The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-27
Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce. }

mas Tor It's object the expulsion OF the Jesults The
first of the Two letters is here subjolned.
Correspondence of the Journal of Commerce)
| BASEL, Switzerland, Jan. l2, IS45.
A determination 10 spend few months ia this
conedeTacy, with the view of restoring my impaired
health, gives me an opportunity Of witnessing and
hearing Of many facts and characteristics OF The
try and It's inhabitants, which TO and in
lerestlng and If occasionally few lines from my
pen may I've deemed worthy of place in your paper,
they are at your ryice.
find the city of Basel" situated at the northwest
| angle Of Switzerland bordering upon France and
Germany, and within an hours walk Of the lines of
either. IL is divided by the river Rhine into two
parts, and designated by the terms Great Basel" and
| Small Basel" IL is strongly fortified, with walls and
| bastons-contains about 25, 900 inhabitants-and is
| The Seat Of Government of the Canton Of the same
name IL Is very ancient city, aud is particularly
noted as one of those whose clergy began and con-
| 'nOuted by their great exerons, so largely to the
| Reformauon'-as also for It's extensive Silk Ribbon
Manufactories its great wealth, and families of an-
| Client and noble descent. The paris Of the city
| are connected by respectable wooden bridge over
| the Rhine, which runs between them with a strong
broad flood, of ght green color. The hills OF the
BLACK Forrest" Of Germany, upon one side and the
Swiss "Jura' upon the other, render the surrounding
| views at once beautiful ADD sublime. Ii appears
strange TO an American, in this northern latitude OF
about AZ -2 degrees, that now in mid-winter
| W w
surrounding hills and mountains. Indeed, il would
be termed by us 'aodsrate" weather fpr November /;
but there is a healthy and invgorating atmosphere,
that brings back the glow of health to the cheeks and
good spirits the heart Ii is however regarded here
as a very mild winter thus far and cold weather is
confidently anticipated.
! Christmas and New Year, with the intervening
Holy days, have passed, and observed much IN
the same manner with US. The first, however,
was more devoted TO religious obsers ances than is
| usual in the United States.
| However much the ma jority Of the inhabitants are
| dlsncned To attend divine worship Christmas Day
| Certainly affords an exception. The churches are
then thronged, and all receive communion. A sinpu.
lar custom yet prevails in regard TO communicate
on such occasions all females required 10 appear
in capes and back-silk dresses. II is by no means
dissgreeabe To the eye to witness such scene, but
the thought forces itself strongly upon the mind that
the outward appearance at such time is too much
regarded without sufficient instruction of the head
and heart at Others. 1t in fact a vestipe of the
customs Of by-gone days" which it is to be hoped
will eIe long be abolished, and all be permitted to
come to the table of our Lord and Saviour who with
earnestness of heart endeavoring do his will whe-
ther clad In the habiments of Peasant or the robes
| of Royalty.
Although Switzerland is now termed "Demo.
cratic Republic" and majority of It's % indepen-
dent cantons, composing the Coniederacy have cast
| of the Roman Catholic yoke and embraced the Pro-
testant tah-yet is clearly TO be that ancient
CUSTOMS ana peTFaue tne minds oil OF the
| leading men, to an extent that would consider
wholly inconsistent with professions of great Demo
| crazy. The Congress of Switzerland is composed of
members elected from each Of the Canlons and Sc
lects from its number the President of the High
Government, who however must be resident of and
elected from the Canton IN which the Diet SITS and
| where the Government business is transacted. This
Congress and Government are located every alter
| nae two years in the Cantons of Berne Lucerne
and Zurlch-where, during short period in each
! year. the Congressional business is transacted. At
the close of its sessions, the President with his Off
GERS, has the management of the affairs of the Hieh
Government of the Confederacy, also that of the
Canton from which he elected.
Roman Catholicism yet prevails IN many of the
Cantous and ever true to its real principles Of acquir
ing benefit and power the sacrifice of the interests
and happiness of the mass of the people, whom il de-
signs to keepin ignorance and bondage has at this
late day forced Itself into the high of the
conederacy, through the agency OF its late President
Jesuit sustained, as Is well known by many OF
the frisocracy of the country-and attempted to mt
the management and control of the pusic schools
In the canton OF Lucerne into the ha nds of the Jesu
| ilical Catholic clergy. This proceeding was made
| known only few weeks since, and was s,renuousIv
opposed by the true lovers of liberty in that Canton
but their voices were not allowed to have any weight
with the authorities there. Formal possession was
about to be taken of the schools and these woud-be
dictators of mankind with their subservient tools al
! followers, made the effort, and were moving in
(mock) solemn procession for that purpose through
the streets of Lucerne. when they were met at The
| main bridge over the beautiful outlet of the
| lake of the name of the CITY, by few hundred
determined men in the cause of equal rights
and religious freedom. A battle ensued: The
paid troops of the Government were bit hand.
seven Catholics and one Liberal only were killed
he former failed then, and up to Yesterday had not
succeeded in their designs, and have for the presen
al least, postponed their determination. About 500
Liberals have been arrested and lodged in prsop-
Some of them have had their .ham) trials and been
condemned to various punishments some to many
years OF imprisonment Others to shorter period and
their property confscated. Since the Revolution of
1851 which suited 10 the division Of the Apcien,
Canton OF Basel into two separate Governments
| (now termed Basel City" and Basel Country ~
true Democracy has taken deep in the minds OF
many, and extended itSelf far and wide in the Con-
federacy, and when the news of this revolt against
despofiSm reached other Cartons, hundreds marched
wnh arms to the scene Of action. Government troos
also were poured in, and no further battle ensued =
Among the number Of noted personages who went
to the rescue, was highly distinguished lro-
| lessor and advocate from this city BY the
| name Of "Brenner." Upon his return to town, he
was tired by the so named Democratic" (but nc
tuay "frisocrdtic," " authorities of the place and
condemned 10 one months imprisonment and an en-
tire suspension Of his functions for one year-vhicb
fact has created great excitement. Fortunately he
had the power of appeal to higher tribunals and he
will in few weeks be heard Much ieeIlI is mani
tested as to the result. IT is asserted that II the sen
tence Is confirmed and attempted to be enforced will
be resisted at the point of the buyonet by the Libe
rails. he is las Is believed) at this moment, visiting
the various Cantons, urging upon the friends Of the
cause to call public meetings and form more perfect
organizations, preparatory to future action The |
Liberals are certainly much elated, and recently
beard government officer when speaking upon this /
subject TO one OF his friends, remark that thing, look
daE' lime alone can give US the results OF these |
interesting matters,
Now few words about the late President Of the |
Conisdersoy, Mr. sieavar Muller. | wish no, 10 /