In the constitution, also, Church and State were declared absolutely separate, and civil marriage was prescribed.
Well adapted as the constitution was to the particular needs of Brazil, the Government erected under it had to contend awhile with political disturbances.

Though conflicts occurred between the president and the Congress, between the federal authority and the States, and between the civil administration and naval and military officials, none were so constant, so prolonged, or so disastrous as in the Spanish American republics.

Even when elected by the connivance of government officials, the chief magistrate governed in accordance with republican forms.
Presidential power, in fact, was restrained both by the huge size of the country and by the spirit of local autonomy upheld by the States.
Ever since the war with Paraguay the financial credit of Brazil had been impaired.

The chronic deficit in the treasury had been further increased by a serious lowering in the rate of exchange, which was due to an excessive issue of paper money.

In order to save the nation from bankruptcy Manoel Ferraz de Campos Salles, a distinguished jurist, was commissioned to effect an adjustment with the British creditors.