Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-12-02
SWITZERLAND,

lorelgn correspondent OF the New York
Tribune gives the best account we hive seen of
the cause and origin of The discussions that dis
tract the Republic Of Switzerland. The follow.
ing extract is well worth reading:
The only republic in Europe seems on the
threshold of bloody civil war. The alleged
cause OF controversy is in measure religious,
namely, the expulsion of the .Jesnis from some
OF the Canons. The real cause, however. is
political. The Cantons Of Switzerland, % in
number, are very unequal in population. The
Canton of Berne, which is the largest, has pop.
uIatlon of about 100000; that OF Zurich, the
next IN number, about 100000; while on the
other hand the Cantons of Zug and Uri have
population Of only about 4,0O0 each The rep
rescnlation In the Diet Of Vorort is, however, e.
qual-thr same as that of the States in the Sen.
ate OF the United States. In other words, the
Councils OF each Canton elect two delegates
ana these delegates compose the Diet or Vorolt
1t VIII at once be perceived that the popular
voice can be heard only indirectly in the eCis-
lation OF the naton. 1t may be observed, aso that
II was not until recently that the popular voice
was heard even In the Locat Councils of some
OF the largest Of the Cantous. Prior to 1890
the whole legislative, electoral and administrative
power OF Berne was in the bands of a few of the
old families, who constituted, under the name of
republicans, real and exclusive aTstocracy-
80 1t was IN some OF the other Canons. Revo-
lutons nave from time to time been Effected
sometimes peaceably, sometimes by force, until
now, IN the larger Canons, the rights of a man
as citizen of a republic are asserted, maintain.
ed and recognized. The three large Cantons,
Berne, Zurich and Vaud, are essentially Protes.
tant, the population OF Catholics being, in Zu-
rich, about IN 200, in Berne about | in 10, and
in Vuud about | in CO. On the other hand in
Aug and Ur, the population is almost exclusive
ly Catholic. So it is in Lucerne which contains
about 10000 inhabitants, and is the most popu.
lous and powerful of the Cantons which com
pose the Sonderbund. This compact or conted
Grafton of the smal Catholic Can,ons, was
formed avowedly for the purpose of resisting the
aggressIons OF the Diet, and is not unlike the
compact which South Carolina endeavored to
torn IN Notification days among some of the
Southern States. In the principal Catholic Can.
tons, and especially in Lucernc, the Jesui.s are
IN power and exerta controlling Influence. This
influence is believed by many Of the leading and
liberal men OF the large Canlons, including ma
ny OF the Catholic population Of those CantoDs,
to be hostile to the peace of the country and I'M
friendly to popular liberty in Switzerland. The
Diet, by majority of votes given by the large
Cantons, requested the Catholic Cantons to expel
the Jesults. The Catholic Cantons formed the
Sonder6und for the purpose Of resisting any Ell
lorti OF the Diet to compel such expulsion The
pNDel
the Jesuis but 10 dissolve this new confedera-
ton, as being contrary 10 the letter and spirit of
the original Federal Swiss Compact, and the
question OF peace of war now turns not upon
The Expulsion OF the Jesuits but upon the disso.
luton or continuance of the Sonderbund.
The Diet have sald that, If the Souderbund
was not dissolved, it would be cause for war or
for the calling out Of the troops of the Republic
to compel such dissolution. And indeed the
troops have already been ordered out for the
purpose, and are now mastering. AS yet the
Sonderbund is not dissolved Now it cannot be
mat The Dict can have the power to say to Luz
cerne, for instance, You shall expel the Jesuils
from your territory" That must be subject for
Councils and people of Lucerne to determine for
themselves. On the other hand it seems clear
from the reading Of the articles of the conteder-
alton under which the Diet acts, that the Som
derbund is Illegal anl revolutionary, aud that
tue Diet have right to suppress it. But as |
observed above, thG eXpLisiun of the Jesuits,
which originated The controversy, is not The true
end and aim OF the large Cautions. 1t is in short
a more equal distribution of power in the Gener-
al Government, according to the rank and popu-
lallon Of the Canton. II is n movement of men
who have emlncpated themselves 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 SEN
ate OF the United States on an equal footing, so
long as the former have their popular reprcsen
tatlon, 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, ii would not be long before the articles
OF Union would be altered; and especially if any
opinion was seriously entertained by large ma
jority of the people of New York, that the per-
sons who controlled the State of Delaware were
hostile 10 the liberties of the citizens of New
Work Whether the opinion as 10 the Jesuits is
well or Ill founded, do not undertake to say.
One thing, however, is certain, and that is that
these Jesuit Cantons are now receiving secretly,
and indeed, openly aid from the Governments of
France and Austaia. Z" lie who runs may read.
hope for the best, and trust that it may not be
necessary to shed blood in order to attain Just
rights, or TO advance the great cause Of popular
liberty in Europe But France should be care
fu how she undertakes to mingle in any way in
the Swiss movement In many parts of Ger
many, too, there is strong under current in IA
vor OF more liberal principles
o. We are highly gratified to be able to
that the firm nf Hnraca a. IN