Note 11 — HUNTING A HOME IN BRAZIL. (continued 2)

At his suggestion, an article appeared in the Diario De São Paulo, of September 26th, 1865, from which the following extracts are translated:

“This commission of Dr. Gaston arouses serious considerations. Under existing circumstances, our attention ought to be fixed, by preference, upon the States of the South of the American Union. A large portion of the party vanquished in the recent struggle will seek a new country. They cannot submit to the new order of things and live on a footing of equality with their slaves. Accumulated trouble, and various other reasons, concur to induce them to emigrate. If our government lose this favorable opportunity to draw them to our country it will not find another.

“If these families come, many others will come after them, and thus spontaneous emigration will be developed for our country. In the disposition with which they are now proposing to emigrate, it is natural that they should flow into the same place, and the country which has the happiness to receive well the first emigrants will receive all.

“The emigration from the States of the South of the Union is exactly that which suits us best. We do not want adventurers, who come into our country to gain fortunes, and that return to their domicils when they are secured. We want men who will establish themselves diligently in our country, and who will make common cause with us. The American emigrants that come will remain with us, and will never return to their country. The motives which induce the emigration afford us, in this respect, a complete guarantee. They procure a new country. They take as theirs the country which receives them. This consideration is important.

“The Anglo-American race has no rival in the world. The grand struggle through which they have passed leaves their prominence well established. It is the race which is most appropriate for us. Eminently industrious, enterprising and persevering, it will impart a notable impulse to our country. It is not possible to calculate the rapid progress which the country may have if this race comes, to turn to advantage its natural resources.

“Our political institutions cannot be repugnant to those inhabitants of the Union. In our country they will find all the liberty which can reasonably be desired. Our form of government, though it is not federative, approximates this system. The separate action of the provinces gives them, to a certain extent, an independent existence.

“The spectacle of slavery, which so much impresses strangers, will be viewed with indifference by those emigrants from the Southern States of the Union, that until very recently held slaves, and for this object sustained the greatest struggle which the world has seen.

“This subject deserves the special attention of the Government, whose lights and practical knowledge should guide the emissary of the emigrants in the selection of a locality that may be proper to receive them, giving him every means of enlightenment and information. The stranger, however qualified he may be, can easily be deceived in this respect.

“All depends upon the success of the first emigrants, and for the accomplishment of this every care should be taken in this matter.

“Our countrymen should not expect to sell their lands to these new emigrants for fabulous prices. If they bring some means they cannot nevertheless employ large capitals, because they have not got them. They once had fortunes, but the war has wasted them. The devastation which passed over the States of the South is well known.”