Page:The Forgotten in the Independence Process.pdf/16

 Lucia Maria Bastos Pereira das Neves The forgotten in the independence process: a history to be made

Almanack, Guarulhos, n. 25, ef00220, 2020 http://doi.org/10.1590/2236-463325ef00220 embark to Portugal with passports that the authorities rushed to provide. Other Portuguese left of their own free will.

In parallel, some news came to light and contributed to making the environment even more charged. The Correio de Rio de Janeiro, for example, accused one of the prisoners, Father José Pinto da Costa Macedo, known by the pseudonym of Filodemo, of plotting a terrible conspiracy against Brazilians.


 * This demo, devil or something below, or above, prepared the greatest scourge that could suggest to our disgrace the evil geniuses deliberating in council.


 * […]


 * going to the house of such a demo, a black man, a shoemaker, to take some boots by order of his master, and being received with much urbanity by the same demo, the latter, after closing the door, ordered him to sit next to him in the same chair and told him - not to be surprised because everyone was equal and citizens! That the Courts had decreed the freedom of slavery, and that S. A. R. hid those papers in order to preserve the infamous captivity of the citizens! May he share these truths with all his acquaintances and partners, so that they would get ready to kill their masters, when he demonstrated, the devil or monster of a human figure, declared to him that it was time; and offered him money and weapons!!!.

Considered by its postures of a more radical liberalism, it is unlikely that the Correio do Rio de Janeiro intended to frighten those in favor of Brazilian autonomy with this implausible news, based on the deepest fears of the slave-owning mentality, especially after the French Revolution and the revolt of Saint Domingos. However, it is curious that, using the main argument of several Portuguese authors Forum