Representation in the Cortes

In the old General Cortes (Portuguese parliament), or Three Estates, representation belonged to those lands and towns of the country which, because of their importance or other special circumstances not yet well understood, sent their delegates to those assemblies, where they championed the interests of the people they represented. The overseas possessions, to which Madeira belonged, gained their own representatives in the old Cortes only later, and the Madeiran archipelago appears to have been the first to enjoy what was then a signal privilege.

By the decree of 6 July 1645 Madeira was given a seat in the Cortes on the first bench, and it is affirmed that John IV granted it this favour because the island had been the first possession in which he was acclaimed King of Portugal. We know nothing of how the delegates to the Cortes were chosen here, a process which in any case was not carried out uniformly throughout the country. Nor do we know the names of any individuals who represented this archipelago in the Cortes after that date. We are aware only that on 14 March 1619 Philip II addressed a letter to João Fogaça, which is recorded in the books of the Municipal Council (Câmara Municipal), informing him that, as the Three Estates were to assemble in the town (vila) of Tomar to swear allegiance to Prince Dom Filipe, he was to be present in that town on ‘the 20th of the month of May, when the Cortes are to begin’.

On page 635 of the notes to ‘Longing for the Homeland’ (Saudades da Terra) we read that Madeira seems to have been sending procurators to the Cortes as early as 1479. Yet if we consult the list of places that supplied such procurators in 1535, preserved in the archive of the Torre do Tombo (national archives) and published in the Censo Eleitoral da Metrópole by Mr António de Sousa Júnior, we do not find our island on that list.

Once absolute government had been overthrown by the Porto revolution of 1820, which established the representative system, electoral assemblies were convened in 1821 to choose the members of the Constituent Assembly. Madeira returned as deputies Dr Maurício José Castelo Branco, Francisco João Moniz and Dr António João Rodrigues Garcês; the last died before taking his seat in Parliament and was replaced by Dr João José de Freitas Aragão. General and ordinary elections were held in 1822, in which this archipelago elected as full deputies Dr João Francisco de Oliveira, Manuel Caetano Pimenta de Aguiar and Father João Manuel de Freitas Branco, with Father Jerónimo Alvares da Silva Pinheiro, Dr Luís António Jardim and Father João Crisóstomo Espinola de Macedo as substitutes.

When absolute government was restored in 1823 the Cortes were dissolved, but on the death of John VI in 1826 the representative system was established once more, with the granting of the Constitutional Charter (Carta Constitucional) by Pedro IV. Elections were held and the Cortes convened at once, Madeira returning Dr Lourenço José Moniz, Manuel Caetano Pimenta de Aguiar, Father Caetano Alberto Soares and Luís Monteiro.

Miguel I, regent of the Kingdom (reino, i.e. mainland Portugal), dissolved the Cortes and proclaimed himself absolute king in 1828, and only in 1834 was the representative system of government definitively established in Portugal. In September of that year elections were held on this island and four deputies were returned.

We give below the complete list of the individuals who represented this archipelago in the various legislatures, whether as deputies, as elective peers of the realm or as senators:

1834–1836

When the civil war was over, Peter IV called the electoral assemblies by decree of 28 May 1834. The elections were held in Madeira the following September, and Dr Lourenço José Moniz, António Aluísio Jérvis de Atouguia, João de Oliveira and José Liberato Freire de Carvalho were returned. In November 1835 elections were held in this archipelago to fill the seat left vacant by Jérvis de Atouguia, and Luís da Silva Mousinho de Albuquerque was elected. The decree of 4 June 1836 dissolved parliament and ordered elections, and in August of the same year Dr Lourenço José Moniz, António Aluísio Jérvis de Atouguia, João de Oliveira and Dr José Ferreira Pestana were elected. The Cortes (Portuguese parliament) never met, because the Constitution of 1822 was proclaimed on 10 September 1836.

1837–1838

The decree of 8 October 1836 ordered the electoral colleges to be convened and granted the deputies constituent powers. In December of the same year Dr Lourenço José Moniz, João de Oliveira, Luís da Silva Mousinho de Albuquerque and Dr José Ferreira Pestana were elected as full members, with António Aluísio Jérvis de Atouguia, Dean Januário Vicente Camacho and Canon Gregório Nazianzeno de Medina e Vasconcelos as substitutes.

1838–1840 – Under the decrees of 18 and 20 June 1838, elections for senators and deputies were held in this district the following August. João da Câmara de Carvalhal Esmeraldo and the Marquis of Saldanha were elected full senators and the Duke of Terceira substitute senator; Dr Lourenço José Moniz, António Aluísio Jérvis de Atouguia, Luís da Silva Mousinho de Albuquerque and Dr José Ferreira Pestana were elected full deputies, and Dean Januário Vicente Camacho and Sebastião Xavier Botelho substitute deputies. To fill one senator’s seat and two substitute deputies’ seats, an election was held in September 1838, which returned the Baron of Tojal as substitute senator and Dr Domingos Olavo Correia de Azevedo and Canon Gregório Nazianzeno de Medina e Vasconcelos as substitute deputies. There was another election to fill a senatorial vacancy, and Dr Daniel de Ornelas e Vasconcelos was chosen as full senator and Dr Domingos Olavo Correia de Azevedo as substitute.

1840–1842

The Cortes were dissolved on 25 February 1840 and the electoral assemblies were convened by decrees of the 27th and 28th of the same month and year. The following April Dr Lourenço José Moniz, Dr José Ferreira Pestana, Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca and António Aluísio Jérvis de Atouguia were elected full deputies, with Canon Dr Gregório Nazianzeno de Medina e Vasconcelos, Father Dr João Henriques Moniz and Dr José Maria Lopes Carreira as substitutes. When Senator the Baron of Tojal was appointed Minister of Finance and so vacated his seat in the upper chamber, an election was held in June 1841, and the same Baron of Tojal was elected. In June 1841 Dr José Ferreira Pestana was appointed Minister of the Navy, vacating his seat as deputy; the by-election was held the following July, and the choice again fell on Dr José Ferreira Pestana.

1842–1845

By decree of 10 February 1842 the Cortes were dissolved and the Constitutional Charter (Carta Constitucional) was declared in force. That decree and another of 5 March following ordered elections, and in June of that year Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca, João da Câmara Carvalhal Esmeraldo, Francisco Correia Herédia and Dr Bartolomeu dos Mártires Dias e Sousa were elected deputies.

1846

When the legislature ended, the decree of 28 April 1845 ordered the electoral assemblies to meet, and the following August Dr Lourenço José Moniz, Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca and Dr Bartolomeu dos Mártires Dias e Sousa were elected.

1848–1851

The decree of 23 May 1846 dissolved parliament, and that of 27 July of the same year ordered elections. Because of the civil strife of the time, these were held only in November 1847, under the decree of 12 August, and the following December Dr Lourenço José Moniz, Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca, Dean Januário Vicente Camacho and José Silvestre Ribeiro were elected.

1851–1852

Parliament having been dissolved on 25 May 1851, the assemblies were convened for the election, which was held in November of that year under the decree of 16 July conferring constituent powers on the deputies. The choice fell on Dr Lourenço José Moniz, António Aluísio Jérvis de Atouguia, Dr José Ferreira Pestana and Dr António da Luz Pita.

1853–1856

The decree of 24 July 1852 dissolved parliament, and elections were ordered by the decree of 2 October of the same year. The following April Dr Lourenço José Moniz, Dr José Ferreira Pestana, José Silvestre Ribeiro and Dr António da Luz Pita were elected.

1857–1858

The legislative term having ended, the decree of 29 September 1856 ordered the assemblies to be convened for elections, and in December of the same year José Silvestre Ribeiro, Dom Luís da Câmara Leme, Dr Sebastião Frederico Rodrigues Leal and António Correia Herédia were elected.

1858–1859

The Cortes were dissolved on 26 March 1858 and the electoral colleges met in May under the decree of 6 April of the same year. António Correia Herédia, Dr Luís de Freitas Branco, Jacinto Augusto de Sant’Ana e Vasconcelos and António Rogério Gromicho Couceiro were elected. As the last was also elected for Portalegre, he had to opt for that constituency, being his native one, so a fresh election was held in this archipelago in November 1858, which returned Dom Luís da Câmara Leme.

1860–1861

The decree of 23 November 1859 dissolved the Cortes (Portuguese parliament), and that of the 28th of the same month and year called the electoral assemblies. The election returned Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca (Funchal constituency), Dom Luís da Câmara Leme (Calheta), Dr Luís de Freitas Branco (Santa Cruz) and Dr António Gonçalves de Freitas (Ponta do Sol).

1861–1864

Parliament was dissolved by decree of 27 March 1861, and a decree of the 30th of the same month and year ordered elections to be held. They took place on 15 May following, and returned Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca (Funchal constituency), Dom Luís da Câmara Leme (Calheta), Dr Luís de Freitas Branco (Santa Cruz) and Dr António Gonçalves de Freitas (Ponta do Sol).

1865

When the legislative session had ended, the decree of 4 August ordered the assemblies to meet for the ordinary elections. Those elected were Dr Luís de Freitas Branco, Jacinto Augusto de Sant’Ana e Vasconcelos, Dr António Gonçalves de Freitas and Dr Francisco Joaquim de Sá Camelo Lampreia.

1865–1868

After the Cortes had been dissolved, the electoral colleges were convened by decree of 15 May 1865. The election was held on 25 July of the same year and returned Dr Luís de Freitas Branco (Santa Cruz constituency), António Correia Heredia (Ponta do Sol) and Jacinto Augusto de Santana e Vasconcelos (Funchal). António Correia Heredia resigned his seat, and another deputy was elected to fill the vacancy.

1868–1869

The decree of 14 January 1868 dissolved parliament, and the decree of 17 February of the same year ordered the election to be held. It took place on 19 April following and returned Caetano Velosa Carvalhal Esmeraldo Castelo Branco (Funchal constituency), Dr Agostinho de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (Ponta do Sol) and Dr João Barbosa de Matos e Câmara (Santa Cruz).

1869–1870

The decrees of 23 January and 18 March 1869 respectively dissolved the Cortes and called the electoral assemblies. The election took place on 2 May following, and Dr Agostinho de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (Ponta do Sol constituency) and Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca (Funchal) were declared deputies.

1870

Parliament having been dissolved by decree of 2 January 1870, the decree of 3 February following ordered elections, which were held in this archipelago on 1 May of the same year. Those elected were Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca (Funchal) and Dr Agostinho de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (Ponta do Sol).

1870–1871

The Cortes were dissolved by decree of 1 July 1870. After the electoral assemblies had been convened by the decree of 18 September of the same year, Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca (Funchal) and Dr Agostinho de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (Ponta do Sol) were declared deputies.

1871–1874

The decree of 3 June 1871 dissolved parliament and ordered the electoral colleges to be convened on 9 July following, but in this district they met only on the 20th of the same month. Dr Luís Vicente de Afonseca (Funchal) and Dr Agostinho de Ornelas e Vasconcelos (Ponta do Sol) were elected.

1875–1878

When the legislative term had ended, a decree of 5 June 1874 set the election for 18 July following. The election in Madeira was held on that day, and from then on it took place on the same day as in mainland Portugal. Dom Luís da Câmara Leme and Ricardo Júlio Ferraz were elected.

1879 – When the legislature had ended, the decree of 29 August 1878 set the elections for 13 October of the same year. Those elected were the engineer Ricardo Júlio Ferraz (Funchal), Dr Manuel José Vieira (Santa Cruz) and Canon Alfredo César de Oliveira (Ponta do Sol).

1880–1881

Parliament was dissolved by the decree of 28 August 1879, and the election was set for 19 October following by the decree of 11 September. Those elected were Canon Alfredo César de Oliveira (Ponta do Sol), Dr Manuel Celestino Emídio (Santa Cruz) and Canon Feliciano João Teixeira (Ponta do Sol).

1882–1884

The decrees of 4 and 30 June 1881 dissolved parliament and convened the electoral colleges. The election took place on 21 August, and Dr Luís de Freitas Branco (Funchal), Dr Manuel José Vieira (Santa Cruz) and Dr Luís António Gonçalves de Freitas (Ponta do Sol) were declared deputies. Following the death of the deputy Dr Luís de Freitas Branco, a decree of 7 September 1882 ordered an election in the Funchal constituency, and the poll was held on 5 November of the same year. The candidate Anselmo José Braamcamp received the most votes but did not obtain an absolute majority, so the election was held again on 26 November of the same year, and Dr Manuel de Arriaga was elected.

1884–1887

The decree of 24 May 1884 dissolved parliament and summoned the electoral assemblies for the following 29 June, granting the deputies special powers to reform the Constitutional Charter (Carta Constitucional). Those elected were Dr Manuel José Vieira, Pedro Maria Gonçalves de Freitas, Dr João Augusto Teixeira and Henrique de Santana e Vasconcelos. Under the provisions of the decree of 8 October 1885, the election of peers of the realm took place on 2 December of the same year, and António Correia Herédia and the Viscount of Vila Mendo were elected for this district.

1887–1889

Parliament having been dissolved, the elections of deputies were set for 6 March 1887 and those of elective peers for the 27th of the same month. Elected as deputies were Dr Manuel José Vieira, Canon Alfredo César de Oliveira, Canon Feliciano João Teixeira and Dr Fidélio de Freitas Branco, and as peers of the realm Pedro Maria Gonçalves de Freitas and Tomás Nunes de Serra e Moura. When Canon Alfredo de Oliveira resigned his seat, the runner-up, Henrique de Santana e Vasconcelos, was called to fill the vacancy.

1890

At the end of the legislative session, the decree of 15 September 1890 ordered ordinary elections to be held on the following 20 October. Those elected were Dr Carlos Lobo de Ávila, Luís Bandeira Coelho, Henrique de Sant’Ana e Vasconcelos and Dr João Catanho de Meneses.

1890–1892

The decree of 20 January 1890 dissolved the Chamber of Deputies and the elective part of the House of Peers, and the decree of 20 February of the same year set the election of members of the lower chamber for the following 30 March and the election of peers for 14 April. Elected as deputies were Dr Fidélio de Freitas Branco, Dr António Jardim de Oliveira, Dr José Júlio Rodrigues and José Maria Greenfield de Melo, and as peers of the realm the Viscount of Vila Mendo and Dr Luís Adriano de Magalhães Meneses e Lencastre.

1892–1893

The decree of 15 September 1892 ordered elections to be held on 23 October of the same year. Those elected were Dr Augusto Dias Ferreira, Dr Luís Maria dos Reis Torgal, Dr António Baptista de Sousa and Dr Manuel de Assunção. When the last of these died, the runner-up, Dr António Vicente Varela, was called to fill the vacancy.

1894–1895

The decree of 7 December 1893 dissolved parliament, and the decree of the 19th of the same month and year set the elections of deputies for the following 11 February and those of peers for the 25th. The decree of 31 January 1894 postponed the elections, which were fixed for 15 and 29 April respectively. Elected as deputies were Dr Manuel José Vieira, Pedro Maria Gonçalves de Freitas, Dr Fidélio de Freitas Branco and Dom João de Alarcão Velasques Sarmento Osório, and as peers of the realm Dr António Baptista de Sousa and José Bandeira Coelho de Melo.

1895–1897

The Cortes (Portuguese parliament) were dissolved by decree of 28 March 1895, and the decree of 25 September of the same year set the following 17 November for the election. Those elected were Dr Fidélio de Freitas Branco, Dr Romano de Santa Clara Gomes and Dr Luciano Afonso da Silva Monteiro.

1897–1899

Parliament was dissolved by decree of 8 February 1897, and, under the decree of the previous 24 March, the poll was set for 2 May of that year. Those elected were Dr João Catanho de Meneses (Santana constituency), the Viscount of Ribeira Brava (Ponta do Sol) and Augusto José da Cunha (Funchal).

1900

The decree of 17 October 1899 ordered the poll to be held on 26 November of the same year. Elected as deputies were Dr João Catanho de Meneses (Santa Cruz), Dr José António de Almada (Funchal) and João Augusto Pereira (Ponta do Sol).

1901

The Cortes having been dissolved by decree of 25 October 1900, another decree of the same date ordered the election to be held on 25 November of that year. Those elected were Dr Quirino Avelino de Jesus (Funchal), Alberto Botelho (Santa Cruz) and Dr Alberto Bramão (Ponta do Sol).

1902–1904

Parliament was dissolved by decree of 4 June 1901, and the decree of 24 August following set the elections for 6 October immediately after. João Augusto Pereira, Alberto Botelho, Alexandre José Sarsfield and Dr Frederico dos Santos Martins were elected.

1904

Parliament having been dissolved by decree of 29 April 1904, the election took place on 26 June following, under the provisions of the decree of May of the same year. João Augusto Pereira, Alexandre José Sarsfield, Dr Frederico dos Santos Martins and João Frederico Júdice de Vasconcelos were elected.

1905–1906

The Cortes having been dissolved by decree of 24 December 1904, the electoral assemblies were convened for 12 February 1905, as laid down in the decree of 3 January of the same year. Dr Catanho de Meneses, João Augusto Pereira, Dr José Cabral Correia do Amaral and Canon António Homem de Gouveia were elected. Major Alexandre José Sarsfield, who was the fifth candidate by number of votes, challenged the election of Captain João Augusto Pereira on the grounds that this candidate was commander of the war matériel section on this island. The Court for the Verification of Powers (Tribunal de Verificação de Poderes) declared the said candidate ineligible and, by its ruling of 30 March 1905, ordered a new election to fill the vacancy. The decree of 4 April of the same year set the poll for 7 May following, and Captain João Augusto Pereira was elected once again.

1906 – The decree of 9 February 1906 dissolved parliament, and that of 24 March following ordered the poll to be held on 29 April of the same year. Dr Frederico dos Santos Martins, Alexandre José Sarsfield and Canon António Homem de Gouveia were elected deputies.

1906–1907 – The decree of 5 June 1906 having dissolved parliament, the decree of 4 July of the same year set the elections for 10 August following. João Augusto Pereira, Canon António Homem de Gouveia, Dr Salvador Brum do Canto and Dr Francisco Xavier de Oliveira Cabral Moncada were elected deputies.

1908–1910 – The Cortes were dissolved by the decree of 10 May 1907, and the decree of 24 December of the same year set the poll for 5 April 1908. João Augusto Pereira, José Ribeiro da Cunha, João Soares Branco and Ernesto Jardim de Vilhena were elected. The validity of the election of the candidate João Augusto Pereira was challenged, and the Court for the Verification of Powers, by its ruling of 27 April 1908, found the said candidate ineligible. The election of one deputy was then ordered in this district; it took place on 26 July 1908, and Captain João Augusto Pereira was elected once again. Parliament was dissolved and the poll was held on 28 August 1910, at which Alexandre José Sarsfield, José L. Ávila e Lima, Emílio A. Santos Gil and José Correia Cabral do Amaral were elected. The Cortes never met, because the Republic was proclaimed on 5 October of the same year.

1911–1915 – The decree of 28 April 1911 summoned the electoral assemblies for 28 May following, when the deputies to the new Constituent Cortes were elected. This archipelago returned Dr Manuel de Arriaga, Dr Carlos Olavo Correia de Azevedo, Francisco Correia Heredia Ribeira Brava and Dr Manuel Gregório Pestana Júnior. When Dr Manuel de Arriaga was elected President of the Republic on 24 August 1911, his seat as deputy fell vacant, but the election to fill the vacancy was not held until 16 November 1913. The agronomist João da Câmara Pestana was elected, and he resigned his seat shortly afterwards.

1915–1917 – General elections were held on 13 June 1915. The deputies returned for this archipelago were Francisco Correia Heredia Ribeira Brava, Dr Carlos Olavo Correia de Azevedo, Dr Manuel Gregório Pestana Júnior and Manuel da Costa Dias, and the senators Daniel Simões Soares, Dr Vasco Gonçalves Marques and Dr Remígio Gil Espínola Barreto.

1918

After parliament was dissolved, the election took place on 28 April 1918. Aires de Ornelas e Vasconcelos, José Vicente de Freitas and Duarte Melo Ponce de Carvalho were elected deputies, and Alberto Correia Pinto de Almeida and Adolfo Augusto Baptista Ramires senators.

1919–1921

The election took place on 11 May 1919. The deputies returned were Dr Carlos Olavo Correia de Azevedo, Dr Pedro Góis Pita, Américo Olavo Correia de Azevedo and José Miguel Lamartine Prazeres da Costa, and the senators Dr Vasco Gonçalves Marques, José Mendes dos Reis and Heitor Eugénio Magalhães Passos. When one of this archipelago’s seats as deputy fell vacant, João Maria de Santiago Prezado, the only candidate put forward, was declared elected.

1921

Parliament was dissolved and the election was held on 10 July 1921. Dr Carlos Olavo Correia de Azevedo, Dr Pedro Góis Pita, Américo Olavo Correia de Azevedo and Manuel de Sousa Brasão were elected deputies, and Dr Vasco Gonçalves Marques, Dr Manuel Augusto Martins and Dr José Varela senators.

1922

The Cortes having been dissolved, the election was held on 29 January 1922. The deputies returned for Madeira were Dr Carlos Olavo Correia de Azevedo, Américo Olavo Correia de Azevedo, Dr Pedro Góis Pita and Dr Juvenal Henriques de Araújo, and the senators Dr Vasco Gonçalves Marques, Vasco Cipriano Silva and César Procópio de Freitas.

In 1911 there were no direct elections for senators. Instead, the constituent electoral assembly chose them from among its own members, in accordance with Article 84 and its paragraphs of the Political Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.

1925–1926

Dr Adolfo de Sousa Brasão, Dr Domingos dos Reis Costa and Captain Manuel da Costa Dias, deputies; and Dr Vasco Gonçalves Marques, Dr José Varela and Dr João Augusto de Freitas, senators.

1935–1938

Dr Juvenal Henriques de Araújo, Dr Álvaro Favila Vieira and Dr Manuel Pestana dos Reis, deputies; and Dr Fernão Manuel de Ornelas Gonçalves, representative (procurador).

1938–1942

Dr Juvenal Henriques de Araújo, Dr Álvaro Henriques Perestrelo Favila Vieira, Dr Manuel Pestana dos Reis, Gabriel Maurício Teixeira and Dr Gastão Carlos de Deus Figueira, deputies; and Dr Fernão Manuel de Ornelas Gonçalves, representative.

1942–1946

Dr Álvaro Henriques Perestrelo de Favila Vieira, Dr Juvenal Henriques de Araújo and Dr Luís Lopes Vieira de Castro, deputies; and Dr Fernão Manuel de Ornelas Gonçalves, representative.