The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1803-02-25 00:00:00

ACT OF MEDIATION

MADE THE FIRST CO VSUT. 01 THE TRENCH RE-
PUBLIC, BETWEEN THE PARTIES WHICH DIVIDE
SWITZERLAND.

BONAPARTE, FIRST COMM. OF ME REPUBLIC OF

ITALY, TO THE SWISS.

Helvetia, a prey to dissensions, was menaced
with dissolution; it contained not within itself the
means of re-constituting itself. The ancient affec-
tion of the French nation for this worthy people,
which it has recently defended by its arms, and
caused to be acknowledged by its treaties; the inte-
rest of France, and of the Italian Republic, the
frontiers of which is covered by Switzerland ; the
demand of the Senate; that of the democratic can-
tons; the entire wish of the people of Helvetia,
have imposed a duty upon us of interposing
our mediation between the parties which divide
it. The Senators BAILTHELEMY, RC DEREK,
Foucuz, and Mum-lira, have been commis-
sioned by us to confer with fifty-six Deputies of the
Helvetic Senate, and the towns, and cantons re-
united to Paris, in order to determine if Switzer-
land, united by Nature, could be retained under
central government, other wise than by force ; to
ascertain the sort of constitution, which was most
conformable to the wish of each canton ; to dis-
tinguish what will best suit the ideas of the new
cantons, respeaing liberty and happiness; to conci-
liate in the old cantons, the institutions consecrated
by time, with the rights restored to the mass of citi-
zens. Such were the objefts which it was necessary
to submit to examination and discussion. Their
importance and difficulty have determined us to
hear ourselves, ten Deputies named by the two par-
ties, to wit ; Citizens D'Afiy, Glutz, "'ouch, Mon-
not, Reinhart, Sprecher, Stapler, I.l‘..try, Wattrville,
and Vorylue; and we have weighed the result of
their discussions, as well with the different projetz pre-
sented by the Cantonal Deputations, as with the re-
sults of the discussions which have taken place be-
tween these Deputations, and those Senatorial Com-
missaries. Having thus employed every means of
ascertaining the interests and wish of the Swiss, WE,
in quality of Mediator, without any other view than
that of the happiness of the people, on whose inte-
rests we have to pronounce, and without prejudice
to the independence of Switzerland, decree as fol-
lows:

Here follow the particular Constitutions of the 19
Cantons, which occupy 19 Chapters. Then comes
Chapter XX. intitled FEDLIAL ACT.

TITLE 1.-GENERAL DISPOSITIONS.

Arr. I. The Nineteen Cantons of Switzerland, to wit : Ap-
peraell, Argovia, Berne, Fribourg, Glaris, Grisons,
Lucente, Saint Gall, Schaffouse, Schwiu, Soleure, Tessin,
Turgovia, Underwald, Uri, Vaud, Zug, and Zurich, are con-
federated with each other conformably to the principles estab-
lished in their respective constitutions. They mutu•al), gua-
rantee their Constitution, Territory, Liberty, and Indepen-
dence, whether against foreign powers, or the usurpation of a
canton, or a pr.vate faction.
11. The quotas of troops, or money, which may be necessary
for the execution of this guarantee, shall be furnished by each
Canton, in the following proportion.

Here follows the quota for each canton, in men
and money.

HI. There no longer exists in Switzerland any feuds, privi-
lege*: of places, birth, persons, or families.
IV. Every Citizen may pursue his inc►ination in removing his
household .o another Canton, and exercising his trade without
restraint : he acquires politiial rights conformably to the law
of the C into.' in which he is established; but be cannot enjoy
at once the political rights of two Cantons.
V. The ancient rights of interior and exterior impost are
abolished. The free circulation of viCtuab, cattle, and mer-
chandise is guaranteed. No right of grant, entry, passage,
or custom-house duty, may be established in the interior of
Switzerland. The Custom-house duties en the frontiers are
fur the benefit of the Cantons next to the frontiers, but the
tariffs must be submitted to the approbation of the Diet.
VI. Each Canton preserves the tolls destined for the repa-
ration of roads, drains, and canals. The tariffs must be also
submitted to the approbation of the Diet.
VII. Monies coined in Switzerland shall bear a uniform
stamp, which shall be determined by the Diet.
VIII. No Canton can afford an asyluin to a criminal legally
condemned, nor to an outlaw legally pursued.
IX. The number of hired troops ss hich a Canton may enter-
tain, is restrifted to 200 men.

X. Every alliance of one Calton with another, or with a
foreign power, is forbidden.

Xl. The GovPrnment or the Legislative Body of any Can-
ton, which violstes a decree of the Diet, may be denounced,
as in rebellioii, bei'ure a tribunal, composed of the Presidents
of all en: crininnal tribunals of all the other Cantons.

XII. The Cantons enjoy all the powers which have not been
expressly delegated to the federal authority.

TITLE IL-OF THE

CANTON.

XIII. The Diet assembles by turns, and, from one year to
another, at Fribourg, Berne, Soleure, Basle, Zurich and Lu-
cerne.

XIV. The Cantons of which those places are the capitals,
are to be successively DireCtorial Cantons: the year of the
Directorship commences from the Ist January.

XV. The Direetorial Canton furnishes the Deputies to the
Diet with lodging, and a guard of honour; it provides the ex-
pences of the Sittings.

XVI. The Intendant, or Burgomaster of the Dire Social
Canton, add; to his Title that of Landaminart of Switzerland;
he is Keeper of the Seal of the Helvetic Republic ; he must
not quit the city. The Grand Council of his Canton grants

him extraordinary honors, and defrays the extraordinary ex-
pencils attai:hed to this Magistracy.
XVII. Foreign Miniters girt in to the Landamman of
Switzerland, their letter of credence, or recal, and address to
him for negotiations. Ile is the intermediate person betwixt
the rat .r diplomatic relations

VII!. At the opening of the Diets he produces the do-
cuments which are in his hand, res.,,eflii.g the interior and ex-
terior affairs which concern the Federation.
XIX. No Canton, within irc If, can enrol snore than
500 Militia, without previou, notice to the Landamman.

XX. In aase of revolt, in the interior of a Canton, or any
other pressing occanin, tro..)ps are to march from one Canton
to another; but on:y on demand of the first or second Coun-
cil of the Canton which ‘l.,,mand- aid, and after having taken
the advice of the second C Anicil of the Directorial Canton.
saving a convoctrion-of th. 2 Diet after the repression of hosti-
lities, or if danger continues.
XXI. If, during the vacancies of the Diet, disputes arise hs
tween two at more Cantons, they are to be addressed to the
Landamman; who, according to the pressure of circumstances,
names conciliatory arbiters, or adjourns the dicussion to the
next Diet.

XXII. M. trams the Critins that, if their interior conduit
disturbs the tranluillity of Switzerland, or if any irregularity of
difference takes place among them, whether as to the Federal
Act Of their particular Constitution, he may then assemble
the Orand Council, or hands reireiwies, in places where the su-
preme authority is immediately exercised by the people.

XXIII. The Landamman sends, occasionally, inspectors to
examine roads and rivers. On those occasions he est:,editis
labour ; and, in case of necessity, fie puts in immediate execu-
tion, and, at the expetice of those who ought to finish them,
those which are not begun or finished at the time prescnhed.

mm.

XXIV. His siglatore gives credit, and a national stamp to
the acts M which it is Aihrici ibed.

TITLE 111.-OF THE DIET.

XXV. Every Canton shall send a Deputy to the Diet, t•
which inay b • added one or two Counsellors to replace him in
cas, of abwneei or sickness.

XXVi. The Deputies to the Diet have instructions and li-
mit,•d powen, a.id they are not to vote contrary to their in-
struetions

XXVII. The Landainman of Switzerland is of right Deputy
of Th., Director of the Canton.

XXVIII. The nineteen Deputies who compose the D:et
form twenty-five vote; in the deliberations.

tion.

The Deputies of the Cantons, whose population
is more than 100,0u0 inhabitants, namely, those of
Berne, Zurich, Vaud, Saint Gall, Argovie and Gri-
sons, have each two votes.

The Deputies of the Cantons, whose population
is above loO,OCK) souls; namely, Tessin, De Lu-
cerne, Thurgovie, Fribourg, Appenzell, Soleure,
Bale, Schwitz, Glaris, Schaffouso, Underwald,
Zug, and Uri, have each but one vctc.

XXIX. The Diet over which the Landamman of Swit-
zerland presides, shad assemble the first Monday in June, and
its Session shall not exceed the term of one month.
300 C. There sh-til be extraordinary Diets.
1. On the demand of a neighbouring Power, or of one of
the Cantons, conv,!yed by the Grand Council of the Direeor
of the Canton, who is convoked to that effect, should it be
during a period of vacation.
2. Upon the recommendation of the Grand Council, or o
the Lans gcmcind .s of F.vc Cantons, who may deem as well
founded a demand wbich the Direeor of the Canton has re-
fused to admit.

Si When they shall be convoked by the Landamman of
Switzerland.

XXXI The declarations of war, and the treaties of peace or
alliance, shall proceed from the Diet, but the consent of three-
fourths of the Cantons is necessary.
XXXII. It shall alone conclude treaties of commerce and
capitulations for foreign service. It may authorize the Can-
tons, if necessary, to treat particularly on other subjetts with a
foreign Power.
XXXII!. There shall be no recruiting in any Canton, for a
foreign Power, without consent.

XXXIV. The Diet shall order the contingent of troops, de-
termined for each Canton, for the 11th Article. It shall nomi-
nate the Gener.il who is to command them; and it shall also
take the necessary measures fbr the safety of Switzerland, and
the execution of the other dispositions of the Ist Article. It
has the same right If disturbances arise in one Canton, and
menace the repose of the others.
XXXV. It shall nominate, and send extraordinary Ambas-
sadors.

XXXVI. It decides on the disputes which happen between
the Cpittons, if they have not been determined by arbitration.
For this purpf)se it Is formed into a Syndicate, at the end of
its ordinary labors; but then each Deputy hak A voice, and
no instructions can be given to him in this respect.
XXXVII. The press orrbarix of the Diet are entered into
two Registries, one of which remains with the directorial Can-
ton ; and the other, with the state seal, is, at the end of De-
cember, transported to the capital of the directorial Canton.
XXX VIII. A Chancellor, and a Secretary, named by the
Diet for two Years, and paid by the directorial Canton, conform-
ably to the regulations of the Diet, follow always the seal and
the register.
XXXIX. The Constitution of each Canton, written on
parchment, and sealed with the seal of the Canton, shall be
deposited among the archives of the Diet.
XL. The present Federal AEI, as well as the particular eon.
stitutions of the Nineteen Cantons, annul all former disposi-
tions which are contrary to them ; and ally law, as to what
concerns the interior regulation of the Cantons, and their
conneetion with each other, cannot be founded on the old po-
litical state of Switzerland.

The repose of Switzerland, the success of the new
institutions which are about to be formed, demand
that the necessary operations to give them success
eventually, and transmit to new magistracies the
cue of the public weal, be guaranteed from the in-
fluence of passions, exempt from every thing which
might put them at variance, and executed with 'mo-
deration, impartiality, and wisdom. A suitable
beginning one be eipeaed, but from Commis-

h

saries named by the very a$ of mediation, aad an:.
mated by the same spirit which has dictated it.

For these considerations
Wz, in our aforesaid quality, and with the before-
mentioned reserve, decree as follows :
ART. 1. For the year 1803, the Threelorial Canton in Fri.
hourg.

Ii Citizen Louis d'Affry, is Landarnman of Switzerland for
this year, and clothed with extraorstinuy powers till the re-
union of the Diet.

The original a 9 of mediation shall be sent to the Lan-
damman, to be by him deposited in the archives of the Direc-
torial Canton.

IV. In each Canton, a commission of seven Members,
one of whom to be named by us, and six designated by the
ton deputies named to confer with us, is charged to carry
the Constitution into ere/ft, and administer accordingly.
V. These Committees are composed as fol!ows.
Here follows the names of the persons composing
these Committees in the several Cantons.
VI. The 10th of March next, the Central Government
shall dissolve itself, after having remitted its papers and archives
to the Landamman.

VII. Each Commission shall asscmtle on the 10th March,
at the capital of the Canton, and shall notify its assert bly to
the Prefea.

VIII. Twenty-four hours after the assembly, the Prefee
shell send to the Commission the papers of the Admillistra •
tion,

IX. In cases which may require instruetions, or spec 41 Au-
th or ties, Commissions shall be addressed to the Lsndam-

X. The 15th of April the Constitution shall he in adtivitY
by the Ist June every Canton shall have named its Deputies to
the Dict, and digested its instruetions ; and•the first Monday
of July, of the present year, the Diet shall assenyale.
XT. The business, dependilg on the Suprethe Tribunal,
shall be turned over to the Trihunal of Appeal of the Canton to
which the parties belong. The Supreme Tribunal shall cease
all funCtions on the 10th March.

Xll. The Helvetic troops now in Swiss pay, which shall
not be employed to the Ist May by the Cantons, shall be taken
into the service of France.

XIII. No prosccutilns can take place for crimes relating to
the Revolution,committed, or pretended to be committed,vrhe-
ther by private persons, or those exercising a public func-

The dissolution of the Central Government, and
the reintegration of Sovereignty in the Cantons, re-
quiring a provision for discharging the debts of
Helvetia, and the disposal of the property declared
national.

We, in our aforesaid quality, and with the reserve
before-mentioned, decree as follows :
Here follow nine Articles of a decree for that
purpose ; after which it declares, that the present
act, the result of long conferences between wise
and well-disposed minds, appears to us to contain
the properest dispositions to assure the pacifica-
tion, and the happiness of the Swiss. As soon as
they shall have been executed, the French troops
shall be withdrawn.

We acknowledge Helvetia, constituted according
to the present aft, as an independent power.
We guarantee the federal constitution, and that
of each Canton, against the enemies of the tran.
quillity of Helvetia, whoever they be ; and we pro-
mise to continue the relations of amity which, dur-
ing several ages, have united the two Nations.
Done and executed at Paris, the 30th Pluvoise,
An. 11. (Feb. 19, 1803.)
( S igned) BONAPARTE.
The Secretary of State,
(Signed) H. B. MARET.

The Minister of Foreign
Relations, (Signed)
C. M. TALLEYRAND•

The Minister of Exte-
rior Relations of the
Helvetic Republic,

(Signed) J. MAILESCA.LCHI.

The present Mt Las been remitted by the Sena-
torial Commissaries undersigned, to the ten under
signed Swiss Deputies, at Paris, this 3u Pluvoise An.
11. (19 Feb. 1803.)
(Signed)
BARTHELEMY,
RcenEREK,
Foticu Et
DSMEUNIER.

(Signed)

Louis D'AFFRY,
PIERRE GLUTZ,
EMMANULL JAUCH,
H. MONNOT,
REINHART,
SPRECHER BERNEOG,
P. A. STAPFER,
t.AIRrL USTEEY,
s.DE WATTavaLz DE
5,42 NT DENA To
10. VON FLEE.

IS RUSSELS, TEE. 16.

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Theauxiliary troops, in the pay of the Batavian Re-
public,will be immediately reduced to two demi-bri.
gades, by virtue of a new arrangement, which has been
agreed upon between the two Governmonts. 'niece
two deem-brigades will remain a year longer in
Holland ; the other French corps which are in this
Republic are to repair to the United Departments of
Belgium. We learn from Rotterdam, that the na-
vigation of the Meuse being re-opeo ty the thaw,
the preparations for the embark Jestined for
Louisiana are resumed with thiviArieral
Cr-
SAR BERTUIER, Chief of the Stag 9 is to re-
pair to Helvoctsluys to accelerate then. We, how-
ever, think that the armament cannot set sail for
its destination before the end of March.
Letters from Frankfort, of the 14th FeLruary,
mention, that according to a public print, tbt FIRST
CONSUL has declared to different Courts, dwelt agree.
ably to his formal resolution, the towns of Augs.
burg and Nuremberg shall not be annexed to Bava.
ria, but shall tongue to be free Imperial Cities.

RIR

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