Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1845-05-13

From the London Spectator.
SWISS POLlTiCS.-Local sectarian jeal
ousy has hndled a civil war in Switzerland
The professional Re~volutionists of Europe have
doubtless had q finger in it: but the suspicion
with which the Roman Catholics of Lucerne,
and the Protestants OF Aargan viewed each
others educational efforts; began and kep,
alive the hostile fcelingso Of the Swiss factions.
lnat ianataclsm possesses so much power in
a European state in the nineteenth century,
seems mainly owing to the Circumstance that
N SwitIerland there is in reality no executive
government. But the truth is, that fanaticism
Is only the apparent stimulus; the causes OF
the civil war in Switzerland are complex and
permanent. In the United States of North
America the Executive Government is weak,
but 1t Is a real and powerful government In
comparison with that Of Switzerland. The
ueneral Government of the Union has a local
naoltatlon aud a name, and officials apart from
the States Governments. In Switzerland the
functions OF supreme executive devolve in
rotation on the Cantonal Governments. In
America the States are States; in Switzerland
they are states in name, but in reality mere
municipalities. They are animated by the
same paltry jealousies which are found in this
country III a m~itigated form between Man.
chester and Liverpool, Glasgow and Edin-
ID .e ONht ItNdISA 1UU lne
real power remains vested i'm the hands of the
more wealthy and populous states, even when
the nominal supremacy devolves ON a weaker:
Tor example, the Magistrate of Zurich at this
moment nominally fills the office of vorort.
out the liberal Magistrates of Zurich look for
support to the troops of Berne. Switzerland
mas such a government as Scotland South of
the Forth would have were the supreme pow
or vested alternately in the Provosts of
glasgow and Edinburgh, and exercised by
.hose dignltaries in the small spirit of local
jealousy so often to be traced in the language
which the inhabitants of those towns hold
concerning each other. There are no Swiss,
out only citizens of Berne, Zurich, Lucerne,
&C., there is no Swiss Government. but only
an assumption OF precedence in rotation by
the Magistrates Of the different Cantons.-
Inns was the case i'm the United Provinces
until they We're forced at the close of the
evolutionary wars, into a constitutional
monarchy. The citizens Of the Dutch Re-
puDhc were slaves alternately to the Magis-
uates oil Amsterdam and the leaders of the
other provinces combined under the banner
OF Nassau: the subjects of the King of the
Netherlands are free citizens of a consolidated
State. The citizens of the Helvetic Confede-
Tation are alternately domineered over by the
Liberals OF Berne and the Conservatives of
Lucerne and the three Cantons; thew viii
remain subjected to this petty tyranny SO long
as 'here is no central government sufficiently
powerful to govern in o national spirit, regard
less OF the Guelphs and Ghibellines of modern
Switzerland.
IHESlXTH OF MAY.-Yesterday was The
Anniversary of the Kensington riots-the
commencement OF a three days scene of disor-
der, plumber and destruction, the very remem-
orance OF which is humiliating, and should he
buried in oblivion if possible. A portion of
the Native American party, the more sensible
ana uiscreet OF them a%bstaining, made il a day
vi ceieprauon, commemorating ii as one of
the tpochs OF their present career. Among
the several celebrations OF the day, was one on
the very spot from which the disturbances of
last year emanated-at the corner of Front
Master streets. The arrangements for this
We're stmll ar in most respects TO those for the
ihee'iiS Vi d year ago-uaexe being nearly tne
same speakers-the same sublecrs aa~a Ia
Tor discussion-but a MUCH more diminatiye,
at this point was by no means unan;nnme ny
a m of the persons in the crowd signi6ed
their dissatisfaction at the ultra dogmas of one
or two OF the speakers. In fact it was evil
dent that a very large portion of the assem-
Dlage were present from curiosity only, and
without either intention or desire to unite in
spirit OF the proceedings. The most COM
mendable feature OF the meeting, however.
was the moderation of the speakers, in com.
parison with their accustomed latitude of lam
guage on such occasions. 1t had, no doubt. a
good effect, the place and the occasion consid-
cred.
The call Tor this meeting, together with the
anticipated character of it, caused a number of
the owners OF property in the vicinity to give
the constituted authorities notice Of appre-
hended danger. In consequence of this notice.
and in obedience to the requirements of the
new police law, the police Of the city, and one
or two Of the districts, were held in readiness
to obey the call of the Sheriff, if necessary
But as nothing occurred to render such an in
teIierance necessary, the precaution was lost.
The gusto of passion and rebellion being
over, both parties seem to understand, better
than before, their true relative positions. 1t
is more fully appreciated that the right of any
portion OF the people to assemble i'm a legal
manner, to discuss n ate IS of state policy, is
sacred and unquestionabl- LAND that there is
no distinction between naturalizcd and nutipe
citizens in this particular. No set of men
have any right or authority to interfere with
the meetings OF another. Nor, on the other
hand, have any set of men a right to go out of
their way to goad on Others to acts of violence.
And these are facts which seem TO be not only
better understood, but more fully acknowledge
ed, than they were a year ago. To this fact
we may look for, public security, and place
some reliance in the growing disposition of
both parties to mind their own business, and
notinvade their opponents upon sacred ground.
Pa. Chronicle.
THE NEW POSTAGE BILL.-The fol-
lowing are the rates of postage upon letters.
newspapers, and pamphlets, as regulated by
the new bill, by the last Congress, which goes
into operation on the first day of July next:
On LetterS.-Single, or any number
OF pieces not exceeding half an
ounce, 300 miles or less, $ cents.
II over 300 miles, 10 +"
Drop letters, mot mailed,) "
For each additions half ounce or part
thereof, add single postage thereto.
On Newspapers, of 1000 square in