Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-22

NEUFcHATEL.-This little prncipsity, with an
area of fourteen German square miles and popu.
iaton 81 only sixty thousand souls, is just at pres
ent the cynosure of European diplomacy. Why it
is may be simply told.
Neuchatel for several centuries an Independent
State, governed by its own sovereign, was, about
the beginning of the la { century, driven by the
extinction OF the regning dynasty to the necessity
OF selecting RULER from no less than fifteen preten
doris TO its vacant throne. 1t chose the King OF
Prussia, or the King of Prussia managed to
get himself chosen by il, and, at the peace
of Utrecht, the European Powers duly recog''
nized his exceedingly doubtful right and title
to it. About the beginning of the present
century, Prussia, amidst the remarkable moves
which took place upon the political chessboard at
that period, ceded Neufchatel to Napoleon, who in
tsrn transferred it 10 Marshal Berthier. After the
abdication OF Napoleon, in 1914, Neufchatel.Yas
retroceded to Prussia, and by the treaty OF Viens
ma, in the following year. it was, without any pre-
JUDGE to the rights of the King Of Prussia, ma a
canton OF the Swiss Confederation, in which COM
diton it remained quietly; with the exception of
ruitless Instruction on the occasion of the July
revolution of 1880, until 1913, when it formally
declared its independence Of Prussia, and adopted
a republican form of government like that OF its
sister cantons. The King Of Prussia Of course
stormed and protested, but all to 10 Effect He
Invoked the interference OF the parties the treaty
Of Vienna to maintain his ''rights of sovereignty"
but the parties invoked made no response. They
had absorbing business at home. He hray sue.
ceeded in procuring the empty recognition of his
title Neui,hatel by the great Powers in the Lon
don conference Of 1852, and there the subject
slept upon the disturbance which gave rise to the
existing controversy.
That dist'n bance, as our readers probably know,
was the rOyalist revolt Of last September, in which
the psrtisans Of the King OF Prussia IN the canton,
stimulated doubtless by the absolutist party in
Prussia, against he authority Of the Swiss
Republic in the hope Of re~estabishing the nomi-
nal dominion of the King. The hope proved
vain and foolish one, as the revolt was promptly
subdued, aud its rlnglead,rs, many Of whom are
connected with Influential families 10 Berlin, Paris,
Vienna, &c, we're arrested and thrown into prison
by the Swiss government TO await their trial for
high treason. The King Of Prussia now demands
the release Of these hgh-born traitors, and threat
ems, IL he demand is not complied with, TO pros
eeute his ancient rights to NeuichaieI al all hszrds
And the government Of the r, public folds it's arms
with quiet dignity aud tells him in Swiss vernacu-
lar TO crack away. Aud this is the Neuichate
question.
Who does not admire the frmness and dignity
and heroic galantry with which Switzerland bears
herselfamidst the naughty despots of Earopel We
never think Of her without experiencing a thrill Of
lofty gratitude and pride She Is honor TO
Christendom, and ought TO be its boast Lou
Josr.