Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1842-12-08

Ell. 1t was SAID stndt. DelHS UoiH III
France. he committed crime in warning
against the French army. do not pre-
tend to justify him wholly. But Berna-
dotte. in accepting the throne Of Sweden.
renounced his title of Frenchman, and
that his first duty was to maintain tho
cause of the naticn which had conhded
to him the sovereign authority. 1T should
be added that this prince never crossed
with his army the French frontier
When the emperor was conquered at
| Dresden and at Leipsic. Bernadotte re-
NAMED at Germany with his troops.
| He obtained. as the reward OF his CO.
operation in the fall of Napoleon. advan-
ta2eous conditions at the general peace
Of 1914. Norway was joined to Sweden.
not as a mere province, but as distinct
kingdom. bound to obey the same mon
arch Heretofore Norway had belonged
ITO Denmark. There was even nation
al antipathy between the Swedes and
| Norwegians. 1t would seem to be diff
cult for these nations ever to live IN har-
mony. Yet twenty-eight years have e.
lapsed, and nothing indicates that the
! harmony will be broken.
The political constitution of Sweden
his the most extraordinary in Europe
The legislative body is divided into four
separate chambers or sections: the aao6iL
ity. clergy, citizens and peasantsy. These
last are no where else especially repre-
sented. What is curious is that the pea
santry exert great influence. Do not
think that these men are ignorant and
stupid, bIindly adopting ali that is pro-
posed to them by the other Chambers
No, the peasantry know their rights and
how to maintain them. Among them
perhaps are found the best orators -
They do not shine by the flowers of rhe-
toric; but some of them have great good
sense, and easily solve questions which
embarrass statesmen.
The constitution of Norway is still more
democratic than that of Sweden. There
is no nobility. The Norwesians in their
rude climate and stubborn soil have
maintained great equality among them
selves. They are extremely jealous of
their liberty. The king has reto powers;
/ but when the political assembly asks for
new law repeatedly, the sovereign is
obliged to grant it. In general. Berna-
dotte manages veay well the jealous dis
position of the Norwegians. He antici-
pates their wishes, aud avoids being in
conflict with them.
Public opinion IN the two countries is
very liberal. The French journals are
widely circulated and exert a great liz
fluence. STOCKHOLM possesses also ma
ny political papers,which are edited with
an independent spirit. Republican no.
tons are openly maintained by some states
men. Sometimes the government sum-
mons writer's who are too bold before the
courts, but they rarely succeed in their
prosecutions. The people remember that
Bernadotte is an elected king, and not an
hereditary king. They are not at all dis
posed to bends their necks under the yoke
Of any tyranny. The king does not regret,
perhaps, at. The bottom of his heart. these
sentiments of independence; for he finds
in them strength to resist the Influence
of Russia. The Swedes and Norwegi.
ans would fight and fall to the last man
: rather than submit to the dominion Of
. the car Nicholas.