Mr. Lidgerwood to Mr. Seward.
Sir: * * * * * * * *
I have hitherto refrained from referring to the expected great immigration to this country from the United States, and especially from those States that were recently in a state of rebellion.
Immigration of the North Americans has been the leading topic of the journals throughout this empire for several months.
Great advantages have been predicted from the influx of a hard-working, provident, virtuous, and intelligent population, who would bring with them capital, labor-saving implements, and machinery, and who would in a short time supply the present want of laborers, and by their example and energies soon create a prosperity only surpassed by that of the United States.
Representatives from the southern States of the United States of America, professing to be agents to locate lands for hundreds and thousands of people, have stated, that not only thousands of families, but that even an hundred thousand families, would come to Brazil. These agents have been sent to the interior of several provinces at the expense of this government, have been received with the utmost distinction possible to high dignitaries by the presidents and officials of same, and every effort to induce the promised great immigation has been made by the general government. So far, however, to but little or no effect, as but small numbers have arrived. A few worthy men, with professions, have found employment by the government; some families which arrived several months ago, the heads of which swore that they would rather starve in Brazil than live in wealth in the United States, after losing several members by death, and making fruitless struggles with their own labor as agriculturists, have now applied to the consul and to the American Benevolent Association for money to assist them back to the United States. A number of families still remain.
My impressions are, therefore, that no immediate large immigration will take place, but that in time, by constant arrivals in small numbers, many of whom will not have money enough to return, there will, eventually, be quite a population of voluntarily expatriated Americans in this country.
They state that “they have experienced suffering enough in the late rebellion, and hereafter wish to live in peace.” Influenced by that motive, they will not become naturalized Brazilian citizens, in order to avoid military duty to this government. They generally leave the United States without passports. They leave the United States (as they intend) forever, and many of them here boast that they are secessionists, and of their hatred to the Yankees.
As far as any service due by them to the government of the United States is concerned, they are, with few exceptions, “de facto” just as much rebels today as when in arms against it.
At the present moment, almost any breach of peace, or violation of Brazilian law by an American, would be overlooked; but should there be a reaction of sentiment towards them, consequent upon the non-fulfilment of the promises by the representatives of immigation companies, the treatment might be different. [Page 301] Many Brazilian officials, and specially of the lower order, are men of African descent; and the American immigrant from the southern States, especially if congregated in any number, being accustomed to order men of color, would soon make himself obnoxious to this class, and difficulties would ensue; and under such circumstances, though he had left the United States without a passport, intending never to return to it, cursing our country and its institutions, he would remember in his time of need that he was born an American citizen, and would call upon the representatives of the United States to protect him, and would take the oath of allegiance, regarding it merely as a matter of form.
The laws of Brazil are probably not excelled by our own, but in some places, far in the interior, they are not always executed or carried out as they should be.
I submit these remarks to your excellency, as possibly by requirements in the United States that passports shall only be issued to loyal citizens who would be obliged to prove themselves such, in addition to taking the oath, and no others to be considered as citizens, difficulties might be avoided, which I fear may occur here should this immigration continue, by obligations to protect as citizens former bitter enemies, who still retain their animosity and are “de facto” not citizens.
The immigrants whom I have met and are worthy men, I have treated with kindness.
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I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward, Secretary of State, Washington, D. C.