Dool Council
Thes
all I have to answer to is all
the Council of the Portuguese Governments.
10th
moon,
9th day. (23rd November, 1849).
Translated by
Vie..
João Rodrigues Gonsalves.
True Copy.
Signed) A. J. de Miranda,
t. J..
True, Translation -
S. G.
Signed) L. d. Almada & extra
True Copy.
Colonial Secretary.
MANIFESTO
OF
THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF
MACAO, TIMOR, AND SOLAR.
OR
A Declarative Exposition of the Proceedings of the Chinese Authorities of the Province of Canton, in relation to the disastrous Event which occurred at Macao on the 22d day of August, 1849.
Called by law to assume the Government of the Province of Macao, Timor, and Solor, in consequence of the demise of its Governor, the Most Excellent Councillor JOAŎ MARIA FERREIRA DO AMARAL, barbarously and treacherously assassinated on the evening of the 22d August last, this Council have since then found themselves at issue with as extreme bad faith as has ever characterized the proceedings of any Government. To investigate carefully the origin of the atrocious and brutal outrage from which the barbarous assassination of the first authority of the Province resulted; to discover the authors and the principal actors of that diabolical conspiracy; and to detect the perpetrators and accomplices of that abominable crime; in conclusion, to promote, by all means within their reach, the exact and perfect knowledge of all the circumstances of this deplorable event, which placed in their hands the reins of the Government,-were the cares with which the Council forthwith occupied themselves, from the first moment they shared the management of the public affairs of the Province, on the night of the 22d August last.
The crime having been committed by Chinese subjects, who, after perpetrating it, took refuge within the territory belonging to the Dominions of their Government, as was immediately known by the testimony of the Aide-de-Camp who was in company with the Governor, and who was also attacked, thrown off his horse, and wounded on the same occasion; all the measures to be employed by this Council were limited to demands addressed to the Chinese authorities, who, however, far from assisting, as it behooved them, the efforts of the Portuguese Government, appear to have desired nothing more than to interpose difficulties and obstacles, which might completely frustrate and impede the exact knowledge of the truth.
The public have already seen that this Council have not ceased to call the attention of those authorities to the fulfilment of that which outraged Justice, infringed Laws, and violated Rights, demanded of them; but they, obstinately persisting in refusing the satisfaction on every ground due to the just demands of this Council, continue in their stubborn and inexplicable determination of shutting their ears to the voice of Reason and Justice.
If the circumstances which preceded the horrible murder authorized the strong presumptions at first entertained, of its having been, if not authorized, at least encouraged by the Chinese authorities, those which followed have certainly abundantly justified such presumptions; and the subsequent conduct of these authorities has raised those presumptions to such a height, that they cannot but be accepted as proofs of their complicity in the atrocious crime, the responsibility of which, far from attempting to remove by the efforts they should have employed to throw it off themselves, they have progressively aggravated to such a point that at present the whole of it attaches to them exclusively.
All the measures, therefore, which it behoved them to take for the purpose of bringing the Chinese authorities to reason, having been frustrated, and all the means which they could avail themselves of having been exhausted, nothing else was left to the Council but to protest, as they in effect did, against the Viceroy of Canton, and to place to his charge all the responsibility that attaches to him from that event, leaving intact the right of Her Most Faithful Majesty to demand the satisfaction which is due to Her Sovereignty, atrociously violated and outraged in the person of Her Representative at Macao.
Still, however, it remained obligatory on this Council to make manifest all the odious proceedings of the Chinese authorities in relation to that deplorable event, for the purpose of establishing clearly and evidently their responsibility, and to make known the bad faith which, from the commencement, has characterized their conduct: inasmuch as, although the offence, which results from their acts, is more directly offered to the Sovereignty of Her Most Faithful Majesty, on account of the outrage having been committed on the person of Her immediate Representative in China, it is nevertheless of such a nature that, being against the Law of Nations, it cannot fail to injure the interests not only of those countries which have relations with this empire, and which are represented therein, but also of all those which enjoy the benefits of civilization. The rights infringed are of immutable reason, and the cause outraged that of all mankind, in which all the civilized nations of the world are directly interested. It is, therefore, in fulfilment of this obligation that the Council of Government of the Province of Macao, Timor, and Solor publish the present Manifesto, in which it is their intention to offer to the consideration of the Representatives of the Foreign Powers in China-of the Governments of all friendly Nations allies of Her Most Faithful Majesty, and to that of the whole civilized world, a plain and faithful exposition of all that has taken place since the tragical event of the 22d August last, as well as to lay before them all the acts committed by the Chinese Government of Canton, in order that all may know and duly appreciate the conduct of this Government in relation to that act, and the responsibility which in consequence attaches to it.
The first news of this melancholy event had hardly reached the city, when, even amidst the general consternation which it spread among its inhabitants, the public voice was already unanimous in accusing the Chinese authorities of having connived at this horrible outrage. And, indeed, all the circumstances which attended it authorized that opinion, which subsequent proceedings have abundantly shown to be sufficiently well founded.
Seven Chinese in disguise attack the person of the Governor of Macao in full daylight, in the middle of a public road, in sight of and at a short distance from a Barrier guarded by Chinese soldiers, and throwing him from the horse on which he is mounted to the ground, stab him most cruelly, cut off his head and one hand, and, carrying with them these mutilated members still palpitating, pass safe and sound through that same Barrier, where they do not meet with the least hinderance, and go to take refuge within the territory belonging to the Dominions of their own Government, in spite of the restrictions of the Chinese laws themselves regarding the passage of Barriers, according to which it is evident that the assassins must have been furnished with a permit which would secure to them a free passage, not only through the Barrier Gate, but also through all the stations and posts which extend from thence to Shon-thal, through the whole of which they effectively passed unmolested. Such boldness can hardly be supposed in guilty persons, nor does so much audacity characterize the minds of vile assassins. The safety only of impunity, and the certainty of support and protection, can afford a clue to such an event, otherwise inexplicable. Besides this, a few months previous, incendiary placards had been publicly affixed, under the eyes of the Viceroy Seu, in the capital of his own Province, offering rewards for the head of the Governor of Macao, without the Chinese authorities taking any measures whatever to check similar excesses, and this at the very time that the Viceroy himself, in defiance of the express stipulations of the last Treaties, obstinately refused to recognize the Consul of Her Most Faithful Majesty at Canton, and was opposing serious impediments to the lawful commerce of Portuguese subjects at that Port. These facts, therefore, at once made it evident that if the Chinese authorities did not authorize, they at least countenanced, the assassination of Governor Amaral, and this Council so declared in the Protest which they addressed to the Viceroy of Canton on the 23d of August, (Doc. A, 3 in 84) and still more explicitly in their Despatch of the 31st of the same month (Doc. C, 4 in 90) in reply to that of the Viceroy of the 27th (Doc. B, 390) in which he not only had the indecency to omit, with studied care, the most remote expression of regret on the occasion of this disastrous occurrence, which all generally lamented, but was even so senseless as therein to demonstrate unequivocally his own animosity towards the person of the deceased, scarcely disguised by the affected surprise with which he pretended to have received the news.
But these are not the only facts which justify these conclusions against the Chinese authorities; others still more significant, and which have only latterly manifested themselves, constitute the most irrefutable proofs of their participation and complicity in the event. Such are, the foregoing...
Note. The numbers inserted between parentheses refer to the Enclosures
in despatches addressed by Governor Bonham to The Earl
Grey
417
Dool Council
Thes
all I have to answer to is all
the Council of the Portuguese Governments.
10th
moon,
9th day. ( 23rd November, 1849).
Franslated by
Vie..
João Rodrigues Gonsalves.
True Copay.
Signed) A. J. de Miranda,
t. J..
Fruve, Franslation -
S. G.
Signed) L. d. Almada & fextra
True Copay.
e
Maine folonial boutary. Secretary.
f
MANIFESTO
OF
THE COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENT OF THE PROVINCE OF
MACAO, TIMOR, AND SOLOR.
OR
A Declarative Exposition of the Proceedings of the Chinese Authorities of the Province of Canton, in relation to the disastrous Event which occurred at Macao on the 22d day of August, 1849.
Called by law to assume the Government of the Province of Macao, Timor, and Bolor, in consequence of the demise of its Governor, the Most Excellent Councillor JOAŎ MARIA FERREIRA DO AMARAL, barbarously and treache rously assassinated on the evening of the 22d August last, this Council have since then found thermaclves at issue with as extreme bad faith as has ever characterized the proceedings of any Government. To investigate carefully the origin of the atrocious and brutal outrage from which the barbarous assassination of the first authority of the Province resulted; to discover the authors and the principal actors of that diabolical conspiracy; and to detect the per- petrators and accomplices of that abominable crime; in conclusion, to promote, by all means within their reach, the exact and perfect knowledge of all the circumstances of this deplorable event, which placed in their hands the reing of the Government,-were the cares with which the Council forth with occupied themselves, from the first moment they shared the management of the public affairs of the Province, on the night of the 22d August last.
The crime having been committed by Chinese subjects, who, after perpetrating it, took refuge within the territory belonging to the Dominions of their Government, as was Immediately known by the testimony of the Aide-de-Camp who was in company with the Governor, and who was also attacked, thrown off his horse, and wounded on the samne Occasion; all the measures to be employed by this Council were limited to demands addressed to the Chinese authori- ties, who, however, far from assisting, as it beloved them. the efforts of the Portuguese Government, appear to have desired nothing more than to interpose difficulties and obstacles, which might completely frustrate and impede the exact knowledge of the truth.
The public have already seen that this Council have not ceased to call the attention of those authorities to the fultil. ment of that which outraged Justice, infringed Laws, and violated Rights, demanded of them; but they, obstinately persisting in refusing the satisfaction on every ground due to the just demands of this Council, continue in their stubborn and inexplicable determination of shutting their ears to the voice of Reason and Justice,
If the circumstances which preceded the horrible murder Buthorized the strong presumptions at first entertained, of its having been, if not authorized, at least encouraged by the Chinese anthorities, those which followed have certainly abundantly justified such presumptions; and the subsequent conduct of these authorities has raised those presumptions to such a height, that they cannot but be accepted as proofs of their complicity in the atmcious crime, the responsibility of which, far from attempting to remove by the efforts they should have employed to throw it off themselves, they have progressively aggravated to such a point that at present the whole of it attaches to them ex clusively.
All the measures, therefore, which it behoved them to take for the purpose of bringing the Chinese authorities to reason, having been frustrated, and all the means which they could avail themselves of Iaving been exhausted, nothing else was left to the Cormeil but to protest, as they in effect did, against the Viceroy of Canton, and to place to his charge all the responsibility that attaches to him from that event, leaving intact the right of Her Most Faithful Majesty to demand the satisfaction which is due to Her Sovereignty, atrociously violated and outraged in the person Still, however, it re- of Her Representative at Maeno.
mained obligatory on this Council to make manifest all the odious proceedings of the Chinese authorities in relation to that deplorable event. for the purpose of establishing clearly and evidently their responsibility, and to make known the bad faith which, from the commencement, lus characterized their conduet: inasmuch as, although the offence, which results from their acts, is more directly offered to the So- vereignty of Her Most Faithful Majesty, an account of the outrage having been eminitted on the person of fer im- mediate Representative in China, it is nevertheless of such a nature that, being against the Law of Nations, it camot fail to injure the interests not only of those countries which have relations with this empire, and which are represented
therein, but also of all those which enjoy the benefits of civilization. The rights infringed are of immutable reason, and the cause outraged that of all mankind, in which all the civilized nations of the world are directly interested. It is, therefore, in fulfilment of this obligation that the Council of Government of the Province of Macao, Timor, and Solor publish the present Manifesto, in which it is their intention to offer to the consideration of the Representatives of the Foreign Powers in China-of the Governments of all friendly Nations allies of Her Most Faithful Majesty, and to that of the whole civilized world, a plain and faithful ex- position of all that has taken place since the tragical event of the 220 August last, as well as to lay before them all the acts committed by the Chinese Government of Canton, in order that all may know and duly appreciate the conduct of this Government in relation to that act, and the responsi- bility which in consequence attaches to it.
The first news of this melancholy event had hardly reach- ed the city, when, even amidst the general consternation which it spread among its inhabitants, the public voice was already unanimous in accusing the Chinese authorities of And, indeed, all laving connived at this horrible outrage. the circumstances which attended it authorized that opinion, which subsequent proceedings have abundantly shewn to be sufficiently well founded.
Beven Chinese in disguise attack the person of the Gover- nor of Macso in full daylight, in the middle of a public road, in sight of and at a short distance from a Barrier guarded by Chinese soldiers, and throwing him from the horse on which he is mounted to the ground, stab him nust cruelly, cut off his head and only hand, and, carrying with them these mutilated members still palpitating, pass safe and sound through that sane Barrier, where they do not meet with the least hinderance, and go to take refuge within the territory belonging to the Dominions of their own Govern- ment, in spite of the restrictions of the Chinese laws then- selves regarding the passage of Barriers, according to which it is evident that the assassins must have been furnished with a permit which would secure to them a free passage, not only through the Barrier Gate, but also through all the stations and posts which extend from thence to Shon-tal.. through the whole of which they effectively passed unmolest ed. Such boldness can hardly be supposed in guilty persons, nor does so much audacity characterize the minds of vile assassins. The safety only of impunity, and the certainty of support and protection, can afford a clue to such an event, otherwise inexplicable. Besides this, a few months pre- vious, incendiary placards had been publicly affixed, under the eyes of the Viceroy Seu, in the capital of his own Pro- vince, offering rewards for the head of the Governor of Macao, without the Chinese authorities taking any meastires whatever to cheek similar excesses, and this at the very time that the Viceroy himself, in defiance of the express stipulations of the last Treaties, obstinately refused to re- cognize the Consul of Her Most Faithful Majesty at Canton, and was opposing serious impediments to the lawful con- merce of Portuguese subjects at that Port. These facts, therefore, at once made it evident that if the Chinese au- thorities did not authorize, they at least countenanced, the assassination of Governor Amaral, and this Council so declared in the Protest which they addressed to the Vice- roy of Canton on the 23d of August, (Doc. A, 3 in 84.7 and still more explicitly in their Despatel of the 31st of the same month (Doc. C, 4 in 90 in reply to that of the Viceroy of the 27th (Doc. B, 390) in which he not only had the indecency to oiuit, with studied care, the most remote expression of regret on the occasion of this disastrous occurrence, which all generally lamented, but was even so senseless as therein to demonstrate unequivocally his oWIL animosity towards the person of the deceased, scarcely dis- guised by the affected surprise with which he pretended to have received the news.
itut these are not the only facts which justify these con- clusions against the Chinese autfuaritics; others still more significant, and which have only latterly manifested them- selves, constitute the most irrefutable proufs of their partí- sipation and complicity in the evige, Such are, the fore-
Note. The numbers inserted between parentheses refer to the Enclosures
in despatches addressed by Governor Bonham to The Earl
Grey
417
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