The recorder. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1802-1803, 1803-03-16

meeting OF The SMliS deputleS.
As ioon as the Grting oPencd, the
3epuration tent TO have an audience of
the Ggit conful at St. Cloud, reported
enc particulars of The conference with
which they Had been honoured. The
following is the fubhance of Bonaparte's
adirels 20 them:
C fhe more learn Of your country,
laid Bonaparte, the more am convinc
cd, that you cannot, with advantage,
have 3 Jingle goveram>a7. By the
representative fyitem, the democra
tic Cartons would be iubleSted 10
payment 10 which they are unaccuf-
toned. The defendants Of William
Ien mutt know neither the fettrainr OF
chains, nor the payment OF impoits.
But, on the other hand, for Berne, and
the other great cantons, the attempts at
pure democracy were abiurd. Your
different caRtons, mutt, of neceilIty
nave diverilties of conititurional orange
fnenr. With three leading exceptions,
YOU mutt be re-ehablilhed nearly in
TIE fame political order in which you
were before. The inequality OF rights
which 1ubiiited among the cid cantans
the relations between tovereien and ll,b-
Jctt fares with the prerogalives OF the
Patrician families, mutt be aboliG1ed for
ever. Under theic corrections of the
contributions of rIle cantons, SwiGer-
land may Polieis federal government,
ofeRe6tiye vigor.
6 For the maintenance of an indie
pendent central government, your coun.
FRY, IS, By the invincibic parGnony of
nature, too poor. Your government can
not DC other thar one which mutt be frp
ported without a iurthenioIue civil lii.
You cannot now act that pare, among
the great powers Of Europe, 20 Which
you were formerly unequal when 1holc
which contribute the great powers were
tubcividcd into a multl4ude of petry
hates Your real force would BE- en-
tecbied, your preicnt militia would be
lott, by the infiitunon of ttanding ar
my. You might. indeed, become
great by forming two departments OF
Franco. But FROM France you are {e-
parared by the internal indea3ruetibIe
barriers of nature. Retwcen two powers,
between which there is balance Of
force and influence, you are i9fc. Pre-
terve your neutrality, your laws, your
political tranquility, your good morals,
and your fortune cannot but 6e happy.
Conlederatiye governments enfceble
Grear it+tes; but, by concentrating, invi-
Gorate rhe energies OF thoie which are
tmail. BciIdes, wbomwould you place
at the head ofyour central govern
fnent? IF lcverai perfons, would shcre
not DC a dIyi6on OF their opinions and
1ntereits If one man, who is tIleie
among you, whom you woull al bcwii
ing TO lnveft with The neceGary conf
dence and authority i, invcfsd as
am, BY che confidence of great ma
lions, with fhe power of 4 fuprene ma
BrfraCy, cOuiG not undertake 10 Govern
You. Should you chute native Of
Zurich, The inhabitants OF Berne would
be dllatisfied- BY rhc choice Of Ca
thcIlc, offence would be given TO the
protefanrs. BY the reftorarion ofthe
government of the canronS, ven NAV
become happier than by any central &C.
yernlnent. During the exiftcnce ofooe
Jingle government for all Switzerland,
what have you known but incefanr and
naavallln8 changes ? Lat year, you
drove away Diet, legi5imatcly nomi-
mated by the people OF your lsl} con
it!rLrlon, OF the 18th ofApril, canno.
approve 4 central government cannon
oe maintained among YOU, without the
gfelence Of French troops Your pre-
lent government knows dis By ezgeri-
cnce' les members fPoke she vo.ceof