degrading name of a colony, and had suffered all the evils arising from
the destructive system then pursued, exulted with pleasure when my Lord
Don John VI., King of Portugal and Algarve, my august father, raised it
to the dignity of a kingdom, by his decree of the 16th of December,
1815; but Portugal burned with rage, and trembled with fear. The delight
which the inhabitants of this vast continent displayed on the occasion
was unbounded; but the politic measure was not followed up, as it ought
to have been, by another, that is, by the convocation of an assembly to
organise the new kingdom.
"Brazil, always frank in her mode of proceeding, and mortified at having
borne the yoke of iron so long, both before and after that measure
echoed the cry for the constitution of Portugal, immediately on the
proclamation of liberty in Portugal; expecting that after this proof of
confidence given to her pseudo brethren, they would assist her to
deliver herself from the vipers that were consuming her entrails, and
little thinking she should be deceived.
"The Brazilians, who truly loved their country, never intended, however,
to subject themselves to a constitution in which all had not a voice,
and whose views were to convert them at once from free men into vile
slaves. Nevertheless, the obstacles which, before the 26th April, 1821,
opposed the liberties of Brazil, and which continued to exist, being
maintained by the European troops, caused the people, fearing that they
should never enjoy a representative assembly of their own, even for the
very love of liberty, to follow the infamous Cortes of Portugal, and
they even made the sacrifice of submitting to be insulted by the
demagogue party which predominated in this hemisphere.
"Even this availed not. We were so oppressed by the European forces,
that I was obliged to send them to the opposite shore of the Rio; to
blockade them; to force them to embark and pass the bar, in order to
save the honour of Brazil, and to procure that liberty which we desire
and ought to enjoy; but in vain shall we labour to procure it, if we
permit to exist among us a party inimical to our true cause.
"Scarcely were we well free from these enemies, when in a few days
arrived another expedition, which Lisbon had sent for our protection;
but I took upon myself to protect this empire, and I refused to receive
it. Pernambuco did the same. And Bahia, which was the first place to
unite with Portugal, as a reward for her good faith, and because she
perceived too late the track she ought to have followed, now suffers
under a cruel war for those Vandals; and her chief city, occupied only
by them, is on the point of being rased, for they cannot maintain
themselves there.
"Such is the freedom Portugal sought to bestow on Brazil: it was to be
converted into slavery for us; and would have ruined us totally if we
had continued to execute her commands; which we must have done, but for
the heroic remonstrances conveyed by petitions, first from the junta of
government of St. Paul's, then from the camara of this capital, and
afterwards from all the other juntas of government and camaras,
imploring me to remain here. It appeared to me that Brazil would be
ruined, if I did not attend to the petitions; and I did attend to them.
I know that this was my duty, though at the risk of my life; but as it
was in defence of this empire, it was ready, as it is now, and ever,
when it shall be requisite.
"I had scarcely pronounced the words, _As it is for the good of all, and
the general happiness of the nation, tell the people that I remain_,
recommending to them at the same time _union_ and _tranquillity_, when I
began to take measures to put ourselves in a state to meet the attacks
of our enemies, then concealed, since unmasked; one part among
ourselves, the rest in the Portuguese democratic Cortes; providing for
all the departments, especially those of the treasury and foreign
affairs, by such means as prudence dictated, and which I shall not
mention here, because they will be laid before you in proper time by the
different officers of state.
"The public treasury was in the very worst state, as the receipts had
been much reduced; and, principally, because till within four or five
months they had been solely those of this province. On this account it
was not possible to raise money for all that was necessary, as we had
already too little to pay the public creditors, or those employed in
effective service, and to maintain my household, which cost one-fourth
of that of the King, my august father. His disbursements exceeded four
millions; mine did not amount to one. But although the diminution was so
considerable, I could not be satisfied when I found that my expenses
were so disproportioned to the reduced receipts of the treasury; and
therefore I resolved to live as a private man, receiving only 110,000
milrees for the whole expenses of my household, excepting the allowance
of the Empress, my much-beloved and valued wife, which was assigned to
her by her marriage contract.
"Not satisfied with these small savings in my household with which I
commenced, I examined into every department, as was my duty, in order to
regulate its expenditure, and to check its abuses. Yet, still the
revenue did not suffice; but by changing some individuals not well
affected to the cause of the empire, but only to that of the infamous
Portuguese party, and who were continually betraying us, for others who
loved Brazil with all their hearts,--some from birth and principle,
others from the intimate conviction that the cause is that of reason,--I
have caused, and I say it with pride, the bank, which was on the point
of losing its credit, and threatened bankruptcy every moment,--as on the
day of the departure of my august father, Don John VI., there only
remained the sum of two hundred contos in money,--to discount its bills,
to re-establish its credit so completely, that no one can imagine that
it can ever fall again into the wretched state to which it had been
reduced. The public treasury, which, on account of the extraordinary
expenses which should have been borne in common by all the provinces,
but which fell solely upon this, was totally exhausted, and without
credit, has gained such credit, that it is already known in Europe; and
so much cash, that the greater part of the creditors, and they were not
few, or for trifling sums, have been so far satisfied, as that their
houses have not suffered; that the public servants have no arrears due
any more than the military on actual service; that the other provinces
that have adhered to the holy cause,--not by force, but from conviction,
for I love just liberty,--have been furnished for their defence with
warlike stores, great part of which are newly purchased, besides those
already in the arsenals; and, moreover, they have been assisted with
money, because their funds did not cover their necessary expenses.
"In a word, the province now yields from eleven to twelve millions; its
produce, before the departure of my august father, having been at most
from six to seven.
"Among the extraordinary expenses are, the freights of the ships on
board of which the different expeditions sent back to Lisbon were
embarked; the purchase of several vessels; the repair of others; pay to
civil and military officers who have arrived here on service, and to
those expelled from the provinces for their private sufferings in the
tumults there raised.
"The expenditure has certainly been great: but hitherto, nevertheless,
there remain untouched, the gratuitous contributions; the sequestrated
property of the absentees on account of political opinions; the loan of
400,000 milrees for the purchase of ships of war indispensably necessary
for the defence of the empire, and which exists entire; and the
exchequer of the administration of diamonds.
"In every department there was an urgent necessity for reform; but in
this of finance still more, because it is the chief spring of the state.
"The army had neither arms, men, nor discipline: with regard to arms, it
is now perfectly ready; the men are increasing daily in proportion to
the population; and in discipline it will soon be perfect, being already
in obedience exemplary. I have twice sent assistance to Bahia: first 240
men, then 735, forming a battalion called the Emperor's Battalion; which
in eight days was chosen, prepared, and sailed.
"Besides these, a foreign regiment has been raised, and a battalion of
artillery of freed men, which will shortly be completed.
"In the military arsenal they have wrought diligently to prepare every
thing necessary for the defence of the different provinces; and all,
_from Paraiba of the North to Montevideo_, have received the assistance
they have requested.
"The walls of the fortifications of this city were totally ruined: they
are now repaired; and important works necessary in the arsenal itself
have been finished.
"As to military works, the walls of all the fortresses have been
repaired, and some entirely new-constructed. These are formed in the
different points fittest to oppose any enemy's force approaching by sea;
and in the defiles of the hills, to oppose the approach of an enemy
already landed, (which would not be easy,) entrenchments, forts,
redoubts, abatis, and batteries. The barracks of the Carioca are built,
and the other barracks are prepared. That in the Praça da Acclamaçaŏ is
almost finished, and that ordered for the grenadiers will shortly be
so.
"The fleet consisted only of the frigate Piranga, then called the Union,
not fitted; the corvette Liberal, only a hull; and of a few other small
and insignificant vessels. Now we have the ship of the line, Pedro
Primeiro; the frigates Piranga, Carolina, and Netherohy; the corvettes
Maria da Gloria and Liberal, ready; a corvette, in Alagoas, which will
soon be ready, named the Massaió: of the brigs of war, Guarani ready,
and the Cacique and Caboclo under repair; besides several ships in
ordinary, and various schooners.
"I expect six frigates of fifty guns, manned and armed, and completely
formed for action, for the purchase of which I have already given
orders; and according to the information I have received, they will not
cost above thirteen contos of rees.
"In the dock-yard, the works are the following:--all the ships now
actually employed have been repaired; gun-boats, and others of small
size, which I need not name, have been built; and many others, which,
altogether, are numerous and important.
"I intend this year, in the same place, where for thirteen years back
nothing has been done but caulking, rigging, and careening
vessels,--swallowing immense sums, which might have been more usefully
employed for the nation,--to lay down the keel of a forty-gun frigate;
which, if the calculation I have made, the orders I have given, and the
measures I have taken do not fail, I hope will be finished this year, or
in the middle of the next, and will be called the _Campista_.
"As to public works, much has been done. The police office in the Praça
da Acclamaçaŏ has been rebuilt: that large square has been drained of
the marsh water, and has become an agreeable walk, with paved paths on
all sides, and others across, and we are still continuing to embellish
it. The greater part of the aqueduct of Carioca and Maracanaŏ, have been
repaired; besides the numerous bridges of wood and stone which have been
renewed, several new ones have been made, and a great extent of roads
has been mended.
"Besides what I have mentioned, and much more which I have not touched
on, the funds for these works, which in April, 1821, owed 60 contos of
rees, now is not only out of debt, but possesses upwards of 600,000
crusadoes.
"In different departments we have made the following progress. We have
greatly increased the national typography; the public gardens have been
put in order; the museum repaired, and enriched with minerals and a
gallery of good pictures,--some of which were purchased, some were
already in the public treasury, and others were my private property,
which I have ordered to be placed there.
"Every exertion has been made on the Caes da Praça de Commercio, so that
it is nearly finished; the streets of the city have been new-paved; and
in a very short time this house for the assembly, with all the rest
adjoining, were properly fitted for their purpose.
"Many works which are of less importance have been undertaken, begun,
and finished; but I omit them, that I may not render my speech too long.
"I have encouraged the public schools, as far as I could; but this will
demand some peculiar provision of the legislature. What has been done is
this:--In order to augment the public library I have bought a large
collection of choice books; I have augmented the number of schools, and
increased the salary of some of the masters, besides licensing
innumerable private schools; and, aware of the benefits of the method of
mutual instruction, I have opened a Lancasterian school.
"I found the college of San Joaquim, which had been designed by its
founders for the education of youth, employed as the hospital of the
European troops. I caused it to be opened anew, for the purposes
originally intended; and having granted to the _Casa de Misericordia_,
and the foundling hospital, of which I will speak farther, a lottery for
the better maintenance of those useful institutions, I assigned a
certain portion of the said lottery to the college of San Joaquim, that
it might the better answer the useful end which its worthy founders had
in view. It is now full of students.
"The first time I visited the foundling hospital, I found (and it seems
incredible) seven infants with only two wet-nurses; no beds, no
clothing: I called for the register, and found that in the last thirteen
years nearly 12,000 children had been received, but scarcely 1000 were
forthcoming, the Misericordia not knowing in fact what had become of
them. Then by granting the lottery, a house proper for the establishment
was built, where there are upwards of thirty beds, almost as many nurses
as children, and on the whole, much better management. All these things
of which I have now spoken merit your particular attention.--After this
province was settled, and important provisions made for the rest, I felt
it necessary to call together a council of state; and, therefore, by the
degree of the 16th of February of last year, I convoked one, composed of
procurators-general, chosen by the people, being desirous that they
should have some persons near me to represent them, and who might at the
same time advise me, and demand such things as should be conducive to
the good of each of the respective provinces. Nor was this the only end
and motive for which I called such a council together: I wished
particularly that the Brazilians might know my constitutional feelings.
How I delighted to govern to the satisfaction of the people, and how
much my paternal heart desired (though at that time secretly, because
circumstances did not then permit me to manifest such wishes,) that this
loyal, grateful, brave, and heroic nation, should be represented in a
general constituent and legislative assembly; which, thank God, has been
brought about in consequence of the degree of the 3d of June of the last
year, at the request of the people conveyed through their camaras, their
procurators, and my counsellors of state!
"It has been very painful to me that, till now, Brazil should not have
enjoyed a national representation, and to be forced by circumstances to
take upon myself to legislate on some points: but my measures cannot
appear to have arisen from ambition to legislate, arrogating to myself
the whole power, of which I only could claim a part--for they were taken
to save Brazil,--because when some of them were adopted the assembly
had not been convoked, and when others were necessary it had not yet
met; therefore, as Brazil was totally independent of Portugal, the three
powers then existed in fact and by right in the person of the supreme
chief of the nation, and much the more as he was its perpetual defender.
"It is true that some measures appeared extremely strong; but as the
peril was imminent, and the enemies who surrounded us were innumerable
(and would to God they were not even now so many), it was necessary they
should be proportionate.
"I have not spared myself; nor will I ever spare toil, however great, if
from it the smallest portion of happiness can be derived to the nation.
"When the people of the rich and majestic province of _Minas_ were
suffering under the iron yoke of their mistaken governors, who disposed
of it as they pleased, and obliged the pacific and gentle inhabitants to
disobey me, I marched thither, only attended by my servants: I convicted
the government and its creatures of the crime they had committed, and of
the error in which they seemed desirous of persisting; I pardoned them,
because the crime was more an offence against me, than against the
nation, as we were then united to Portugal.
"When a party of Portuguese and degenerate Brazilians attached to the
Cortes of miserable, worn-out Portugal, arose among the brave people of
the beautiful and delightful province of St. Paul's, I instantly
repaired thither, and entered the province _fearlessly, because I knew
the people loved me_. I took the measures that appeared to me to be
necessary; and there, before any other place, our independence was
declared, in the ever-memorable plain of Piranga.
"It was at the country seat of the most faithful, and never-enough
praised Amador Bueno de Rebeira, that I was first proclaimed Emperor.
"My soul itself was grieved that I could not go to Bahia, as I had
intended, but which I did not do on the remonstrance of my privy
council, to mingle my blood with that of those warriors who have so
bravely fought for their country.
"At all hazards, at that of life itself, if necessary, I will maintain
the title that the people of this rich and vast empire honoured me with
on the 13th of May, of the past year--PERPETUAL DEFENDER OF BRAZIL. That
title engaged my heart more, than all the splendour I acquired by their
spontaneous and unanimous acclamation of me as Emperor of this desirable
empire.
"Thanks be to Providence, that we now see the nation represented by such
worthy deputies! Would to God it could have been so earlier! But the
circumstances preceding the decree of the 3d of June did not permit it;
and since that time, the great distance, the want of public spirit in
some, and the inconveniences of long journeys, especially in a country
so new and extensive as Brazil, have retarded this much-wished and
necessary meeting, notwithstanding all my repeated recommendations of
speed.
"At length the great day for this vast empire has arisen, which will be
the grand epocha of its history. _The assembly is met to constitute the
nation: what joy--what happiness for us all!_
"As CONSTITUTIONAL EMPEROR, and most especially as PERPETUAL DEFENDER of
this vast empire, I told the people on the 1st of December, the day when
I was crowned and anointed, '_That with my sword I would defend the
country, the nation, and the constitution, if it were worthy of Brazil
and of me_." I this day, in your presence, most solemnly ratify this
promise, and I trust you will assist me in fulfilling it, by framing a
wise, just, and practicable constitution, dictated by reason, not
caprice; and having solely in view the general happiness, which can
never be great if the constitution be not founded on solid grounds,
grounds which the wisdom of ages has shown to be just, in order to give
true liberty to the people, and sufficient strength to the executive
power. A constitution in which the limits of the three powers shall be
well defined, that they may never arrogate rights not their own; but
shall be so organised and harmonised, that it shall be impossible for
them, even in the lapse of time, to become inimical to each other, but
shall every day jointly contribute to the general happiness of the
state. In short, a constitution which shall oppose insuperable barriers
to despotism, whether royal, aristocratic, or democratic; defeat
anarchy; and plant that tree of liberty under whose shadow the honour,
tranquillity, and independence of this empire, which will become the
admiration of the Old and New World, must grow.
"All the constitutions which have modelled themselves upon those of 1791
and 1792, have been shown by experience to be entirely theoretical and
metaphysical, and therefore impracticable. Witness those of France,
Spain, and Portugal: they have not, as they ought, produced public
happiness; but after a licentious freedom, we see that in some countries
there has already taken place, and in others there is on the point of
doing so, a despotism of one, after that of many; and, by a necessary
consequence, the people are reduced to the wretched state of registering
and suffering all the horrors of anarchy.
"But far from us be such melancholy reflections: they darken the joy and
exultation of this happy day. You are not ignorant of them; and I am
sure, that firmness in those true constitutional views, which have been
sanctioned by experience, will characterise every one of the deputies
who compose this illustrious assembly. I trust, that the constitution
which you will frame will merit my Imperial assent; that it will be as
wise and just as suited to the local situation and to the civilisation
of the Brazilian people: also that it may be praised among the nations,
so that even our enemies may imitate the sanctity and wisdom of its
principles, and at length practise them.
"So illustrious and patriotic an assembly will have in view no object
but to cause the empire to prosper, and to fill it with happiness: it
will wish its Emperor to be respected, not only at home but among
foreign nations; and that its _Perpetual Defender_ should exactly
fulfil his promise of the first of last December, solemnly ratified
to-day, in the presence of the nation legally represented."
When the Emperor had done speaking, the bishop of the diocese, acting as
president of the assembly, made a short answer of thanks, praise, and
promise; after which, the whole of the members, the spectators in the
galleries, and the people without doors, cheered His Imperial Majesty
enthusiastically, and the procession returned to San Cristovaŏ in the
order in which it came.
The theatre of course concluded the ceremonies of the day; and my
friend, Madame do Rio Seco, having kindly offered me a seat in her box,
I went thither, for the first time since my return to Brazil. She was in
high spirits, because that day the Emperor had conferred on her husband
the order of the Cruzeiro; and therefore she went really in grand gala
to the opera. Her diamonds worn that night may be valued at 150,000_l_
sterling, and many splendid jewels remained behind in the strong box.
For my part, I had gone to town in my morning dress; therefore I sent to
a milliner's, and bought such a plain crape head-dress as the customs of
the place warrant, in deep mourning; and wrapping myself in my shawl,
accompanied my magnificent friend. The house appeared very splendid,
being illuminated and dressed, and the ladies one and all in diamonds
and feathers. Some decorations have been added since last year, and an
allegorical drop-scene has been painted. The Empress did not come, on
account of her recent illness; but the Emperor was there, looking pale,
and a little fatigued. He was received with rapturous applause. The
members of the assembly were seated one-half on his right, and one-half
on his left, in boxes handsomely fitted up for them; and as soon as they
had all taken their places, a poem on the occasion was recited by the
Prima Donna, in which there were some good points, which called forth
great applause. I think it is Gresset who, in one of his odes _Au Roi_,
says,
"Le cri d'un peuple heureux est la seule éloquence
Qui sait parler des rois."
And indeed this night that eloquence was powerful. I cannot conceive a
situation more full of interest to both prince and people.