“Words Unleashed from the Rostrum have a very Far Reach, which Cannot Always be Predicted”: Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcelos, an Eloquent Jurist?

Abstract

Bernardo Pereira de Vasconcellos was one of the most important characters from the Empire of Brazil. He held many positions and chairs in Brazilian public life (he was a general deputy, senator, State Advisor, Finance Minister, Justice and Empire Minister, inter alia) and is considered as one of the founders of Brazil. Although he graduated in Law, he is best-know as a legislator, politician, and journalist than as a jurist. This article aims to investigate the possibility of applying the “eloquent jurist” concept to this important figure: a small step towards a wider comprehension of what we call “Brazilian legal culture”.