84 POLITICAL STATE OP BRAZIL. 
government, principally in consequence of the disastrous Banda 
Oriental war, which caused a great sacrifice of money and resources, 
deranged the currency, and involved the nation in debt. In 1831, 
Don Pedro abdicated the throne, and went to Europe ; the regency 
came into power, and this band of leading men formed themselves 
into an opposition to the government. They succeeded in making 
some important changes, setting aside the three regents for life, 
substituting one elected for four years, and introducing a federal 
system, which gives the provinces the right of local legislatures to 
regulate their provincial concerns, independently of the general 
government. 
The manner in which the reforms in the constitution were effected, 
will give some insight into the mode of conducting business, and 
exhibits the power of this party. The plans, after being long under 
discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, were referred to a committee 
of that body, who reported upon them, and they were finally passed, 
under a decision by the Chambers that the Senate and Regency had 
no right to vote, control, or even deliberate upon the question. They 
thus assumed to themselves the whole power of legislative action on 
so momentous a subject, totally disregarding the constitutional claims 
of the other co-ordinate and co-equal branches of the government, 
whose concurrence was necessary to legalize all their acts under the 
constitution, and whose authority was then in vigour, and could not be 
suspended, although it was susceptible of modification in the proper 
form. This subject was recommended to the attention of the people 
in 1833 with a view to party action on it, and new elections were 
ordered, for the purpose of deliberating upon a new constitution. 
But from some circumstances, the regents were not willing to accede 
to the measure, after it had passed the forms of legislation in the 
Chamber of Deputies ; they steadfastly adhered to the determination of 
withholding their sanction to the law, opposing all terms of compro- 
mise. For a long time the tranquillity, if not the destinies of the 
country, was in jeopardy. The regents were finally, it is supposed, 
and generally believed, brought over by pecuniary considerations. 
The Senate also ineffectually attempted to interpose a protest against 
the measure (the election of a regent to hold office for four years), not 
only to sustain their dignity but maintain their rights ; neither was it 
satisfactory to the people generally, nor to the national guard, who it 
was well known would have supported the regents in their opposition. 
All impediments, however, to the passage of this favourite and impor- 
