No fio da navalha: a questão do tráfico internacional de escravos no Conselho de Estado

Abstract

This article analyzes the role played by the State Council of D. Pedro II in combating the international slave trade. Until the mid-1850s, the slave trade was presented as a problem of difficult resolution for Brazilian elites due to a number of factors: as constant threats from the English government, the importance of slave labor in the country's economic structure and in political lobby of slaves owners. England was asserting its economic and military status as a global power to impose on Brazil an end to the interatlantic slave trade. Due to the international pressures suffered by Brazil, the continuity of trafficking has become a matter of concern for national elites. The theme provoked a wide debate in the sessions of the Full Council. The English interventionist stance was severely criticized by the councilors for violating national sovereignty. From the Eusébio de Queiróz law, the Council of State acquired a new configuration not provided for the Constitution: to judge and punish, in the second instance, those involved in the slave trade. In order to guarantee effective punishment for traffickers and to appease the international pressure suffered by Brazil, the State Council tried to attract the processes related to trafficking to its jurisdiction. Punishing those involved in this type of trade was not an easy task due to the complicity and collusion of local authorities. The present text is part of doctoral research developed by the author when turning to the theme of slavery. At the theoretical level, the author seeks to realize an interface between the field of History and Social Sciences, particularly Political Science. This work uses a wide bibliographic collection, in addition to a series of primary sources, in particular, the Minutes of the Council of State.