The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-12-08
From he Neio York Tribune.
SWITZERLAND.

SWITZERLAND.
The only Republic in Europe seems on the thres-
hold OF bloody civil war The alleged cause of con-
troversy is in measure religious namely theexpul-
sion of the Jesuits from some Of the Cantons. The
real cause, however, is political. The Cantons OF
Switzerland, twenty-five in number, ure very une-
quail in population. The Canton Of Berne which Is
the largest, has population Of about 100000; thnt
of Zurich, the next in number, about 1900 while
on the other hand the cantons of Zug and Uri have
population OF only about II, 900 each The repre-
the that Of the States in the Senate OF the
United States In other words, the councils OF each
Canton elect two delegates and these delegates COM
pose the Diet or Vorort.
can be heard only indirectly in the legislation Of the
nation. IL may be observed, also, that It was not
until recently that the popular voice was heard even
in the local councils OF some OF the largest Canons.
Prior TO $780, the whole legislative, electoral and i'd
minisrative power of Berne was in the hands of u
few Of the old families, who constituted, under the
name of republicansm, a real and exclusive aristo-
crazy. So II was in some OF the other Cantons--
Revolutions have from time TO time been effected,
sometimes peaceably, sometimes by force until now,
In the larger Cantons the rights Of man as cit-
zen OF Republic are asserted maintained, and re-
cognized. The three large Cantons, Bernie, Zurich,
and Vaud essentially Protestant, the population
of Catholics being in Zurich about one to two hun
dred in Berne about one in ten, and in Vaud about
one in sixty. On the other hand, in Zug and Uri,
the population is almost exclusively Catholic So Il
tants and Is the most popuous and powerful Of the
seven small Catholic Cantons which compose the
Sonderbund. This compact or confederation OF the
seven small Catholic Cantons was formed avowedly
for the purpose of resisting the aggressons of the
Diet and is not unlike the compact which South
| Carolina endeavored to form In Modification days
among some of the Southern States. In the Catho-
lie Cantons and especially in Lucerne, the Jesuits
are in power and exert controlling Influence. The
influence is believed by many Of the leading and lbe-
raj men of the large Cantons, including many Of the
Catholic population of those Cantons, to be hostile
70 the peace of the country and unfrendy to popu-
lar liberty in Switzerland The Diet by majority
of votes given by the large Cantons, requested the
Catholic Cantons to expel the yesuits The seven
Catholic Cantons formed the Sonderbund for the
purpose OF resisting any efforts OF the Diet 10 compel
such expulsion. The Diet then calls upon these Can
tons not to expel the Jesuits but dissolve this new
confederation being contrary to the letter and spi
nit Of the original Federal Swiss Compact, and the
question OF peace or war now turns not upon theex-
pulson OF the Jesuts, but upon the dissolution or
continuance Of the Sonderbund.
The Diet have said that, if the Sonderbund was
not dissolved, il would be cause for war; for the
calling out OF the troops Of the Republic to compel
such dissolution. And indeed, the troops have al
ready been ordered out for the purpose, and are
now mustering-As yet the Sonderbund is not dis
solved Now it cannot be that the Diet can have
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 Lucerne
to determine for themselves. On the other hand II
s.cuiS Cicdi, Holi u
federation under which the Diet acts that the Som
debund is iibera and revolutionary, and that the
Diet have Alright 10 suppress it. But, as observed
above the expulsion Of the Jesuits which originated
the controversy Is not the true end and aim of the
large Cantons. II is in short, more equal distribu-
ton of power in the General Government, according
to the rank and population of the Cantons It is a
movement of men who have emancipaed themsel-
yes at home in their own Cantons, and who now
wish TO make their influence more directly felt in the
councils of the nation. The people of New York
may be very well content to meet Delaware in the
Senate OF the United states an equal footing SO
long as the former have their popular representation
according to their numbers in the other end of the
Capitol. But If the Government of the United
States was vested exclusively in the Senate it would
not be long before the articles of Union would be
altered and especially If an opinion was seriously
entertained by large majority Of the people of New
York that the persons who controlled the State of
Delaware hostile 10 the liberties of the citizens
of New York a
Whether the opinion to the Jesuts is well or i'll
founded, do not undertake to say. One thing how
ever Is certain and that s these Jesuit Cnntons ire
now receiving secretly, and indeed openly aid from
| the Governments of France and Austria "IIe who
runs may read" hope for the best and trust that
1t may not be necessary to shed blood in order TO
attain just rights to advance the great cause of
popular liberty In Europe. But France should be
careful how she undertakes 10 mingle in any way In
the Swiss movement In many parts Of Germany,
too there is strong under current In favor of more
liberal principles.