In mid-1823, José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva's cabinet fell. The once all-powerful minister — responsible for a crackdown that exiled opponents and shut down newspapers in October 1822 — was now an opponent of Pedro I, whom he had so closely advised during the years of Independence. Discredited, the dismissed Bonifácio was an easy target for the Rio press. Since newspapers were the space where his name was being disparaged, José Bonifácio entered the arena and, in August, launched his own newspaper, O Tamoyo.
The name indicated the direction its editorial line pointed to. The so-called “Tamoio confederation” was a kind of native alliance against the Portuguese invaders in the early days of colonization. The Tamoios were the indigenous people of the coast of Rio de Janeiro — possibly also from other regions —, mostly Tupinambás, who put up strong resistance against the Portuguese who sought to settle in Guanabara Bay.
Figure 1 — Icon Regis Quoniambec [Representation of King Cunhambebe, one of the Tamoio leaders], illustration from the work Monstrorum Historia: Cum Paralipomenis historiae omnium animalium, by Ulisse Aldrovandi. 1642. Wikimedia Commons
Image description: The image is a black-and-white engraving. It shows a figure dressed in traditional attire, possibly of indigenous origin. The figure stands with feet together, pointing to the right with the index finger. The figure holds a bow and arrows in the left and right hands, respectively. Its attire includes a feathered headband, a band of ornaments across the chest, and a feather skirt. The background is white, with no additional details. In the upper left corner, there is the number "108" and the text "lysis Aldrouandi." At the top, it reads "Icon Regis Quoniambee."The choice of this title, therefore, sought to revive a past idea that represented the nationalist (and anti-Portuguese) sentiment that José Bonifácio came to nurture throughout 1823. In the first edition, an article pointed to something like an "editorial line" of O Tamoyo: the native is not savage. The villages were "all equally free, all independent; and the inner conviction of their freedom was so strong in them that many preferred death to barbarous European slavery." In the text, José Bonifácio was referring to the "first inhabitants" of this country; but implicitly the article was shouting out to the Brazilians of 1823. Bonifácio's rhetorical nationalism became one of the main characteristics of his periodical.
O Tamoyo's guiding principle was to defend the honor of José Bonifácio. It did so while simultaneously defending itself against accusations and counterattacking rivals. In addition, it built a valorous (self-)image of his role in Brazil's political emancipation process. The pages of Tamoyo are, to a large extent, responsible for the memory of Bonifácio as the "hero of Independence."
Figura 2 — The hero of Brazil's independence: José Bonifácio de Andrade e Silva: dedicated to your friends, author not identified. 1832. Fundação Biblioteca Nacional [icon323485]
Image description: The image is a black and white engraving. In the center, there is an oval portrait of a man wearing a dark blue suit with gold buttons and a white collar. He holds a document with both hands. Below the portrait, there is text in Portuguese that reads: "O HERÓI DA INDEPENDÊNCIA DO BRASIL" ("THE HERO OF BRAZIL'S INDEPENDENCE"). The text is in capital letters and is followed by a signature in cursive handwriting. The date "18850" is written above the text.The newspaper supported the Andrada brothers' projects, which is to say it was also support for the actions of José Bonifácio and his brothers — who were also public figures —, Antônio Carlos and Martim Francisco Ribeiro de Andrada, in the Constituent Assembly.
Its content generally consisted of a single article, running across its four pages. In the text, comments were aimed at a political event of the week. Initially, the periodical came off the press on Tuesdays, but it is possible that, due to a popularity the newspaper had gained, its frequency also increased, being printed three times a week.
Figure 3 — First edition of O Tamoyo. August 12, 1823. Fundação Biblioteca Nacional
Image description: The image is a page from an old newspaper, dated Tuesday, August 12, 1823. The page is predominantly white with black text. At the top is the title "O TAMOYO" in capital letters. Below the title is a date and a quotation attributed to Voltaire and Alzire. The main text is aligned left and right, with some lines set off by decorative dashes.As it is understood, the first interview of the national press appeared in O Tamoyo. The interviewee was, in the newspaper's words, a "rare and excellent patriot who is our Velho do Rocio" — that is, none other than José Bonifácio himself. Making use of this narrative style, the interview was effective self-promotion, since a game of questions and answers with a stacked deck is a guaranteed victory for the interviewee. "So have you decided to suffer in silence what a vile band of scheming, crooked vultures keeps swooping down on you, as if you were a carcass in a dung heap?" "'Yes,' he answered me, 'because I don't want to disturb my peace, which is the most substantial thing there is in this world.'"
José Bonifácio publicly stated that his plan was to retire in order to devote more time to his studies — that was, in fact, his true profession: scientist — in his hometown, Santos. If these were indeed his goals, his plans fell through. November 11, 1823 would become the date of the last issue of O Tamoyo. In the early hours of that night into the following day, the Constituent Assembly was shut down by Pedro I, in an event that went down in history as "A Noite da Agonia" ("The Night of Agony"). Among those who were sentenced, José Bonifácio and his brothers received exile as punishment, and the Andrada e Silva brothers' opposition to d. Pedro was brought to a halt.
The public life of José Bonifácio and his brothers would still gain new chapters upon their return to Brazil. Antônio Carlos and Martin Andrade served as provincial deputies — but were also involved in federal-level politics. And in a new episode of the troubled relationship with the emperor, Pedro I personally entrusted José Bonifácio with the guardianship of his son, the future Pedro II — at the time, only 5 years old. O Tamoyo, however, would never circulate again.
Bibliographic References
DOLHNIKOFF, Miriam. José Bonifácio. The Defeated Patriarch. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2012
ENDERS, Armelle. A história do Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro: Gryphus Editora, 2015.
LUSTOSA, Isabel. Insultos impressos: the war of journalists during Independence, 1821-1823. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2000.
NALINI, José Renato. Many Lives in One: José Bonifácio de Andrada e Silva. São Paulo: Academia Paulista de Letras; Imprensa Oficial do Estado de São Paulo, 2020.
PEDREIRA, Jorge Miguel Viana; COSTA, Fernando Dores. D. João VI: a prince between two continents. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2008.
SODRÉ, Nelson Werneck. História da imprensa no Brasil. Rio de Janeiro: Maud, 1999.
