Supported by the Portuguese or Absolutist party, Pedro went his way, and, even in his latter days of rule, refused to sign Bills for the development of the Constitution.  There was undoubtedly much now to unsettle the Brazilian populace.  Disadvantageous reciprocity treaties were concluded with various countries, while defeats of the Brazilian soldiers were experienced at the hands of the troops of the Argentine Republic.  An indemnity was demanded by France and the United States of America for ships captured during the blockade of Buenos Aires, and large sums of money had to be paid to avert further war.  Finally, the English Government persuaded Brazil to make a somewhat humiliating peace with Buenos Aires, and renounce all claim to the colony, which was henceforth to be known as the Republic of Uruguay.

By 1830 the policy which the Emperor pursued had alienated the national affection to such an extent that every member of the Assembly but the Ministers was in opposition.  Wherever the Emperor went, he was treated with coldness instead of enthusiasm.  A scheme on the part of the Republicans for adopting the Constitution of the United States, but retaining Pedro as hereditary President, caused him to dismiss his Ministers, and surround himself with men of the Absolutist party.  At this an immense crowd assembled in the Campo de Santa Ana, demanding the reinstatement of the popular Ministers.

The Emperor sent a magistrate to read a justification of his conduct to the crowd, but the paper was snatched from the magistrate’s hands and torn to pieces almost before he had finished reading it.  In their turn the people sent messengers to the palace, insisting on the reinstatement of the Republican Ministers.  The Emperor listened to the demand, and answered:  “I will do everything for the people, nothing by the people.”

This answer exasperated the crowd still further, yet no excess was committed.  At two o’clock in the morning the last messenger of the people was departing with the Emperor’s refusal to yield to their demands, when Pedro bade him stay, and, sitting down at his desk, wrote his last message to the people of Brazil: 

“Availing myself of the right which the Constitution concedes to me, I declare that I have voluntarily abdicated in favour of my dearly beloved and esteemed son, Dom Pedro de Alcantara.”

Having handed this to the messenger, Pedro burst into tears and retired to his private apartments.

Six days later he sailed from the harbour of Rio in an English man-of-war, leaving Brazil and his child for good.

CHAPTER XX

FROM EMPIRE TO REPUBLIC

Dom Pedro II. was but five years old when his father abdicated in his favour on April 7, 1831, and, during his minority, the government of the country was entrusted to Regents.  In 1840, when he was fifteen years old, it was officially announced that he had attained his majority, and he was crowned in 1841.  In 1843 he married Theresa Christine, sister of Ferdinand II. of the Two Sicilies.  His sons died in their childhood, and his daughter Isabella became heiress to the crown.