of my intention to quit the city and leave Bruce
again in power. The British consul also forwarded additional complaints
of similar outrages against his countrymen; but, in place of requiring
reparation at my hands, he forwarded representations to his own
government, requesting protection against the acts of Bruce, at the same
time communicating the fact of these representations to me, but
declining to furnish me with a copy of his despatch, as I had no direct
appointment from the Imperial Government for the authority I was
exercising. The demands of the French consul were, however, pressing;
but I could only reply with regard to the outrages committed against
French subjects by the adherents of the President:--"I was sorry that it
was not in my power to remedy past evils; but that such steps had been
taken as would prevent their recurrence for the future."
The subjoined is one of the letters of the British Consul:--
British Consul's Office,
Maranhaõ, Dec. 17, 1824.
My Lord,
Understanding that your Lordship has an intention of soon withdrawing
your presence from this province, I am forced, as the official and
responsible protector of British interests in this quarter, to make
the following statement, leaving it to be proved by the facts therein
set forth that I am, by this course, adopting the only means within
my reach, of providing for the interests confided to my attention, a
satisfactory security! and that I am, by so doing, not departing from
that line of conduct which, as a neutral officer, I am bound to
observe.
By this time your Lordship must be fully aware of the violent
character and desolating effects of the late civil commotions
throughout this province. These commotions unhappily existed during a
protracted period, and whilst they were raging, the regular pursuits
of the community were either interrupted by violent party
intrigues--suspended by a barbarous warfare--or totally stopped by
merciless outrages.
Notwithstanding this disjointed state of society, and the consequent
inefficiency of all constituted authority, the resident British, by
general and firm perseverance in a strictly neutral line of conduct,
and by calm endurance of not a few unavoidable ills--succeeded in
averting from themselves the chief weight of those evils to which all
the remaining population were exposed.
But though they now feel grateful at having escaped outrage
and have passed unhurt amidst general anarchy, still, they recollect,
that while by their conduct they were entitled to protection, they
nevertheless continued in a painful anxiety for their safety.
In this state of uncertain security the resident British continued
for several months, and when at last intrigue attempted to force
them into the general scene of distress--some being openly
threatened--your Lordship's providential arrival averted the destruction
of many inhabitants, and the dangerous condition of all.
Into this critical situation were British interests at this place
thrown by violent party spirit. That spirit, though at present
smothered, cannot be totally extinguished without time. It has
unsettled the community at large, and disorganised all the military
establishments of the province.
After this exposition of facts, I may be allowed to assert, without
thereby offering the least disrespect to any constituted authority,
that your Lordship's presence in this province for the time being is
indispensable for the tranquillity and security of all its inhabitants--
because the only means by which legal control can be revived, and
consequently an occurrence which must be as desirable and needful
to all public functionaries, as I frankly avow it to be to one, who has
the honour to declare himself
Your Lordship's
Most obedient and humble servant,
ROBERT HESKETH,
His Britannic Majesty's Consul.
To the Right Hon. Lord Cochrane,
Marquis of Maranhaõ, Admiral, &c. &c.
The letter of the French Consul is even more precise, and therefore I
subjoin that also:--
Vice Consulate of France at S. Louis de Maragnon,
Monsieur le Marquis, Dec. 4, 1821.
La position difficile dans laquelle je me suis trouvé depuis trois
mois--la délicatesse de celle dans laquelle je suis placé maintenant
vis-à-vis M. le Président de la province de Maragnon, m'imposant le
devoir de porter à la connoissance de votre Excellence les justes
motifs de plainte que j'ai à lui exposer centre la conduite de M. le
Président Bruce envers un Agent de Sa Majesté le Roi de France, et
venir à ce titre reclâmer un appui que je ne puis plus dorénavant
attendre de sa part. La confiance que m'inspire le caractère dont
votre Excellence est revêtue, et la certitude qu'elle n'ignore pas
les intimes relations qui lient la France à l'Empire du Brésil, me
font qu'elle saura apprécier les conséquences graves que doivent
entraîner l'avance faite ici aux sujets de mon Souverain, et le
silence méprisant que garde à cet égard le Président depuis un mois
que je lui ai demandé la participation du résultat d'une enquête
qu'il m'assura avoir été ordonnée par lui. Sans m'entendre sur les
évènements facheux qui ont désolé cette province depuis cinq mois,
pour être hors du but que je me propose je me bornerai à parler de
ceux dont je puis garantir l'authenticité et de l'influence du
Gouvernement de M. Bruce pendant cet intervalle sur le bien-être de
mes nationaux.
Lors des premières armamens faits dans la province, pour opposer des
forces à une expédition supposée de la part du Portugal, un François
établi à Caixas, compris dans une mesure générale fut obligé
d'autorité de délivrer une partie d'armes dont il ne recût jamais la
valeur, malgré un sejour prolongé de plusieurs mois dans le même
endroit. Quelque modique que soit la somme qu'il s'est vu dans la
nécessité de venir reclâmer ici, elle est proportionnée à ses
moyens. C'est un tort évident fait à cet homme qui ne put continuer
à exercer son industrie dans le lieu qu'il avoit choisi, et fut
contraint à un déplacement coûteux qui doit lui retirer toute
confiance à l'avenir.
L'arrivée des troupes envoyées par le Président pour réprimer un
mouvement dans l'intérieur immédiatement après le départ de M. José
Felix Burgos, ne fut signalée dans la ville d'Alcantara que par des
désordres, les Etrangers même n'y furent pas respectés dans cet
endroit, qui n'étoit pas encore le théâtre des hostilités. Un homme
de ma Nation y exerçant paisiblement son commerce fut attaqué chez
lui, eut les portes de sa maison enfoncées par les soldats, fut
temoin deux fois du pillage de sa boutique et forcé pour sauver ses
jours d'aller séjourner dans le bois; ce malheureux n'a d'autre
ressource maintenant que le travail de ses mains, ce fait contre
lequel il eut été de mon devoir de reclâmer vient seulement de
parvenir à ma connoissance.
Les François établis en cette ville avoient joui jusqu'à l'arrivée
dans l'île des troupes armées contre le Président d'une trop grande
sécurité, pour ne pas révailler contre eux toute la haine dont avoit
eut fait preuve déjà les Portugais avant l'adhésion de cette
province a l'Empire du Brésil. Un acte émané _de leur despotique
Junte_ avoit malgré les traités fait fermer les loges Françoises
jusqu'à la reception des ordres précis de leur gouvernement, qui
désapprouvait hautement cette mesure. Ces mêmes Portugais oubliant
la générositie avec laquelle les commandants de trois bâtimens de Sa
Majesté le Roi de France venoient de sauver un grand nombre de leurs
compatriotes lors des derniers troubles du Parà, n'écoutant que leur
jalousie ne s'efforcèrent qu'à nous perdre dans l'opinion publique
_par le plus noires inculpations._ Je les considère comme ayant
influé puissament sur le malhereux évènement que j'ai eu à dèplorer.
Malgré l'avertissement que j'avois donné huit jours auparavant au
Président de la menace qui étoit faite aux François de leur faire
subir le genre d'assassinat usité ici, le 21 Septembre, quatre
François été surpris par des assassins, deux furent très maltraités,
l'un atteint de plusieurs blessures à la tête et au bras fut
reconduit chez lui baigné dans son sang; ses blessures au bras,
fracturé en deux endroits laissent encore douter après 70 jours de
douleurs aigues s'il ne devra par subir l'amputation. Le même jour à
la même heure, un François fut attaqué chez lui malgré le signe de
reconnaisance qui distingue depuis les troubles les maisons des
François; des pierres lancées dans sa porte et ses fenêtres pendant
un long espace de temps, l'obligèrent à venir lui-même dissiper par
des menaces une troupe d'hommes qu'il espéroit ne pas voir échapper
à la surveillance d'un porte militaire à proximité de sa maison.
M'étant rendu chez le Président, lui demander d'abord la punition
de ce crime atroce, il eut l'inconvenance de m'objecter que la
conduite des François étoit très repréhensible, je remarquoi ces
paroles et le lui fis observer; elles ne pouvoient s'appliquer
d'ailleurs qu'à deux individus passés au service du parti opposé,
que j'étois venu desavouer lui en demandant expulsion. Le Président
repondant se rendit à ma demande, et me donna l'espoir d'avoir une
satisfaction, tant pour l'attentat à la vie des quatre individus de
ma Nation, que pour l'attaque du domicile d'un François.
Néanmoins les jours suivants les désordres continuerant, les
François étoient outragés publiquement; un soldat eut l'audace de
poursuivre mon negre dans la maison Consulaire et de l'y frapper en
se repondant en invectives contre les François; un enfant de neuf
ans fut horriblement maltraité par des soldats, jusqu'aux négres
osoient lever la tête, et nous insulter. Mr. Bruce avoit-il pris du
mesures de repression? Est-ce la protection que devoit en attendre
l'Agent d'une puissance amie du Brésil? En butte à l'animositie
d'une soldatesque indisciplinée, nous courûmes pendant quinze jours
le danger le plus imminent, nous attendant à tout instant à voir se
réaliser ses menaces de venir nous massacre dans nos maisons.
J'ai eu depuis à reclamer contre le violation d'un batimen du
commerce François. Malgré trois gardes de la Douane, cinq soldats
armés furent envoyés à son bord à neuf heures du soir; je les fis
retirer le lendemain; ce dernier acte du Président qui des lors
commença à ne plus garder aucuns ménagemens avec moi, faisant
incarcerer un des mes nationaux sans m'en donner avis ainsi que des
motifs qui l'y portoient; le pavilion du Roi placé au dessus de
l'Écusson de France, que je trouvai lacéré, me firent prévoir que je
n'avois plus rien à attendre de la protection de l'autorité.
Monsieur le Marquis, je me suis maintenu à mon poste malgré les
dangers tant que j'ai eu l'espoir que l'arrivée de Votre Excellence
si desirée de la population entière de la province, viendroit nous
délivrer de ce déplorable état de choses. Sans connaître les
intentions de Votre Excellence, je vois Mr. Bruce encore président,
non-seulement il ne m'a donné aucune satisfaction, mais encore
apporte dans sa conduite, le mépris le plus marqué par un fileure
qui ne pent s'interprêter autrement.
C'est donc contre lui, Monsieur le Marquis, que je vieus en
solliciter une aujourd'hui pour ce total oubli de ses devoirs
envers un Agent de Sa Majesté très Chrétienne; cette conduite
emporte le refus d'aucun appui de sa part pour l'avenir; d'ailleurs
mon caractère publique m'impose de ne pas m'exposer à un outrage, et
l'intérêt que je dois à mes nationaux de les soustraire à son
implacable vengeance. Si Votre Excellence ne jugeoit pas convenable
d'user de ses pleins pouvoirs pour m'accorder la seule garantie qui
puisse me permettre de séjourner plus longtemps ici, je viens lui
demander de protéger mon embarquement et celui des François qui
restant encore à Maragnon.
Je suis, avec respect, Monsieur le Marquis, de Votre Excellence le
très humble et très obéissant serviteur,
(Signé) PL. DES SALLIERES.
À son Excellence LORD COCHRANE, Marquis de Maragnon, Premier Amiral
du Brésil, &c. &c.
The steps alluded to were such as I considered most essential for the
safety of the as yet unacknowledged empire; which, through the folly of
a provincial Governor, was in danger of being jeopardised by collision
with powerful European states. As stated to the Maranham memorialists, I
did not adopt the extreme measure of deposing Bruce from the
presidential authority, but resolved to suspend him therefrom till the
pleasure of His Imperial Majesty as regarded his conduct should be made
known. Accordingly, on Christmas day, 1824, I addressed to him the
following letter;--
Maranham, Dec. 25,1824.
SIR,
It is with extreme regret that I feel myself under
the necessity of acquainting your Excellency that it is impossible
for me to withdraw the squadron from Maranham, so long as your
Excellency continues to exercise the functions of President of this
province; because it is evident that if your Excellency is left in
authority, without the aid of the squadron, you must again
have recourse to the assistance of the lowest order of the people,
whom, on my arrival here, I found in arms in support of your
Excellency, against nine-tenths of the upper classes of society, who
continue to entertain the greatest terror of being left under the
authority of your Excellency.
To prevent the recurrence of so lamentable a state of things--the
loss of lives--and the calamities of every kind which would inevitably
ensue, I would respectfully suggest to your Excellency the
necessity of your withdrawing from office, until the determination of
His Imperial Majesty can be obtained.
I can, with great truth, assure your Excellency that my intentions
are not in any degree dictated by any feelings of personal ill-will
towards your Excellency. On the contrary, I have a wish to rescue
you from a situation of great jeopardy, and it is chiefly with a view
of avoiding to do anything that might appear derogatory to your
Excellency, that I am desirous the change so necessary to be effected
should proceed from your Excellency's voluntary resignation. But
I regret to add that so pressing is that necessity, that it is quite
essential that your Excellency's determination should be immediate,
and therefore I hope to be favoured with your Excellency's reply in
the course of the present forenoon.
Permit me to assure you that if it should be your desire to continue
in this city in the character of a private gentleman until the
determination of His Imperial Majesty, with respect to your resumption
of office, or otherwise, shall be known, no impediment to
your Excellency's wishes will originate with me; or, if you should
think proper to proceed at once to the Court of Rio de Janeiro, a
commodious conveyance shall be provided for the accommodation of
your Excellency, and of those whom you may deem it convenient to
accompany you.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
Bruce did not resign, preferring to accept my offer of conveyance to Rio
de Janeiro, there to await His Majesty's decision. Complete tranquillity
being thus restored to the province of Maranham, and not to that only,
but also to the adjoining provinces, which had more or less entered into
the existing disorders, either as adherents of the insurgent chiefs, or
of the President, it became requisite to organize a government. Not
deeming it politic to elevate to power any member of those families of
distinction whose feuds were only dormant on compulsion, I appointed
Manuel Telles de Silva Lobo, the Secretary of Government, as interim
President; he being entirely unconnected with family factions, well
acquainted with the details of government, and of unimpeachable
integrity. At the same time I caused the Camaras to be re-assembled, so
that the administration of law and public affairs might be carried on
according to the forms and intentions of the constitution.
This suspension of the President was afterwards fully approved of by His
Majesty, and the more patriotic of his advisers, as only anticipating
their intentions, it being a remarkable fact that, at the very time I
was suspending him, _an order from His Majesty was on its way to
supersede him_; information of his proceedings having previously reached
Rio de Janeiro, so that in what had been done, I had only carried out
the intentions of His Majesty.
Nevertheless, the occasion--as affording a good opportunity to traduce
me--was afterwards eagerly seized by the Portuguese faction in the
administration. All attempts to injure me in the estimation of the
population at Rio de Janeiro--which was firmly attached to the Emperor,
and grateful to me for my services--had signally failed; but on his
arrival at Rio de Janeiro the representations of the ex-president whose
mal-administration I had summarily checked, were published in every
possible shape, whilst the Minister of Marine unwarrantably withheld my
despatches from the public, as well as from His Majesty, the consequence
of which was that the prejudicial representations of what were termed my
arbitrary acts had full effect. It was represented that I, a foreigner,
had dared, unauthorised, and on false pretences, to seize on the person
of a gentleman occupying the highest position in one of the most
important provinces, and had sent him to Rio de Janeiro as a prisoner,
whilst it was I who deserved to be brought to condign punishment for the
outrage; and had I at the moment been within reach of the Portuguese
faction at the capital, which was embittered against me for establishing
order, when to further their own anti-Imperial designs disorder was
alone wished--a summary end might have been put to my efforts for
preserving and consolidating the integrity of the Brazilian empire.
That this vituperation and hostility would be the result I well knew;
but as the Portuguese party in the administration could scarcely treat
me worse than they had done, I had made up my mind to encounter their
displeasure. Of His Majesty's approval I felt certain; and, in return
for the uninterrupted favour and reliance, which, notwithstanding the
self-interested hostility of his anti-Brazilian Ministers, I had
uniformly experienced at his hands, I had all along resolved to secure
that which I knew to be His Majesty's earnest wish--the unity of the
empire by the pacification of the Northern provinces. All attempts to
thwart this on the part of the Portuguese faction were futile, and even
unconsciously favourable to the course I was perseveringly pursuing,
though all my despatches to the minister remained unanswered, and no
instructions were sent for my guidance.
Notwithstanding the neglect of the administration to supply the squadron
with necessaries, and myself with instructions, in a position foreign to
my duties as naval Commander-in-Chief, and which I had only accepted at
the earnest wish of His Imperial Majesty--I carefully kept the
Government advised of all that took place. The same ship which conveyed
the ex-president to Rio de Janeiro, carried also the following despatch
to the Minister of Marine:--
Maranham, December 31st, 1824.
MOST EXCELLENT SIR,
I have to acquaint your Excellency that a belief
that the squadron was about to withdraw and leave the abandoned
and disorderly military of this place under the feeble control of his
Excellency the President, excited a degree of dread in the public
mind amounting almost to a state of frenzy--and convinced me
that I had no alternative, but either to abandon the principal
inhabitants, and, indeed, the whole white population, to the fury of
mercenary troops and blacks--or to remain with the squadron until
another President should be nominated by His Imperial Majesty.
This last measure, however, upon mature consideration, appeared
to be wholly incompatible with the interests of His Imperial
Majesty, not only on account of the violent animosities subsisting
between President and people, which, notwithstanding the utmost
vigilance on my part, daily disturbed the public tranquillity--but
because the presence on shore of nearly the whole of the
seamen in the ships of war is requisite to counterbalance the
influence and power which the President has obtained over the
soldiery and irregular bands, by the impunity with which he has
suffered them to act, and by rewards bestowed on persons in the
ranks, or of the lowest orders of society. The continued absence of
seamen from the ships would, it is evident, endanger the safety of
the latter; besides which, the season is now approaching when diseases
incident to the climate become prevalent, and would not fail
considerably to thin the small force at my disposal.
The necessity of adopting some decided measure became every day more
urgent. Representations continued to pour in from all quarters
against the conduct of the President. The Consul of His Britannic
Majesty, moreover, having heard that the squadron is about to depart,
has written me a letter, of which I enclose to your Excellency a
copy.
I am aware that it is difficult to follow a course, under the
circumstances in which I am placed, that when judged of at a
distance, and merely on such evidence as can be conveyed by writing,
will leave no room for persons to contend that a different line might
have been followed with greater advantage; and I am perfectly aware
that whether I had left this province, and anarchy had followed, or
whether by remaining I had succeeded in preventing that anarchy, _I
should equally be exposed to the cavils of those who are always
disposed to reprobate the measures actually adopted, whatever they
may be_.
Having, therefore, but _a choice of evils with respect to myself_,
I have--without further care as to my personal responsibility--pursued
that course which, on full consideration, appeared to me
to be most conducive to the interests of His Imperial Majesty, and
best adapted to secure the tranquillity of this province; and I have
_reserved for my own security_ such original documents as will satisfy
the mind of His Imperial Majesty on the subject of my conduct in
suspending the functions of the President of Maranham.
A few of the many reasons which have induced me thus to take
upon myself a heavier responsibility than would have attached to
the adoption of either of the measures before alluded to, will be
found on the printed paper which I enclose. In that paper, however,
I did not consider it proper to set forth all the facts which
have come to my knowledge; such as his tampering through various
agents with the troops, artillery, and police, and above all with the
disbanded "_Pedestres_;" and the sending of emissaries to the
distant quarters of the province to excite the people again to rise in
arms for his support--though no legal prerogative which the
President does, or ought to possess, had been in any way infringed
by me or any person acting under my authority. The fact is, that
this gentleman, bred up under the despotic Captains-General,
accustomed to their arbitrary proceedings, to the mal-administration
of colonial law, and the absence of everything like fair trial, cannot
brook any limitation to his power, and has demonstrated his desire,
if not to establish an independent sway, at least to act solely
according to his will and pleasure. I am anxious to ascribe his
faults rather to the circumstances under which he has unfortunately
been brought up, and to his advanced age, than to premeditated
evil intentions.
I have the satisfaction of adding, that, by the course I have
adopted, a desolating civil war has been terminated--the treasury
saved further expenditure--and the persons and property of the
people have been rescued from destruction, and placed under the
protection of the laws.
(Signed) COCHRANE AND MARANHAÕ.
Such was the history of an affair, which would not have been thus
minutely detailed, but for the obloquy against me to which it
subsequently gave rise; the ministry afterwards declaring that, to serve
my own purposes, I had _deposed_ Bruce, and appointed Lobo in his
place--the facts being, that I never deposed him at all, but suspended
his functions merely till His Majesty's pleasure should be known--and
that, at the very period when this took place, _the Administration,
unknown to me, had deposed him for the same causes which led me to
suspend him!_ as will appear in the next chapter. Nevertheless, when
they found that--acting under the discretion accorded to me by His
Imperial Majesty--I had partially only anticipated their own act, and
that vituperation against me in my absence might be turned to their own
account, they took up the cause of the very man whom they had deposed,
and loaded me with abuse for having outraged the feelings and position
of a most excellent person nominated by His Majesty to one of the
highest offices in the state.