The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-09 00:00:00

S WIT ZERLAND..

- • -----
The Basle Gazette publishes the following report
of the proceedings in the National Council on the
3d inst.
" The order of the day was the discussion on the peti-
tion of the popular meetiag of Poesieux. M. Escher,
reporter of the committee to which it had been referred,
said, The political agitation and the petitioning, in the
canton of Friburg, are the renewal of the political
sigruggle which we considered to be at an end
with the Sonderbund. The constitution of Fri-
burg, the basis of which is perfectly legal, is one
of the most liberal in Switzerland, and the Govern-
ment, by whicg it is faithfully and zealously executed,
is entitled to praise. M. Charts himself voted at the
time that the Constitution of Friburg should not be
sulenekted to the approbation of the people. The Con-
stitution of Friburg of 1831, as well as those of Schwytz,
Zug, St. Gall, and Neuchatel, and the anterior coestitu-
Mons cf Soleare and Basle Country contain clauses rela-
tive to the mode of revision similar to those of the
present Constitution of Friburg, which its opponents
are attemp:ing to discredit. The members of the Com-
mittee of Poesieux were for the most part the warmest
partizans of the Sonderbund in 1847. It is easy to
understand the language of those hypocritical preachers
of peace and conciliation, when they say, Who-
ever is not with us is against us: M.
a deputy at Valais, said--' It is desired, in the name of
a pretended raison detat to keep the people of Friburg
in leading•srrings, under the pretext of secaring to them
their liberty. r accordingly move the following molt:-
lion: __t Whereas, the right og the sovereign people to
give themselves a constitution is inalienable ; whereas
' that democratic principle, recognised by the Federal
Constitution, has been always applied, as respected
guaranteed cantonal constitutions ; and whereas, the
article 4th of the transitory clauses cf the Federal
Constitution guaranteed, it is true, the constitutions
in vigour without subjecting them to the for-
malities required by the article 6th, bat no-
wile impaired the principle of the right of
the people to give themselves a constitution. The
federal Assembly decrees—ln compliance with the pe-
tition of the Committee of the Meeting of Poesieux, held
on the 24th May, 1852, by the people of Friburg, who
e°ll3Plelin of impediments to the free exercise of their
sovereignty, the Federal Council shall adopt the neces-
sary measures to enable the people of Friburg to express
themselves freely on the expediency of the revision of
their Constitution." One of the representatives of that
canton, added M. Allet, lately said that in Friburg it was
not the cantonal authorities who governed, but the Fe-
deral Assembly. A Government which is obliged to
heroin with the people for its rights is very near its
downfall.'
"M. Druey next delivered a long speech, which he
concluded by moving the order of the day on the peti-
tion, lest it might be said that the Confederation was
advancing to its ruin by cocsenticg to treat with a
sample committee. Messrs. Lusser and Schwerzman sup-
ported the proposition of M. Allet. M. Lasser bitterly
criticised the acts of the Government of Friburg. M.
!laggard defended the Government. M. Dopples ulti-
mstelT moved the adjournment of the discussion to the
4th, which was agreed to.