Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-12-04
S WIT re R L A n d.

The foreign correspondent of the New York Tribune gives
the annexed accountable best have seenof the cause
OF the dssensons which distract the Swiss Conedeacy
and which threatens involve the Cantons the horrors
civil
The only Repablc in Europe on the threshold of
bloody civil The alleged of controversy is
measure religious namely the expulsion of the ests from
of the Cantons. The real cause however, political
The Cantons of Switzerland twenty in number are very
unequal in population. The Canton of Bene, which the
largest has population of about 400 900 that of Zurich
the in num err $50 900 awhile on the other hand
the canons of lug and U have population of only about
Ia 900 each The representation in the Diet Vorort is
however, equathe that of the States in the Senate
of the United States In other words the Councils Of each
Canton elect delegates and these delegates compose the
Diet Voro Ii will at be perceived that the popular
voice be heard only indirectly in the legislation Of the
nation. II may be observed, Also that il not until re
Gently that the popular voice heard in the local
councils OF some of the largest of the Canons Prior 10
$780, the whole legislative electoral and administrative power
OF Befne in the hands of few Of the old families who
constituted, under the Of republicans, real and exclu
sve arstocacy 80 was in some of the other Canons
Revolutions have from time to time been effected
peaceaby, sometimes by force until now the larger Can
TONS the rights of citizen of Republic asserted
manained and recognised The three large Cantons Bene
Zurich, and Vaud essentially Protestant the population
OF Catholics being IN Zurich about hundred in
BeTne about In ten, and in Vaud about sixty On
the other hand, in Tug and Ur the population almost ex
clusyey Catholic 50 is in Lucerne which contains about
Is
Of the small Catholic Canons which compose the Som
debund This compact confederation of the seven small
Catholic Canons formed ayowedy for the purpose Of
sstng the aggressions of the Diet and unlike the
pact which South Carolina endeavored to form in Modification
days among Of the Southern States In the principal
Catholic Cantons and especially in Luceme the Jesus are
in power and exert controlling influence This influence is
believed by many Of the leading and liberal of the
Cantons, including many Of the Catholic population Of
Cantons TO be hostile the peace OF the country and un-
friendly TO popular liberty in Switzerland. The Diet by
majority OF votes given by the large Canons requested the
Catholic Canons to expc the Jesuts Pie seven Catholic
Cantons formed the Sondebund for the purpose Of resisting
any efforts of the Diet compel such expulsion The Diet
then calls upon these Canons expe the Jesu but to
dissolve this confederation, being contrary the letter
and spirit Of the original Federal Swiss Compact and the
question OF upon the expulsion
the Jesuiis but upon the dissolution continuance of the
Sonderbund.
The Diet have said that, if the Sonderbund NOT dis
solved, would be for war; for the calling f the
troops of the Republic compel such dissolution Aud. in
decd the troops have already been ordered out o the puf-
pose, and are now mastering As yet the Sonderbund is
dissolved Now, it he that the Diet can have the
power TO say TO Lucerne for instance, You shall expe the
Jesuits from your territory That must be subject for the
Councils and people Of bucerne determine for themselves
On the other hand clear from the reading of the
articles Of Confederation under which the Diet acts that the
sondcrbund is Illegal and revolutionary and that the Diet
have right TO suppress it. But observed above the
expulsion OF the Jesuis which originated the controversy
not the true end and aim OF he large Cantons II is in
vernmen according the rank and population of the Canons
II is movement of who have emancipaed themselves
home IN their Canons aud who wish 10 make their
influence directly felt IN the councils Of the nation The
people OF New York may be very well content to NEE, Della
in tho Senate Of the United States on an equal fotug
so long the former have their popular
comg 10 their numbers, in the ether end Of the Capitol
But II the Government OF Tho United States vested cxcu-
sivey IN the Senate il would MT be long before the articles
Of Union would be altered and especially if an opinion was
seriously entertained by large majority of people Of New
York that the persons who controlled The State of Delaware
were hostile TO the liberties Of tie citizens OF New York
Whether the opinion the Jcsuis is well or i'll founded
do not undertake to say One thing, however, is certain,
and That is that these Jesuit Canons receiving
crey md indeed openly aid from the
and Austria. /" He who runs may read | hope for the
best and trust that may not be necessary TO sled blood in
order TO attain rights 10 advance great po-
pular liberty in Europe But France should be careful how
she undertakes to mngc 10 my way in The swiss
In many parts Of Germany TOO, there strong
rent IA favor Of more liberal principles.
ScnPrpRr PmpIcT o. ~ RAILpoaD ms ASn CoLLrsIoys.