Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1798-06-15
SWITZERLAND

OF the interval from the time wien
me proiongation ofthe armiflice was
greco nPon, 70 the Sth of March, ON
which day the French entered Berne.
was enc continued ferries cf INTRIGUE
and Peihdy on the part of the French.
and OF timidi'y, irrefoIution, and in
eoniittency on that Of the Bsrneie
government.
Inc French had, as we have al.
ready ooieT7ed, from the beginning,
their pa'tiians in the councils Of
berne feme, perhaps, Bur thofe
probably few in number, won over
to them by actual prrionai corrupt
On others, epamoured Of sheir prin-
cIPlss, and detirous of innovating, At
all hazards, upon the ancicns con.
It tuition of their country, for the
lake ct trying the experiment of
contribution founded on Liberty and
Equality Others, again (proba-
bly, the largef number) dclGdsd by
The hope, that if the prefsn, War
.eculd by any means be brought TO
.er"'eation, they fhould be able, by
iair parley and negotiation, to bring
ne French to a ienEe of the iniuf.
tice If their att OK upon Switser-
! nd, as well as ofthe intercR which
y rance nuIt have in prelerving the
f'iend!hip and. good will of 70 ref
psctsbis neighbour, rather than in
mourning rs eyerlaiting enmitY, BY
. continued and nnproftable ageref-
hon. AIDING upon one or ether of
'ne'e principles, comfortable ma
jor'ty OF ihc Council oppof.d the
manly and dsciiive melturss which
the Avoyer Steisuey, and thcfe mem
.rs OF the government, VINO fsw
'Fi'a jaG appgehengion the real, and,
10 lay the truth, abe aIn,oh andiC-
s:;;;e3 e;asss::s C llsssS..co ssaisa {5c
lbertY, and the exiflence of Swit-
zealand as an independent coun,ry,
would have adopted, early in the con-.
tell, meafoses, which would prcba.
bly, have checked, 10 the frft outfet.
the srdouT ofthe French, and which
their own people, not only would
have carried through with fpirit and
cheerfulnefs, if called upon to do e.,
but did thrmfelyes cali upon their
government 10 bring forward, and
ultimately overwhelmed with their
vengeance, thoie whom they luf-
peaed of having proven 81 their a
dop;ion.
The majority were for treating
but they did not pre(uue 10 think
themielvcs in a iituation even to
treat--to treat with an invading G.
nenny, until they had endeavoured to
propitia:e thar enemy, by facrifce
Of 70 much of their ancient laws and
privileges, as they thought nigh,
lndace him TO liiten with patience 10
tomc model propofals for the pre-.
iervstion Of the remaiader. Thew
reformed therefore, and they opened
a negociation,--The reform, def
teoyed the energy o. the government
az home. The negotiation gave
ample room TO the French, not en-
y to incteale their force by fFeih de-
tachments from the Italian army,
but alto TO regulate their operations
from without, in fuoh a manner as
ihouid beR tally with the preparatiA
ons for their reception, which was
buGly carried on by their friends
within the walls of Bsrne,
IL IS Unnecelisry 20 repeat here
what has been publifhed in all the
eTipapers Of Europe, the terms of
peace which France propofed--,hs
notifications andes which the DAT
tardly rulers Of Berne offered to &C {.
eeptihem, lis foficient to obiervs.
that toe p'ice which France ex.a.
co Tor forbssrsnce, was precifely, or
within rife, the fame as the pen-
ATTY which Che has in6iaed for re.
iitance.-;he fubverGon of the an.
Gent government, and the fublli,u-
iionn OF one on the French model
hoitagss, profcriptions of individuals
ana ct .f1miIies--snd fun of mo.
ney.
While the councils 5elibera,ed on
thsie and iuch like demands, The