Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1845-04-12
8 wITZERL ND.

Il
very important and interesting struggle is in pro-
gress in Switzerland, nomnally the point whether
not certain esus shall be introduced teachers of
the Cantons but in reality the question to be whether
the Federal Union of the Independent Cartons Of Switzerland
shall endure as heretofore, or be broken up.
cannot be without interest for readers to be informed
somewhat OF the present state of the controversy The
Federated Cantons number in all 22of which the smaller
Canons, the mountain region which old Switzerland are
generally Catholic the larger Protestant In religious
h The Canons are perhaps about equally divided but Of the
population three-fhhs Protestants.
The language most in is German the French being
spoken only IN Geneva, Neuhate vaud some Of the
small Cantons the French border Italian in one or
two on the Italian border the German language and German
tongue prevail IN all the The theory the government
that each OF the Canons independent but all
are represented in the Federal Congress- Vro and the
Executive or Decora power resides three Cantons
of Lucerne, Zurich, and Bene each exercising it alternately
Tor two years now, and from the commencement Of the
present year has been, in Zurich Last year il was in Luz
cerne and, while there, the Grand Council Of that Canton
which Catholic, determined upon inviting some Jesus to
take charge their schools and other institutions learning
This caused great ferment in other Canon as well as in
ucene, and free corps from elsewhere aid the
instruction in Lucerne
1t soon became obvious that radical and revolutionary p-
mt had seized upon the religious question: and was using it
Tor unavowed political purposes and Lacene therefore EN-
poyed all its and all the federal power to put down the
revolt
The precautionary and defensive measures adopted only
served to stimulate the fermentation and when the DctorisI
authority passed to Zurich, the Vror in consideration
OF the urgency of affairs, decided upon convokin9 an EXTRA
, ordinary Diet
To such Diet each Canton sends two Deputies eIec.d
and instructed by the Grand Council Of the Canton To This
Diet two questions to be submedfrst as to the e
gay OF the free corps above referred and secondly as 10
the invitation given by Lucerne to the Jesnits.
These questions amply discussed in the Great Council
each Canton previous the election Of the Deputies the
Dict and in these constituent bodies fact were thew viz
ually answered.
On the first point there division Of opinion In the
federal compact is stipulated that the independence and in
volatility of the territory of each Canton shall be guaranteed
the invasion of Canton by armed force from another
clearly nacton of the compact and therefore unlaw
full The sacredness Of this territorial immunity is such that
even the Federal troops in of disturbances in Canton
only be introduced upon the request of the Canton
1t was therefore resolved by the Grand Councils of the DIFF
ercn Canons that free corps unlawful and that the Cam
ton sending any such into another responsible for
and damage, and Of the Diet will conform its vote
TO that of the Grand Councils on this point
The question Of the Jesus difficult for it is after
all, more political than religious.
lnouSu SEINE Catholic Cantons,
only have consented to receive the JesusLucerne Vaos
Schwy,z, and Fiburg the other eighteen unanimous
almost against the Holy Fathers and only unanimous but
exaspcrated But Notwithstanding this general antipathy
the question whether, according the Federal compact
Diet may nghtfuy interfere in matter that
each Canton separately and into the domain Of what
here we should call State rights, that is widely and
warmly discussed In this discussion politics enter largely
and the radicals seize upon the occasion overthrow what yet
remains Of feudal aristocac pvlegeor usages Swift
zerland Little, indeed is there left Of any such yet Beme
the most powerful and influential of all the Canons vaud,
where universal suffrage prevails Argcve and Others are
strenuous for the expulsion of the that such
i measure, violating ii does the general compact will be
resisted and that with will come revolution and
i change
Lucerne is clearly acting in her right whatever be thought
OF the expedency of the thing whe. Of internal
Government she makes agreement with the Company
for Of lis members become teachers in that city,
Yet the radicals OF the Canton aided by sympathzes from
without insist upon armed resistance If necessary
Agove heretofore shut up the converts drove out the
and conscated their property the Catholic Cantons
enoned by the radicals interfere because Areoe
was acting on her independent rights Now however
when Lucerne nvokes the right invite Jesuits into
her borders that Argovie had to drive them or others ont @
THEIRS the radicals will not listen the plea insist upon
the interference of the Diet Lucerne to abandon
her position The Protestant Canon which would certain
not submit to have the in their schools regulated
BY the Diet are called upon nevertheless interfere with that
Of the Catholic Cantons.
In our view, and from every analogy with our own system
OF independent States and common Federal Government this
question Of the religious instruction in and every Canton
seems purely internal and domestic and not falling at all
within the purview OF the authority of the National Dict II
strikes being much domestic question in Switzer
land that of slavery in the United States II belongs
in all It's relations, to the State Canton where exists
Unhappiy the Diet, assembling determined otherwise
and resolved by vote of II Cantons 9evo others alb
staining from the votethat question within the com
potency Of the Federal authorities.
This renders the expulsion of the Jesnts certain for
previously there but four Cantons which tolerated them
and now, with the of the National Diet against them
they can have chance But whether with right on their
side the Catholic Canons will submit may well be oues-
toned and if they do not civil war is inevitable.
Possibly the next arrival may furnish solution of the diff
Guilty Whatever that be, readers will the more readily
appreciate probably from this rapid sketch of the points in
ssue.-Courier & Enquirer.
| FIRES IN THE WOODS.
The fires which for several days last week desoatnV
the pine woods New Jersey by rain on Sun
day The damage sustained is immense in the destruction Of
thousands Of Of fine timber, which quarter Of century