New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-01-17

American readers. SWiLffland Is Il country
which We know less than we ought Eds. Inbl
Correspondence Of Tie N Y Tribune
BrRSE, Nov 9, 1851.
The counter-revolutionary wind which
since the year 1919 has prevailed over Europe,
and which has naturally visited the peaceful
valleys Of Switzerland, has at last been arrested
in the Bemese Alps, and having changed It's d.
rection, begins to blow in the faces OF the very
authors Of this counterrevoiutlon.
In the year lsI7, the liberal party in Swltze.-
land came to the direction OF affairs through the
war against the Sonderbund, and especially
through the expulsion Of the Jesuits. In the
political transformation Of the country, which
they then VIGOROUSLY carried through they
were essentially favored by the weakened con-
dtion into which the princes Of Europe were
thrown 10y the revolution OF 1873, to which the
Swiss liberals had certainly contributed pow
erml impulse. But for that revolution the
princes would not have failed to fling hln-
ORANGES and difficulties in their way. The
practical Swizers pushed forward their reforms
with such rapidity that the most essential ar
raneements were already in full activity when
the counterreyoluion began to triumph around
them.
The old Federal Executive OF Swizerand'the
Togsafsasng. was composed merely of the repre-
sentatives of the different Cantonal Governments.
There was nothing like representation OF the
Swiss people. The delegation OF the least popu-
lous ultramontane Canton had Just as much
power as that Of the most populous liberal Can
ton For example, Uri, with 1900 inhabitants,
had the same number of votes in the Executive
as Beme. with 45s eco and Zugwit Il 1900, was
equal to Zurich with 100000. BY this means a
Federal Administration which was as friendly TO
priestly and prnce.y domination as II was hostile
to the free Development Of the present day. was
maintained up to the year 1871 But this came TO
an end. In the place of tie old Tagsatslag there
was established a National Council of l20 mem
| bers q representative to 10000 souls,) elected
by the votes Of all citizens aged 20 With this
there Is q Senate (Srndr4h) of II members
from each Canton without regard to population
In case of a conflict between these two bodies
they come together IN joint session, and decided
| by absolute ma ority Of all the votes.
In this way the Federal Administration OF
Switzerland passed rom the hands Of the Con
servatiyes, who favored the maintenance Of the
status quo then existing in Europe, into those ~
| the Liberals have not mentioned the execu-
tive organ Of the two Councils, the Bandesrati
| Consisting Of seven membcrs,) because it's Ia
fact mere executive and has no veto either ab-
solute OF provisional On these supreme Fete-
! raj authorities the new Constitution conIers the
sele power 20 make war and peace and to nego-
tate with foreign nations. Next, the Federation
| guarantees the democratic constitutions of the
several CantonS, matter Of Importance espe-
cially for Neuichatel, over which the royal house
of Prussia once possessed princely rights, 10 The
loss ofwhich Il Will not easily be reconcl.e1 the
Constitution also puts the freedom Of the press
fer entire Switzerland under the protection Of
| the Federation centralizes The army, the higher
institutions Of education, import duties, the post,
the mint, aQd weights and measures. Ia respect
10 the amy, 10 duties, he post, and the mint,
this measure is already carried out. The victory
Of the liberals N the matter Of the Federal
! Constitution was also naturally followed IN the
several Can,ons y reforms il Tie interest OF lib
eIty in respect to taxation, the care OF the poor
anu publ, education
Attel he fragile constructions ofthe European
revolution had everywhere fallen and persisted
before the assaults OF the reaction, this new edi-
hce al Young Switzerland stood almost alone
| No,wonlel that the Swiss re4cuonares, Of every
color, began with al their might to batter away
scainst t. And IN fact, IN the spring Of 1850
the pa,ucians and conservatives OF Berns, sue
ceeded ii getting the government of that inpor-
/ taut Canton into their hands. \ fen more such
victories and the Federal Constitution, with all
/ The weighty reforms Of the present time, would
! have been deprived OF every indispensable sup
/ por, and barrier. The new Administration N
/ Bene. with NJ. BLoscH at is head, opened is
/ career with violent persecution Of the Press
! A seryile Court oi Justice even condemned tie
! Presdeu, OF The former liberal Administrator.
! Mir. STAENTFLI 70 Imprisonment io7 libel, With
on, so much as allowing Inn 10 prove the tru,h
! Of the facts be had affirmed they also proposed