Benjamin Moran to João de Andrade Corvo, January 5, 1876

Mr. Moran to Mr. Corvo.

Sir: I hasten to acknowledge the receipt of your excellency’s note of the 1st instant, expressing in warm language the satisfaction with which His Most Faithful Majesty’s government has received the remarks made by the President of the United States of America in his last annual message, congratulating Portugal and the civilized world on the promulgation of the law of April 29, 1875, by which speedy emancipation is given to the slaves in all the colonies of the Portuguese monarchy, and by which the state of slavery there has been abolished in perpetuity; and I shall not fail to comply with your excellency’s wish, and promptly convey to my Government the deep sense of admiration entertained by His Majesty’s government for the sentiments which the President has been pleased to express upon this humane and just proceeding.

I observe with pleasure that His Majesty’s government joins with President Grant in earnest prayers that the time may be near when the notion may be wholly repudiated that man can subject his fellow-man to bondage; and I am sure that my Government will receive this expression of the sentiments of Portugal in regard to slavery with feelings of the liveliest satisfaction.

I avail myself of the occasion to renew to your excellency the assurances of my highest consideration, and am, sir, &c.,