Later years Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias

the duke of caxias @ age 71, 1875

paranhos, viscount of rio branco, led cabinet 1871 1875. 2 serious crises arose challenged viability , undermined foundations of monarchy. first resulted controversy on law of free birth, caxias voted for. law emancipate children born slave women after enactment. half of conservative party members supporting bill , other half staunchly opposed, serious rift opened in ranks. opponents represented interests of powerful coffee farmers such caxias, planters had long been main political, social, , economic supporters of conservative party.

the second crisis religious question, developed after government came conflict 2 bishops had ordered freemasons expelled lay brotherhoods. dispute grew out of proportion when both bishops convicted , given prison sentences disobeying government s order rescind expulsions. catholicism state religion, emperor exercised, papacy s acquiescence, great deal of control on church affairs—paying clerical salaries, appointing parish priests, nominating bishops, ratifying papal bulls, , overseeing seminaries. result of furor on handling of affair, rio branco , cabinet resigned, disunited , weary after 4 years in office , according historian roderick j. barman. pedro ii asked caxias form new cabinet. duke later gave remarkable account of meeting:

believe when entered carriage go são cristóvão, summoned emperor, determined not accept. he, saw me, embraced me , said me not let me go unless told him accept post of minister , that, if refused service, summon liberals , have tell responsible consequence, while encircling me arms. pointed out him circumstances, age, , infirmity; concurred in nothing. free myself him, should have had shove him off, , not do. bowed head , said wanted sure have cause regret, since not minister long, because die work , troubles. however, listened nothing , told me should must not abandon him, since in case abandon , go away.

the elderly caxias, 72 , widowed since 1874, in poor health , serve figurehead president of government formed on 25 june 1875. cotejipe de facto president. caxias-cotejipe cabinet attempted dissipate discord created previous cabinet. measures included financial aid coffee farmers, amnesty convicted bishops, and, please pro-slavery conservatives, selection of new ministers , call elections. caxias, freemason staunch catholic, threatened resign if emperor did not grant amnesty, pedro ii grudgingly issued in september 1875.

death

caxias around age 74, c. 1877

at end of 1877, pedro ii paid visit caxias , ascertained no longer remain in office. entire cabinet resigned on 1 january 1878. health problems had become troubling had been asking repeatedly resign since 1876. caxias not afflicted concerns on declining health, increasingly felt sense of alienation. did not feel play relevant role in politics. belonged older generation perceived emperor (and consequently, monarchy) essential holding nation together.

the new politicians had begun dominate government had little memory of times before pedro ii assumed control in 1840. unlike predecessors, had no experience of regency , years of pedro ii s reign, when external , internal dangers threatened nation s existence; had known stable administration , prosperity. young politicians saw no reason uphold , defend imperial office unifying force beneficial nation. times changing fast, , caxias aware of situation. became increasingly nostalgic former times had spent now-dead conservative party colleagues , held pessimistic view of future political prospects. when itaboraí—one of last survivors of conservative leaders had begun careers during 1830s—died in 1872, duke wrote friend: replace him? don t know, cannot see ... vacuum left not filled, not eusébio, paraná, uruguai, manuel felizardo , many others helped sustain little church [i.e., monarchy, second faith ], collapsed or collapsed on 7 april 1831.

confined wheelchair health declined, duke of caxias lived remaining days @ santa mônica farm, located near town of valença, in countryside of rio de janeiro province. on 7 may 1880 @ 11 pm quietly died, attended members of family. saddened pedro ii (who visited caxias several times during long illness) remarked friend of half century , had known him, , esteemed him since 1832. 76, 77 years old. , remain in world. caxias asked simple funeral, no pomp, no honors, no invitations, , 6 soldiers of conduct carry coffin. last wish not entirely respected: pedro ii sent carriage used funerals of members of imperial family only, followed sixteen servants of imperial household, , 1 corporal , thirteen, not six, soldiers of conduct carry remains. huge procession followed funeral (attended pedro ii) , body laid rest in são francisco de paula cemetery in city of rio de janeiro.