82 POLITICAL STATE OF BRAZIL. 



gives the provinces the right of local legislatures to regulate their pro- 

 vincial 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 com- 

 promise. For a long time the tranquillity, if not the destiny of the 

 country, was in jeopardy. The regents were finally, as was 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 oppo- 

 sition. All impediments, however, to the passage of this favourite and 

 important measure, were overcome by the power and management 

 of this band of leading men, who contrived to unite with them the 

 most opposite characters, and to neutralize personal animosity, as well 

 as party strife, absorbing all other subjects, and enlisting them in 

 support of this measure. They thus clearly manifested their influence, 

 in being able to set aside constitutional restraints, overcoming the 

 executive power, and controlling the senatorial aristocracy. 



The new constitution seems to operate satisfactorily under these 

 leaders. There are, however, some features in it which give its 

 warmest friends many fears respecting the stability of the government. 

 One of these is the difficulty of making the provincial legislatures 



