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

Ceng'ress, in replacing that canton under the rule
of the King of Prussia, could never have had the
intention of guaranteeing to him the unchanged
possession of it ) for it was not to be supposed that
the various nations of the great family of Europe
were not to preserve their primordial right of
modifying their government and changing their
institutions. An exceptional system could not
have been in contemplation for Neuchatel and
Switzerland, and the proof was, that not a
single canton of the Swiss Confederation remained
without having profoundly modified the constitu-
tions which existed in 1815. Neuchatel, like the
rest, had set aside an aristocracy which, in the
name of a foreign sovereign, directed all public
affairs; the people thought fit to substitute for
them, its own representatives, and nothing in such
a substitution constituted a violation of the Treaty
of Vienna. It was not to be forgotten that the
Congress of Vienna, added to the Swiss Confe-
deration three new cantons—the Valais, the terri-
tory of Geneva and the Principality of Neuchatel;
and declared the whole 22 cantons to be perfectly
neutral and inviolable. Unfortunately the form of
government which erzisted in Neuchatel was not
in harmony with that of the other confederate
cantons, and prevented them from deriving from
the union all the advantages which might have
been expected. In fact, Neuchatel had been a
cause of weakness and trouble to Switzerland, and
it was only since the reconstitution of the canton,
according to the principles prevailing in the rest of
the Confederation, that Switzerland has been able
to arrive at her full strength ; and, to follow such
a policy as was in conformity both with her own
views and those of Europe.
By the modification thus effected, Switzerland
has neither augmented her territory nor altered
her frontiers ; she has merely realised the wishes
of the great Powers, as expressed at the Congress
of Vienna, by drawing more closely the bonds of
her federative system. On the 18th of June, 1814,
Frederic William 111 consented that the execution
of such engagements as the State of Neuchatel
might contract, as member of the Confederation,
should be the exclusive concern of the Government
of the canton, without there being any necessity
for an ulterior sanction or ratification. It was only
on that express condition that the canton was
received into the Helvetic Confederation. It was
in conformity with the power so given that the
change took place in 1848, and that the Federal
Diet, by a unanimous vote, guaranteed the new
Constitution. Respect for the cantonal Sovereignty
alone actuated the Federal authorities, and the Act
of Union of 1815 served as their rule of action. It
is, therefore, with good reason that they decline all
representations on the part of Prussia.
The document then proceeds to declare that
Switzerland, being independent, can introduce
into her internal government any modification she
pleases, either in the whole of her States in any
one of them. In the special case now under con-
sideration, the kingdom of Prussia has neither lost
a province, or the Swiss Confederation gained one.
Neuchatel has been neither conquered nor absorb
ed ; its nationality has not been weakened, though
public liberties have been strengthened and ex-
tended. The change in 1848 has been accpted by
Europe, and it is now to be presumed that she
will not withdraw from what she has acceded to.
Would it be seasonable to require from Switzerland
to renounce a political system that suits her,
and to substitute for it the dangerous anomalies
which had existed in Neuchatel when a canton-
principality ? That could not be expected. Could
the intention be to detatch Neuchatel from Switzer,
land, and to form the canton into a seperate state •
To do so would be to annihilate the articles of the
treaty of 1815, which guaranteed, in the interest of
Europe, the integrity of the Swiss territory with ,
Neuchatel as part of it. But would Prussia her-
self gain by having Neuchatel in her power ?
Certainly not, for the possession of that princi
pality never brought to Prussia either any as-
sistance in money or in military force ; the
canton never formed part of the kingdom of Prussia
nor of the Germanic Confederation ; and the
Royal favours which certain families in Neuchatel
frequently received were always considered by the
Prussian people as bestowed on foreigners. The
civil list arising from the revenues of the
principality never reached the sum of 100,000 f,
and the whole was absorbed in the country itself
by certain charges which the King imposed on
himself. It is indubitable, therefore, that no mate-
rial advantages could arise to Prussia from the
possession of Neuchatel, and no compensation
could accrue to the King from the prestige which he
might exercise in Switzerland, from being connected
with Neuchatel, for his name never had any other
effect than to arouse mistrust throughout the entire
Swiss Confederation.
The document then declares that the protocol of
London in favour of the King of Prussia cannot
weaken in any i espect the preponderant stipulation
which concern the independence and neutrality of
Switzerland. Since 1848, when Neuchatel changed
her constitution and united her fate more intimately
with that of the other cantons, Switzerland had
remained tranquil and prosperous, and the public
right of Europe would not permit a mere satisfac-
tion to be given to the King of Prussia at the cost
of compromising one or other of these fundamental
clauses with which the peace of Europe was inti-
mately connected. It was because Switzerland
had acquired each year a fresh importance that
the Congress of Paris declined taking into consi-
deration the question of Neuchatel, as calculated
to disturb a state of things so highly satisfac-
tory. If the insurrection of the 3d of September
should lead the great Powers to seek out means
for definitively regulating the difficulty pro-
duced by the contrary stipulations relative to
Neuchatel, could the issue of their deliberations be
a moment doubtful, at ale period when the treaty
of Paris had shown in the clearest light the disin-
terestedness and lofty wisdom of the various go-
vernments, their respect for nationalities, and their
anxiety for the happiness of the populations ?
Switzerland did not think so, nor did the public in
general ; for if the hope prevailed of seeing the
diplomatic negotiations end happily, it was with
the conviction that they could not have any other
base than the absolute independence of Neuchatel
from all foreign ties.
The Three per Cents. closed to-day at 68f for
the end of the month ; and the Four and a Half
at 92f 250. Orleans Railway shares, 1,320 f ; Great
Northern, 9661 25c ; Strasburg, 842 f 50e ; New
Shares, 775 f; Paris and Lyons, 1,367 f 50c; Lyons
to the Mediterranean, 1,785 f ; Western of France,
870 f; Bordeaux and Cette, 770 f; ditto New Shares,
785 f ; Great Central of France, 637 f 50c; Lyons
and Geneva, 76)1; Bank of Credit Mobilier, 1,535 f;
Austrian Railways, 825 f.
tours Authentique.—PAßlS Dec. 10.—Cash Prices.—
Four-and- a-Half per Cents, 87f ; ditto (not reimbursable
for 10 years), 92f 91f 50c ; Four per Cents, 80f ; Three
per Cents, (shut Dec, 6, at 69f 40c), for Dec. 22, 68f 67f
90c 80c 70c ; ditto Loan of 1855 (90 per cent paid), 67f
80c ; ditto Certificates (90 per cent paid), 67f 50e ;
Bank of France, 4,100 f • Credit Fencier, 645 f 640 f ;
ditto Obligations of 500 f, Four per Ceuts, 445 f 450 f ;
ditto Three per Cents, 400 f ; ditto Tenths, Four per
Cents, 95f ; ditto Three per Cents, 85f ; Prom.
Obligations of I,ooof, Three per Cents, 940 f ; Credit
Mobilier, 1,660 f 1,545 f 1,546 f 25c 1,540 f 1,535 f;
Piedmontese Five per Cents, 93f 93f 50e ; ditto Three
per Cents, 57f ; Belgian Four-and-a-Half per Cents,
971 ; Spanish Interior Debt, 38ii 38. Exchange on
London, at sight, money, 25f 20e ; three months, money,
24f 774 e.