Constitution of 1821 (The)

It is common knowledge that on 24 August 1820 a revolution broke out in the city of Porto with the aim of establishing a system of representative government in our country, and that this revolution found its echo in Lisbon on 15 September following, later spreading to other parts of mainland Portugal, the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal).

It was only around the middle of September that Madeira learned of the political events that had taken place in

Portugal, through the call at our landing place of an English ship bound from London for Rio de Janeiro. On the 25th of the same month the Portuguese brig Providencia brought letters and newspapers giving a detailed account of the events. In an official communication addressed to the Count of Arcos, the governor and captain-general (capitão-general, military governor of Madeira) of this archipelago, Sebastião Xavier Botelho, stated that these events had ‘caused no sensation or popular commotion, and that he had taken the necessary measures to prevent any disturbance of public order’.

Towards the end of September Xavier Botelho received an official communication from the Provisional Government about the new political order that had come about in the country. Although he showed no hostility towards it, he maintained a prudent reserve, perhaps fearing a counter-revolutionary movement on the mainland of the Kingdom. When the Count, later Duke, of Palmela called at Madeira around the middle of November, on his way from London to Lisbon, the governor of this archipelago asked him to inform the government in the metropole about affairs on this island, stressing that order was complete and that no disturbance was feared of the peace we then enjoyed here.

Meanwhile, the governor’s attitude was increasingly displeasing the supporters of the Porto revolution, who secretly had lampoons posted on the walls of the city’s most central streets, inciting the people to revolt and to the violence that would follow. All Xavier Botelho’s hesitation ended on 23 January 1821 with the arrival of a mail sent directly from the court in Rio de Janeiro, from which he learned that John VI had recognised the new state of affairs and, in particular, had accepted the representative system established by the revolution. Rejoicing was given free rein, and preparations began at once for the solemn proclamation, which was to take place on the 28th of that month.

On that day an enormous crowd gathered in the Largo da Fortaleza (‘fortress square’), joined by the troops of the city garrison, calling on the governor to give his solemn adhesion to the principles proclaimed by the Porto revolution. Meanwhile, the captain-general’s residence was invaded by many members of the nobility and the most prominent people of Funchal, supporting the people’s demand. Xavier Botelho gave way, though not without recording his token protest, and appeared on the Bastion overlooking the square, cheering the King, the Cortes (Portuguese parliament), the Constitution and the Supreme Government of the Kingdom. Lively enthusiasm then spread through the crowd, which burst into frenzied cheering.

The governor and captain-general, followed by a great many people, the authorities, civil and military officials and a large number of persons of distinction, then went to the Cathedral (Sé Catedral), where a solemn Te Deum was sung in the presence of the diocesan prelate and many members of the clergy. Everyone then made their way to the town hall (Paços do Concelho), which at that time stood in the building that until recently served as the gaol. There the new system of government was solemnly proclaimed, and a record (auto) was drawn up and signed by a considerable number of those present.

The celebrations of that happy event continued over the following days with remarkable enthusiasm, without the slightest disturbance of public order. To the Constituent Cortes (constituent parliament), which sat from 1821 to 1822, Madeira elected as deputies Francisco João Moniz, Dr Maurício José de Castelo Branco and Dr António João Rodrigues Garcez; the last died and was replaced by Dr João José de Freitas Aragão. Once the Constitution had been drawn up and promulgated, general elections were held under it in 1822, and this archipelago elected as deputies Dr João Francisco de Oliveira, Father João Manuel de Freitas Branco and Manuel Caetano Pimenta de Aguiar.

A year has passed since the events briefly narrated above, and all Funchal is celebrating. It is 28 January 1822, and the anniversary of the proclamation of the Constitution on this island is being solemnly marked. The aim is not only to commemorate the event but also to perpetuate it through time. Once the idea of erecting a monument had been put forward, the Terreiro da Sé (Cathedral Square) was chosen as the most suitable site for it, and 28 January as the day for laying the foundation stone, since it was the first anniversary of Madeira’s solemn adhesion to the principles proclaimed by the Porto revolution.

The ceremony was conducted with the utmost solemnity and splendour, and countless people of every social class took part in it, including the official and military establishment, which was represented in strength. The ceremony was presided over by the governor and captain-general Dom Rodrigo António de Melo, who, in a report to the government in Lisbon, writes as follows:

“

The city council, wishing to immortalise that same day by erecting a monument and pedestal that would carry the memory of so auspicious an epoch to the remotest ages, had officially invited me to lay, at that same ceremony, the first foundation stone of that memorial, to which I most cordially agreed. Judging that I ought to lend my military authority to the tranquillity and brilliance of the occasion, I therefore gave orders for the aforementioned disposition of troops and invited all the officers of the Province to accompany me, including the second-line troops (segunda linha, reserve militia) and the disbanded corps of territorial militia (ordenanças)...

A splendid procession formed and, leaving the town hall, made its way to the Largo da Sé (‘cathedral square’), where the trench to receive the cornerstone and the first foundations of the intended monument had already been prepared. This passage from the record (auto) drawn up on the occasion and placed in the foundations is of considerable interest: ‘the corregedor (royal district magistrate), Dr ..., carried a basket of wedges and chips of stone, the juiz de fora Dr the level, the senior councillor (vereador) the trowel and float, the second councillor the broom and bucket, the third councillor the lime trough, the municipal procurator (procurador do concelho) the medals, and I, clerk (escrivão) of the council, the mallet, while the people’s judge (juiz do povo, elected representative of the craft guilds) bore a silver casket containing the record, and the representatives (procuradores) of the master craftsmen a handbarrow with the stone’. When the laying of the foundation stone was over, a solemn Te Deum was celebrated in the Cathedral (the Sé), on which occasion the distinguished preacher Father João Manuel de Freitas Branco delivered an eloquent sermon. It was published as a pamphlet, today extremely rare, with the title Oração de acção de graças que na solemnidade do anniversario do faustissimo dia 28 de janeiro de 1821 pregou na igreja da Sé do Funchal. . .

Next the civil and military authorities, public officials and a large number of Funchal’s most distinguished people went to the governor’s palace, where Dr João Pedro de Freitas Drumond gave an enthusiastic address that was loudly applauded.

All the forts fired salutes, there were lavish and brilliant illuminations, and other celebrations were held, in which the inhabitants of the city joyfully took part.

The monument, whose cornerstone was laid in front of the door of the Cathedral, a few metres from the steps leading up to the churchyard, never rose above its foundations.

The Terreiro da Sé, or Passeio, which formed part of the old Campo do Duque (‘duke’s field’), was renamed Praça da Constituição (‘Constitution Square’) in 1821, a name it kept until a few years ago. The following pamphlets were published on the Constitution in Madeira and on some of the questions its proclamation raised here: • Historia verdadeira dos acontecimentos da ilha da Madeira depois do memoravel dia 28 de janeiro, escrita por ordem chronologica por Sebastião Xavier Botelho e comprovada com testemunhas da melhor fé, por seus empregos, gerarchia e independencia, para destruir um libello famoso impresso em Londres por um Cidadão Funchalense, Lisbon, 1821, 61 pp.;

On 17 June 1823 the restoration of absolute government was proclaimed in Madeira, amid various demonstrations of rejoicing.