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The Conselho Ultramarino’s First Legislative Attempts to Solve the Indian Question in America, 1643–1647

1958; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 14; Issue: 03 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1017/s0003161500009275

1533-6247

Mathias C. Kiemen,

American Constitutional Law and Politics

The Conselho Ultramarino in Portugal was created by King João IV in 1642 although there is some doubt that it functioned effectively until the following year in December. Certain it is that the king despatched an alvará under date of December 22, 1643, directed to all parts of the empire, telling all officials to send directly to the Council all correspondence concerning overseas provinces. The first order of business for the fledgling Council was to request the king to clear up certain vague remarks in the founding regimento concerning their power. This regimento of 1642 had been based upon that given by Philip II in 1604 at the founding of the short-lived Conselho da India but contained important omissions, which seemed to lessen the scope of the new council and led to innumerable questions of authority between the Conselho and the Mesa da Consciencia e Ordens in matters ecclesiastical.