BRAZIL 



: of continuing the war foil almost 

 ..n Unix.il. 'I'lu- -oveniment found 

 t.i procure fur tlii- army tin- i. 

 reements. I'arly in tin- year 8,000 

 imial (inard wcro called out to he 

 i) the til-Id, a measure uhich created great 

 lent. The government encouraged the 

 ricli proprietors to free their slaves on condi- 

 f the latter i-iitering the army, and many 

 in aeenrdatici' with tin- desire of the gov- 

 ernment. The offers made hy several friendly 

 imients, to mediate in the war, were re- 

 i liy lirazil. The most important of these 

 offers was from the United States. The Bra- 

 reply is dated 'Ji'.th of April, 1867, and 

 he answer of the Argentine Government, 

 it aUo declines to suspend military operations, 

 .ndon the treaty of Buenos Ayres, or to 

 10 arbitrament at "Washington the war 

 with Paraguay, which the note reminds the 

 American government "was not provoked hy 

 lira/il." "It is enough," says the Brazilian 

 Minister for Foreign Affairs to Mr. Webb, the 

 American minister, "to record that in full 

 . without having received the least of- 

 without the necessity of preventing a 

 danger of any kind, solely through the impulse 

 of a measureless ambition for dominion and 

 fame, the President of Paraguay captured a 

 Brazilian merchant-vessel, imprisoned the presi- 

 dent appointed for the province of Matto Grosso, 

 invaded the same province and that of the Rio 

 (jrande do Sul, and committed in this invasion 

 '.hat wound the rights of nations, and that 

 are repugnant to modern civilization." And 

 at the date of this note, when the Presi- 

 dent of Paraguay had expressed his willing- 

 t o accept the American offer, " a part of 

 the province of Matto Grosso is still occupied 

 by the forces of Marshal Lopez." These rea- 

 sons alone, in the opinion of the Brazilian Gov- 

 ernment, suffice to explain why it cannot con- 

 sent to the invitation proposed in the interests 

 of peace by a friendly people. But adds the 

 Brazilian minister, " this same peace can find 

 no sufficient guarantees in the antecedents of 

 tho President of Paraguay, and, without the 

 victory which the allies expect, it will not be 

 pu ible for liberal principle?, the only ones that 

 can give it happiness, to establish themselves 

 in Paraguay." 



The Brazilian Parliament was opened on the 

 2_d of May, by the Emperor. In his speech 

 the Emperor gave the following review of the 

 general situation of tho empire : 



In allthc provinces the public tranquillity has re- 

 mained undisturbed, and the quietness with which 

 in general the late elections were conducted is 

 another proof of the love which the Brazilian people 

 tV.'l for the national institutions. Thanks to Divine 

 Providence, in the greater part of the empire the 

 state of public health is satisfactory. The scourge 

 i.-ru morbiis, which I regret to inform you ap- 

 <1 in the city and in some localities of Rio Ja- 

 St. Pedro do Rio Grande do Sul and Santa 

 *':iili;inn;i, rapidly decreased, and was less deadly 

 than on its first appearance. The government took 

 all possible precautions. The war provoked by the 



President of Paraguay has not yet arrived at the de- 

 sired result; but Brazil and the Argentine and Ori- 

 ental ic|iu'i)lics, luitlil'ul t,. the alliance contracted be- 

 tween tin-in, will shortly obtain it. In the discharge 

 of so sacred a duty the government has receiv. 

 most valuable assistance from the indefatigable ef- 

 forts of all Brazilians, and confides entirely in tin- 

 valor of the army, navy, National Guard and the 

 volunteers, to whom is due the deepest gratitude of 

 the nation. The cholera morbus, whicn unhappily 

 invaded the River 1'lutte, has made considerable rav- 

 ages among the allied forces in front of the enemy. 

 I deeply lament the deaths of so many brave ones 

 who longed so ardently to risk their lives in battle 

 for their country. The Government of Peru offered 

 its good offices to Brazil and the allied republics as 

 preliminary to the mediations of the same republic 

 and those of Chili, Bolivia and Ecuador, for the re- 

 establishment of peace with Paraguay. Recently the 

 Government of the United States offered its kindly medi- 

 ation for the same purpose. The allies, grateful for 

 these offers, could not, however, accept them, as they 

 were not consistent with the national honor. I have 

 the pleasure to communicate to you that Brazil is on 

 peaceful terms with all other foreign powers, whose 

 friendly relations the government seeks to cultivate. 

 A decree explanatorv of article 1 of the consular 

 convention celebrated with France has been signed 

 in Paris, and is now in force, thus putting an end to 

 the disagreement which was evinced through the 

 practice of that convention 011 the subject of inherit- 

 ances, and the government anticipates obtaining a 

 similar result with respect to other conventions of n 

 like nature. I am happy to announce to you that by 

 decree 3,749, of 7th December in last year, the navi- 

 gation of the Amazon, of some of its affluents, and 

 of the Rivers Tocantins and San Francisco, is, from 

 the 7th of September next, free to merchant-vessels 

 of all nations. This measure, which coincided with the 

 expectations of Brazilians and foreigners, promises 

 the most important benefit to the empire. The pub- 

 lic revenue continues to increase ; but the expendi- 

 ture, especially what the requirements of the war 

 have occasioned, has increased to such an extent as 

 to produce a deficit in the State budget which it is 

 of most vital importance to provide for, by means 

 which judgment and patriotism will suggest to you. 

 The servile element in the empire cannot but merit 

 opportunely your consideration, providing in such a 

 manner that, respecting actual property and without 

 a severe blow to our chief industry agriculture 

 the grand interests which belong to emancipation 

 may be attended to. To promote colonization ought 

 to be the object of your particular solicitude. Pub- 

 lic instruction is a subject worthy of not less care. 

 Among the measures called for by the service of the 

 army, the most important are those of a law for re- 

 cruiting, of a penal code and of military law. Ex- 

 perience shows that an alteration of the rank of 

 naval officers is absolutely necessary. Likewise the 

 convenience has been recognized by practice of 

 modifying the organization of the National Guard, 

 principally for the purpose of greater mobilization 

 in extraordinary circumstances. 



Nothing of great importance was transacted 

 by Parliament. The Emperor, on closing it, on 

 September 23d, said: "The state of the public 

 health is satisfactory throughout the empire. 

 An agreement \v:is signed in this city and will 

 come in force on tho 1st of October next, which 

 regulates the execution of article 13 of the con- 

 sular convention entered into with Portugal. 

 The differences which used to arise with regard 

 to heirships will thus disappear. The proofs 

 of patriotism which you have given by voting 

 the taxes which will balance the expenses and 

 revenue of tho country, and by adopting other 



