The deputy Mouzinho da Silveira in the 1826-1828 portuguese chartist legislature: the paths of the Ocasion

Abstract

The arrival of the corvette Lealdade (Loyalty) to the Lisbon docks in July 1826, marked a new era for Portugal. Bearer of a constitution text granted by D. Pedro, which was brought by anything but an innocent english mail – Lord Charles Stuart, the british plenipotentiary minister, who informed London in advance of the content of decrees – intended to mark a new time, according to the liberal winds that swept beyond the Pyrenees. During the achievement of one of its procedures, the census elections took place. Instrument of a rising rural and commercial bourgeoisie, the legislative power showed during its exercise, its limitations between what is liberalism and be liberal, as a result of its political and social ambitions.
Among the ones elected by the Alentejo province was the owner, José Xavier Gomide Mouzinho da Silveira, born in Castelo de Vide, a moderated liberal person with a fruitful professional and political activity until then. His participation in the Chartists Courts was rich in interventions, either personally and collective, during the committee meetings. Nonetheless, his parliamentary contributions were forgotten due to various circumstances. Here lies the purpose of this work: to make his contributions to the Chamber to be known, and to give focus on the contribution of his manifestations and legal proposals during the debates by suggesting a liberal model of society, or so-called liberal, without forgetting the political and professional influences, until then internalised.