The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1857-02-21
PRUSSIA AND SWITZERLAND.

I
Whatever specious coloring may be given to the solu-
ton of the difficulty between Prussia and Switzerland it
must we think be evident that the independence of the
republic has received deadly blow either by volunta-
ry enforced to the conditions which alone the
King of Prussia consented to renqus rather to waive
his very equivoca pretensons to the sovereignty Of Neu
chatt The assent of Switzerland to the dictated
by Prussia is unconditional and to absolute sub
mission while the King Of Prussia has III fact pledged him
self to nothing but submitting the question at issue the
decision of congress composed of the ministers Of for
egn powers whose rulers unquestionably contemplate
with friendly eye the existence Of the only republic
remaining in Europe That the decision will be made
with mrartalty will, due regard to the rights and
honor Of the republic is therefore hardly to be expected
and may reasonably anticipate Mt least evasion on
the part of Prussia Of full untquivoca REIMBURSEMENT
of her claim the sovereignty Of Neufchate should Il
congress decide.
VINO the prisoners in whose behalf the King Of
Prussia takes peculiar interest and what their
offences against the republic of Switzerland is matter of
little moment in the decision of this question. 1t is enough
to know they charged with conspiracy against the
State and not of the class which is elevated by tie
law Of nations above the jurisdiction of the municipal laws
Of sovereign State and that they held in custody
for crimes which every sovereign State exercises the right
to punish Their guilt their Innocence could only be
ascertained by fair impartial investigation before the
constituted authorities of the country in which these Of
fences were alleged have been commted and peremp
DRY demand for their release before trial. By foreign power
was gross infringement Of the sovereignty Of the repub
lie of Switzerland such as will be submitted
to by the United States There IL moreover, nothing like
itv In since n btfD
the republic of Switzerland has sacrificed attribute
Of sovereignty, while the King of Prussia has given
equivalent whatever. lie has merely pledged himself
or rather minated his Willingness relinquish claim,
at best questionable, on rart Of The territory for
years forming portion of the Swiss Confederation,
provided shall be 50 decided by congress of min
listers, which 1t is stated is TO at London for
tha.pnrpose Thus he has succeeded 10 forcing the Swiss
cAntons into REIMBURSEMENT OF right common TO all In
dependent States aud at the time preserves bis
dignity" by acquiescng 10 appeal to congress OF min
sters whose accord he may dispute in case should not
prove satisfactory evaie under of the innumer-
able preences be found in the records Of European d
pomacy Ia the time the King of Prussia has gained
his object legitimacy has trnmphed over liberty The
prisoners have been released the troops of the republic
have been disbanded and the King has standing army Of
half million at command maintain his claim to Neuf-
chate whenever he thinks ii expedicnt
There cam think be little donbt that the alton
Of Switzerland been brought about by the ntgues or
threats of certain grca, powers which have undertaken to
set Is their own differences at the Of their weak
err neghbors The balance of Europe, 1t would seem,
is 10 be preserved by perpetual interference OF the
high contracting parties which have assumed the entire
disposal of the rights and interests OF all the Others and
who are presumed to be influenced by motives magnan
nous and dsinterested that desnes of Europe may be
placed at their disposal without the slightest danger to the
independence of the minor States which not permit
ted to have representative in those august tribunals
called congresses which dispose of them at pleasure 1t
Is quite evident there independent powers in
Europe except those who muster armies of half mil
ion and that there happy scheme for
orang the independence of the weak as that devised by
the strong maintaining the balance in Earope
Fortunately for the United States, they placed in
great without the vortex of this boiling whirlpool
of European politics The wisdom Of the great maxim Of
Washington to avoid all interference our part and
repe NIL interference, the part Of Others, becomes
more evident with the lapse Of time The necessity
Of firmly resisting oil attempts TO inse'ge the United
States into any partnership cooperation with Great