The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-12-31 00:00:00

SWITZERLAND.

The following are the proceedings of the first
sitting of the Federal Assembly at Berne, Saturday,
27th D?cember.
The Session was opened by a speech from M.
Martin, the President, in the following terms :
.‘ Three months have scarcely elapsed since you
declared that the Republicans of Neufchatel had
deserved well of the country, for having alone
triumphed over the royalist revolt of the 3rd Sep-
tember. Since then events have marched, the
position has become worse ; it is no longer Neuf-
chatel, it is all Switzerland that is in question.
The Federal Council thought it necessary to
convoke you again, to take measures demanded by
the circumstances in which the country is placed.
Justice followed its course tranquilly to discover
not only the authors but the instigators of
the rebellion of September, and to apply the
punishment laid down by law for factions,
who in arms by night disturbed the public peace,
and endeavoured to overthrow the constitution of the
country. A foreign prince, the King of Prussia,
has demanded of Switzerland the liberation of the
prisoners—consequently the acknowledgment of
his rights over the principality of Neufchatel. This
demand could not be admitted without abdicating
our rights as a sovereign state—as a free and
independent nation. That which the King of
Prussia could not obtain he wishes to impose on us
by force of arms. Under this menace the opinion
of Switzerland could not be doubtful. At the first
news a single cry escaped from the heart of all the
children of the country—a unanimous burst of
enthusiasm showed that the Swiss people has not
degenerated, that they are worthy of their ancestors
and of their liberty. We may joyfully affirm that
throughout, the people and the government are
animated by the most ardent patriotism, and are
ready to make every sacrifice for the defence of our
independence. Whatever their public opinion,
they aro all united in the same feeling, that of the
danger of the country. Happy the country which
can thus count on her children. Moreover, the
cause for which we are to fight is a holy cause,
that of liberty; it is the principle of the sovereignty
of the people upon which rests our Con-
stitution, fighting against the worn out principle
of divine right supported by the treaties of 1815,
a thousand times torn by our adversary who invokes
them to-day. Let us know how to maintain in our
deliberations the calm and dignity which become
an assembly of the representatives of a free people,
and avoid even the semblance of fanfaronade.
What the country wants is acts. Lot our decisions
bear the impress of republican energy. Let us not
recoil before any sacrifice—that is the surest way
of guaranteeing our liberty, of maintaining our
independence, and saving our country. We know
that the entire people are with us. We have
reached a crisis when the national existence of
Switzerland is at stake. May the God of our
fathers enable us to issue from it with honour ;
and if the danger pass away, may this crisis con-
tribute to still more strengthen concord among all
the sons of our country, and the patriotism of her
children. God protect Switzerland ! God bless
Switzerland ! "
The assemblage then proceeded to the election
of a new President, and afterwards to the
nomination of the Commission on the Neufchatel
question.
g telegraphic despatch has been
The followin
received at Paris :

"BERNE, Dee. 28.
" Conformably to a decision of the Federal
Assembly, a commission of 11 members has been
appointed to prepare a report on the situation of
affairs.
" The Federal Assembly adjourned without dis-
solving itself definitively.
"The proposition of the Emperor of the French
relative to a mediation which was spoken of, has
not yet been received.
" The Federal Council has given orders for the
speedy organisation of the Landwehr.
Councillor Furrer has left for Frankfort, and
Councillor Frey for Basle. The missions with
which they are charged probably contain a common
proposition.
I\l. BarMatill, the Swiss Envoy at the Court of
the Tuileries, has arrived hero. Hopes are enter-
tained of peace."
A letter from Constance, in the Swabian Mercury,
says :
" The Prusso-Swiss difficulty has placed us all ae
t
once in a very disagreeable position ; for sinc
yesterday, measures have been taken to fortify the
town on the side of Switzerland, and to construct
redoubts. The military authorities have borrowed
from the municipal administration the necessary
tools, while awaiting supplies from Carlsruhe.
The military posts have been augmented, and
patrols are stationed along the frontier. On the
other hand, a Swiss corps has arrived at Kreuz
lingen and Emisdorf, opposite the town of Con-
stance."
Under date of 26th December, the Federal
Council of Switzerland addressed a message to the
High Federal Assembly, concerning the Neufchatel
Question.
After stating that it had intimated its willingness
to effect an amicable settlement through the bons
offices of France or England, but that it had de-
clined to liberate the prisoners though asked to do
so by France, by Austria, and by Russia, the mes-
sage says :
"In the course of October the affair seemed
about to enter a phasis favourable to Switzerland,
thanks to the benevolent efforts of the English
Government. On the 25th of the said month the
British Legation asked whether the Federal Coun-
cil would consent to the immediate liberation of
the Neufchatel prisoners in ease the King of
Prussia would give to France and England the
confidential assurance that he would renounce his
claims to the sovereignty of Neufchatel on the
ollowing conditions :
" 1. That he should continue to bear the title of
Prince of Neufchatel.
" 2. That he should remain in possession of all
his private property in the canton of Neufchatel.
"3. That certain religious and charitable
establishments, in which the King took a lively
interest, should be placed beyond all harm.
" The reply which we made to that verbal
note is dated 29th October.
" We commenced by expressing our thanks to
the British Government for the kind interest it
had manifested in the Neufchatel question, as well
as for the friendly disposition it had displayed.
We declared ourselves disposed, so much as it
depended upon us, after having received the adhe-
sion of the Government of Neufchatel to the over-
tures which bad been made, to accept the points