Narrative of Services in the Liberation of Chili, Peru and Brazil Volume II Part 17

Vice Consulate of France at S. Louis de Maragnon,

Monsieur le Marquis, Dec. 4, 1821.

La position difficile dans laquelle je me suis trouve depuis trois mois--la delicatesse de celle dans laquelle je suis place maintenant vis-a-vis M. le President de la province de Maragnon, m'imposant le devoir de porter a la connoissance de votre Excellence les justes motifs de plainte que j'ai a lui exposer centre la conduite de M. le President Bruce envers un Agent de Sa Majeste le Roi de France, et venir a ce t.i.tre reclamer un appui que je ne puis plus dorenavant attendre de sa part. La confiance que m'inspire le caractere dont votre Excellence est revetue, et la cert.i.tude qu'elle n'ignore pas les intimes relations qui lient la France a l'Empire du Bresil, me font qu'elle saura apprecier les consequences graves que doivent entrainer l'avance faite ici aux sujets de mon Souverain, et le silence meprisant que garde a cet egard le President depuis un mois que je lui ai demande la partic.i.p.ation du resultat d'une enquete qu'il m'a.s.sura avoir ete ordonnee par lui. Sans m'entendre sur les evenements facheux qui ont desole cette province depuis cinq mois, pour etre hors du but que je me propose je me bornerai a parler de ceux dont je puis garantir l'authenticite et de l'influence du Gouvernement de M. Bruce pendant cet intervalle sur le bien-etre de mes nationaux.

Lors des premieres armamens faits dans la province, pour opposer des forces a une expedition supposee de la part du Portugal, un Francois etabli a Caixas, compris dans une mesure generale fut oblige d'autorite de delivrer une partie d'armes dont il ne recut jamais la valeur, malgre un sejour prolonge de plusieurs mois dans le meme endroit. Quelque modique que soit la somme qu'il s'est vu dans la necessite de venir reclamer ici, elle est proportionnee a ses moyens. C'est un tort evident fait a cet homme qui ne put continuer a exercer son industrie dans le lieu qu'il avoit choisi, et fut contraint a un deplacement couteux qui doit lui retirer toute confiance a l'avenir.

L'arrivee des troupes envoyees par le President pour reprimer un mouvement dans l'interieur immediatement apres le depart de M. Jose Felix Burgos, ne fut signalee dans la ville d'Alcantara que par des desordres, les Etrangers meme n'y furent pas respectes dans cet endroit, qui n'etoit pas encore le theatre des hostilites. Un homme de ma Nation y exercant paisiblement son commerce fut attaque chez lui, eut les portes de sa maison enfoncees par les soldats, fut temoin deux fois du pillage de sa boutique et force pour sauver ses jours d'aller sejourner dans le bois; ce malheureux n'a d'autre ressource maintenant que le travail de ses mains, ce fait contre lequel il eut ete de mon devoir de reclamer vient seulement de parvenir a ma connoissance.

Les Francois etablis en cette ville avoient joui jusqu'a l'arrivee dans l'ile des troupes armees contre le President d'une trop grande securite, pour ne pas revailler contre eux toute la haine dont avoit eut fait preuve deja les Portugais avant l'adhesion de cette province a l'Empire du Bresil. Un acte emane _de leur despotique Junte_ avoit malgre les traites fait fermer les loges Francoises jusqu'a la reception des ordres precis de leur gouvernement, qui desapprouvait hautement cette mesure. Ces memes Portugais...o...b..iant la generositie avec laquelle les commandants de trois batimens de Sa Majeste le Roi de France venoient de sauver un grand nombre de leurs compatriotes lors des derniers troubles du Para, n'ecoutant que leur jalousie ne s'efforcerent qu'a nous perdre dans l'opinion publique _par le plus noires inculpations._ Je les considere comme ayant influe puissament sur le malhereux evenement que j'ai eu a deplorer.

Malgre l'avertiss.e.m.e.nt que j'avois donne huit jours auparavant au President de la menace qui etoit faite aux Francois de leur faire subir le genre d'a.s.sa.s.sinat usite ici, le 21 Septembre, quatre Francois ete surpris par des a.s.sa.s.sins, deux furent tres maltraites, l'un atteint de plusieurs blessures a la tete et au bras fut reconduit chez lui baigne dans son sang; ses blessures au bras, fracture en deux endroits laissent encore douter apres 70 jours de douleurs aigues s'il ne devra par subir l'amputation. Le meme jour a la meme heure, un Francois fut attaque chez lui malgre le signe de reconnaisance qui distingue depuis les troubles les maisons des Francois; des pierres lancees dans sa porte et ses fenetres pendant un long es.p.a.ce de temps, l'obligerent a venir lui-meme dissiper par des menaces une troupe d'hommes qu'il esperoit ne pas voir echapper a la surveillance d'un porte militaire a proximite de sa maison.

M'etant rendu chez le President, lui demander d'abord la punition de ce crime atroce, il eut l'inconvenance de m'objecter que la conduite des Francois etoit tres reprehensible, je remarquoi ces paroles et le lui fis observer; elles ne pouvoient s'appliquer d'ailleurs qu'a deux individus pa.s.ses au service du parti oppose, que j'etois venu desavouer lui en demandant expulsion. Le President repondant se rendit a ma demande, et me donna l'espoir d'avoir une satisfaction, tant pour l'attentat a la vie des quatre individus de ma Nation, que pour l'attaque du domicile d'un Francois.

Neanmoins les jours suivants les desordres continuerant, les Francois etoient outrages 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 Francois; un enfant de neuf ans fut horriblement maltraite par des soldats, jusqu'aux negres osoient lever la tete, 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 Bresil? En b.u.t.te a l'animositie d'une soldatesque indisciplinee, nous courumes pendant quinze jours le danger le plus imminent, nous attendant a tout instant a voir se realiser ses menaces de venir nous ma.s.sacre dans nos maisons.

J'ai eu depuis a reclamer contre le violation d'un batimen du commerce Francois. Malgre trois gardes de la Douane, cinq soldats armes furent envoyes a son bord a neuf heures du soir; je les fis retirer le lendemain; ce dernier acte du President qui des lors commenca a ne plus garder aucuns menagemens 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 place au dessus de l'ecusson de France, que je trouvai lacere, me firent prevoir que je n'avois plus rien a attendre de la protection de l'autorite.

Monsieur le Marquis, je me suis maintenu a mon poste malgre les dangers tant que j'ai eu l'espoir que l'arrivee de Votre Excellence si desiree de la population entiere de la province, viendroit nous delivrer de ce deplorable etat de choses. Sans connaitre les intentions de Votre Excellence, je vois Mr. Bruce encore president, non-seulement il ne m'a donne aucune satisfaction, mais encore apporte dans sa conduite, le mepris le plus marque par un fileure qui ne pent s'interpreter 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 Majeste tres Chretienne; cette conduite emporte le refus d'aucun appui de sa part pour l'avenir; d'ailleurs mon caractere publique m'impose de ne pas m'exposer a un outrage, et l'interet que je dois a mes nationaux de les soustraire a 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 sejourner plus longtemps ici, je viens lui demander de proteger mon embarquement et celui des Francois qui restant encore a Maragnon.

Je suis, avec respect, Monsieur le Marquis, de Votre Excellence le tres humble et tres obeissant serviteur,

(Signe) PL. DES SALLIERES.

a son Excellence LORD COCHRANE, Marquis de Maragnon, Premier Amiral du Bresil, &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 a.s.sistance 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 cla.s.ses 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, a.s.sure 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 a.s.sure 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 MARANHA.

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-a.s.sembled, so that the administration of law and public affairs might be carried on according to the forms and intentions of the const.i.tution.

This suspension of the President was afterwards fully approved of by His Majesty, and the more patriotic of his advisers, as only antic.i.p.ating 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 establis.h.i.+ng 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 s.h.i.+p 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 princ.i.p.al 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 sh.o.r.e of nearly the whole of the seamen in the s.h.i.+ps 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 s.h.i.+ps 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 circ.u.mstances 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 doc.u.ments 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 circ.u.mstances 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 MARANHA.

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 antic.i.p.ated 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.

CHAPTER X.

MISREPRESENTATIONS MADE IN ENGLAND--LETTER TO THE EMPEROR--TENDERING MY RESIGNATION--REPAYMENT DEMANDED FROM THE JUNTA--CONDUCT OF THE PRIZE TRIBUNAL--NO ADJUDICATION OF PRIZES INTENDED--LETTER TO THE INTERIM PRESIDENT--DEMANDING THE SUMS OWING TO THE SQUADRON--DISTURBANCE IN PARA--STATEMENT OF ACCOUNT TO THE JUNTA--OFFER OF COMPROMISE--IMPERIAL DECREE--RIGHT OF THE SQUADRON TO THE CLAIM.

Worn down in health by the hara.s.sing duties of the naval, military, and civil departments, the conduct of all these wholly devolving upon me, whilst the Ministry at Rio, by withholding instructions, neither incurred trouble nor responsibility--and aware that my character was being traduced by every species of malignity which could be devised by the party whose views were destroyed by the successful manner in which those duties had been performed, I was heartily sick of the ingrat.i.tude and misrepresentation with which the service of having twice secured the Northern provinces to Brazil was met on the part of the Administration, in addition to their now apparent determination that neither myself nor the squadron should reap any benefit from the prize property taken in the preceding year, notwithstanding that, under the Andrada ministry, both had been solemnly guaranteed to the captors.

I was, however, even more annoyed on another account, viz. from being apprised that the vilest misrepresentations of my conduct were being sedulously circulated in England by the partisans of the Administration.

Their vituperation in Brazil could, to some extent, be met; but the petty meanness of attacking a man in a distant country, without the possibility of his defending himself, was a matter against which no prudence or foresight could guard.

Determined no longer to contend with an Administration, which could thus conduct itself towards an officer whose exertions had been deemed worthy of the highest honours from the Emperor, and the warmest thanks from the National a.s.sembly, I resolved to request permission from His Imperial Majesty to retire from so unequal a contest, for I did not choose spontaneously to abandon the command, without at least some compensation beyond my ordinary pay. Even setting aside the stipulations under which I had entered and continued in the Imperial service--this was at least due to me from the unquestioned fact that to my twice rendered exertions--first as naval Commander-in-Chief; and, secondly, as a pacificator--the empire owed its unity and stability, _even in the estimation of European governments_, which, now that the provinces were tranquillized and the empire consolidated, exerted themselves to promote peace between Brazil and the mother country.

Accordingly--on New Year's day, 1825--I addressed to the Emperor the following letter:--

SIRE,

The condescension with which your Imperial Majesty has been pleased to permit me to approach your royal person, on matters regarding the public service, and even on those more particularly relating to myself, emboldens me to adopt the only means in my power, at this distance, of craving that your Majesty will be graciously pleased to judge of my conduct in the Imperial service, by the result of my endeavours to promote your Majesty's interests, and not by the false reports spread by those who--for reasons best known to themselves--desire to alienate your Majesty's mind from me, and thus to bring about my removal from your Majesty's service.