Their chief aim was to maintain themselves in power against the will of the people, who, now that tranquillity had been restored, desired a free and general election of a Constitutional Government throughout the province, in place of that which, of necessity, had been confined to the city only. To put down what they considered disaffection—towards themselves—the Junta brought into the city a large body of irregular troops, intending, by means of these, to gratify their resentment against the resident Portuguese, who, having taken the oaths of allegiance to the Imperial Government, were entitled to protection. It appeared, moreover, that the Junta and their friends owed large sums of money to some of the more wealthy and influential Portuguese, and that they intended to get rid of their debts, by the expulsion of their creditors.
As it was sufficiently clear that the Junta was determined not to be advised, it became my duty to avert the evils in contemplation, by expediting the change of administration so much desired by the people. Therefore, on the 12th of September, I transmitted to the Junta, an order for the election of a more comprehensive Government, as they were only intended to remain in power until a general election throughout the province could conveniently take place. Satisfactory as was this measure to the public, it was anything but agreeable to the despotic body, at whose ill-advised measures it was aimed; their resource being to increase the ferment amongst the soldiery brought into the city to uphold their authority, and who—partly from motives of revenge, but more from the hope of plunder—were eager to execute the hostile intentions of the Junta against the Portuguese.
An attempt to arrest the president of the Camara, Senor Luiz Salgado, by the General-at-arms—who had reason to suspect Salgado of intriguing to remove him from office, gave a pretext for disturbance. On the night of the 14th of September, the troops rose and plundered many Portuguese houses, compelling their owners to fly for safety to neutral and other vessels in the harbour. They then deposed the General-at-arms, and chose Salgado in his stead, a proceeding which was next day confirmed by a decree of the Junta, in conjunction with the Camara.
Addressing a letter to Salgado, I firmly refused to acknowledge him as commandant, telling him, at the same time, that his only means of being recognised as a Brazilian citizen, was by allaying the ferment he had contributed to raise. I wrote also to the Junta and Camara, threatening to act in a decisive manner, if these disgraceful scenes were not instantly put an end to, pointing out to them that, as they were the chief proprietors of houses and stores, so they would be the greatest sufferers from anarchy. This step checked the disturbance, but the Junta granted the riotous military a gratuity, levied on the Portuguese who had been attacked. The more respectable of whom soon after quitted Maranham in disgust.
It must, however, be stated that these disorders admitted of some palliation, from the consideration that hundreds of Brazilians had been transported to Lisbon, by the Portuguese authorities, when in power; whilst hundreds of others were on my arrival imprisoned at Maranham, in the gaols and vessels in the harbour. On my entrance into the city, I released numbers of these, and saved many others from impending incarceration.
By the 18th, though tranquillity was restored, I postponed the election of a general provisional Junta till the 20th of October, hoping that before that period, a reply to my earnest entreaties for instructions, would arrive from the Imperial Government. It was for the sake of preserving order during the interval, that I had announced my intention of taking the Pedro Primiero to Parà only, well knowing that a belief in her speedy return to Maranham would have a salutary influence in maintaining public peace.
Intelligence of the reduction of Maranham, and the annexation of that province, together with the province of Parà, to the empire, was received at Rio de Janeiro with surprise and delight;—surprise, that, in less than six months, without military force, and, in truth, with one ship of war only, so much had been effected—and delight that the Empire was cleared of its enemies without the expense and uncertainty of expeditions which had been calculated on. All Brazilians were eager to vie with each other in the expression of entire satisfaction with my exertions.
His Imperial Majesty was pleased to reward the services rendered, by creating me Marquis of Maranhaõ, as the fittest title to commemorate the advantages gained for the empire, at the same time awarding me an estate commensurate with the dignity of the honours conferred; the "Assemblea Geral, Constituente e Legislativa" adding a vote of thanks in the name of the nation. The estate, however, was never given, notwithstanding that, at Maranham, and in other of the Northern provinces, numerous fine properties, appertaining to the Portuguese Crown, were added to the Imperial domain. The inconsistency of this was remarkable, seeing that I had been the means of adding to Brazil a territory larger than half Europe—for which service I was warmly thanked by the Emperor, his Ministers, and also by the General Assembly—the latter body, nevertheless, refusing to confirm the gift of even so minute a portion of the vast territory unexpectedly added to the Empire.
The subjoined is the Imperial order, elevating me to the Marquisate:—
His Majesty the Emperor, taking into consideration the great services which your Excellency has just rendered to the nation by assisting to liberate the city of Bahia from the unjust Lusitanian yoke, and afterwards wisely aiding the honourable inhabitants of the province of Maranham in throwing off the said foreign domination, so that they were enabled, according to their desire, to acknowledge His Majesty as their constitutional Emperor; and desiring to give your Excellency a public testimonial of gratitude for these great and extraordinary services (per estse altos e extraordinarios serviços) on behalf of the generous Brazilian people, who will ever preserve a lively remembrance of such illustrious acts, I deem it right to confer upon your Excellency the title of Marquis of Maranhaõ. My Secretary of State will expedite the necessary patent which I communicate to your Excellency for your information.