Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1849-04-20


that come out Of the Swiss territory but
within the Swiss side of these outlets, there
are no officials to pay any attention 10 any
thing that comes into the country and in
point of fact, the French, Germans and other
neighbors, export TO Switzerland whatever
goods they please, including all kinds oil
foreign produce, without being charged with
any duty whatever. This very remarkable
state Of things is partly ascribed to the con-
tending state of the different %cantons. Some
%cantons are agricultural, and others contain
large seats Of manufacture But the a%gricul-
tural cantons would feel it very hard to be
obliged to buy manufactured goods from a
neighboring canton at a dearer rate than they
could buy them abroad the peasantry of
Vaud have no idea Of emPtying their pockets to
benefit the manufacturers Of Basic and Iu-
rich. Another cause, perhaps, is the vast
expense which would necessarily be incur.
red by attempting TO watch the widely eX-
tended boundary beset by active contraband-
lists. 1t is at the same time fair to state, that
in all the deliberations Of the Swiss authori-
ties for a number of years there appears to
have been a great unanimity OF feeling on
the propriety Of abstaining from restrictions
on commerce. A committee appointed by
the diet in 1888, to consider the subject OF
foreign relations, made the following report,
one of the most extraordinary ever uttered
by the members Of a legislative body.
"First-The Swiss confederation shall IT.
revocably adhere to its established system Of
free trade and manufacture. Second-Under
no circumstances and on no condition shall
it form a part of the French custom house
system, Of the Prussian commercial league,
or the custom house line Of any foreign ma
linn TIirI Il eI,1I ,,-o o,,r ur,.t r.
the establishment and extension Of the ptin-
ciples of free trade. Fourth-It shall, as
far as possible, discuss and establish con-
ventions with the ncighboring states, for the
disposal of agricultural and vineyard pro-
duce and cattle, for obtaining the free ingress
of corn, and for maintaining the daily, recip-
rocal, economical, neighborly, and border
traffic and market transactions. Fifth
Wherever a free trade is not obtainlble, it
shall endeavor 10 remove all prohibitions, 10
lower duties. and to secure the power Of
transit on the most favorable terms. Sixth
When eXceptionable favors can be obtain.
ed, they shall be used for the advancement
Of those measures which lead to the accom-
plishment Of the ends proposed so, howev-
er, that exchanges be not thereby limited.
nor personal liberty interfered with. Sew
enth-ln the Interior of Switzerland it shall
make every e|Xertion to assist industry, and
TO TemOve impediments to intercourse TAX
ing care, however, that it do not interfere
with the personal concerns Of merchants and
manufacturers"
All restrictions on the importation Of arti-
cles from other countries being thus remov-
ed, it might be supposed by some that the
country would be deluged with foreign man
utdctures, greatly to the injury of native
capitalists and workmen. But this does not
appear TO be the case. In several branches
of manufacture the Swiss excel and the op-
portunity of buying certain kinds Of foreign
produce, at a particularly cheap rate, enables
the people 10 encourage the growth Of other
manufactures in their own country. The
peasant who buys an English made knife,
for half what he conld a Swiss one for, has
half as much money remaining wherewiih 10
purchase a native made ribbon hence,
Swiss manufactures of one kind or another
are sure to be n:ourag'd.-thamber Mis-.
cel1oDy.'