Mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado Co., Cal.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-11


OF the old COnstitution-closely resembling
our carly Articles OF Confedcration-became
so apparent, that general desire was mani
tested for its dbrOgatiOn, and in 164S, after the
!SOndcrbUhd was crushcd-a secession move
ment in the seven smaller cantOnS, aided by
foreign powers-a convention was called and
submitted q new Federal Constitution, rescm-
bling that Of the United States, which was
ratified by a large majority of the Swiss peo-
pie.
Thus it appears that the very federal insti-
tutions copied by our revolutionary ancestors
from the Swiss, were returned to them and
adopted after being perfected by the immortal
trainers. .---
The chief difference between the American
and Swiss Constitutions consists in the Exccu-
tive branch Of the Government In our Pres
ident VIC have retained the unity and power
of the mOnarchical system, but in Switzerland
The Executive Department is composed Of
seven members, elected for three years, by
the Federal Assembly in joint ballot, and de-
signated as the Federal Council. These mem
bcrs aretakcn from different portions of Switz-
crland, IS that no sectional feeling can be crea-
ted, and the smaller cantons may be thus as
fully represented in the Executive as in the
federation is elected for one year, by the AS
selnbly, from among the members Of the Fed
cral Council. lie prcSidcs over the delibcra-
tions Of that body, and is at the same time
Secretary of Foreign Affairs and Director of
the Political Department; the other Depart
mcntS, of War, Justice, Finance, Commerce,
PoStOficc and Interior, are under direction of
the Vice President, who invariably succeeds
the President in office, and other members OF
the'Federal Council. as the doctrine Of rota-
ton in office is comparatively unknown in
Switzerland, public servants are generally re-
taned as long as they prove honest, faithful
and efficient. y few days ago the seven mem
bers were reelected by large majorities, and
Mr.. Furrcr is about to occupy the Presidential
chair for the third time. Nor are young men
prescribed in this old Republic on account of
their youth, Mr.. Fornerod, the present Pres
idcnt, is only thirty-Scvcn years Of age and
Mr.. Strmpli one Of his predecessors, a noble
specimen Of Young Switzerland, is only flew
years his senior.
The members of the Council of State (Scn-
atc) are elected for the term Of one year by
the different Cantoncl Legislatures, two from
each Canton, making forty-fOur in ALL The
members Of the National Council blouse Of
Representatives, are elected for q term of three
years, by the people, in the rates of one rep
rcscntativc to every 10000 inhabitants; thcil
number is 10. The members of the Federal
Council appear before both Houses to partici-
pate in the debates, explain the policy Of the
Government and answer intcrrOgations
The Capital of Switzerland has just been
completed, and is intended for the reception
Of the Federal Council, the Council of States,
the National Council and the Supreme Court.
1t is large, imposing building, ovcrhanging
the river Aar, and presenting a magnificent
view of the I}crncsc Alps, shining like the
teSSalatcd battlcmcnts Of mighty fortress in
the distance. Though somewhat heavy in its
architectural style, the Federal Palace, as it is
called. accorls well with the austerity and
simplicity of the Swiss character.
| have attended the debates of the two
Houses with considerable interest," no sub
ccts of general importance have been discus
Scd, but was pleased with the buSinesS-likc &c
tone Of the members. No valuable time is
lost in unnecessary and abstract argument !;
no speeches are made for buncombc. In fact,
they would not be tolerated by the good sense
of the nation. School.boy rhetoric is altogeth-
er out Of place here, and the speeches are sell
dom more than half an hour in length, but
they are nearly always to the point. In this
manner great deal of business is transacted
in very short time, and the longest sessions
seldom last more than month. Nothing is
more singular to a stranger than to hear de-
bate carried on III three different languages I;
the Italian, however, is seldom used, and the
German prepondcratcs. for that language is
spoken by about three-fourthS of the popula-
ton.
The Government of Switzerland is, proba-
bly, in proportion to its population Of 2,5O0, :
900 the most economical in the world, the
average annual expenditures rarely exceeding
81, ,OOO, 900. The small revenue is chiefly de-
rived from merely Ominal import and transit
dues, and from transportation of mails and
passengers which singularly enough is one
Of the Federal attributes. There is no public
debt whatever.
The political atmosphere in Berne is hardly
less pure than that Of the surrounding SUM-
mitS Of the Alps No instances have been re-
corded here of political bribery and corrup-
ton. JObbing and lobbying are entirely un-
known. AS every branch of the Administra-
tion is subjected to the strictcst scrutiny, and
governed by the most rigid economy. no Op-
portunity is given to spectators and spOilS-
men to enrich themselves by fat contracts
Of Federal ofiicc-hOlders there arc few, and
they but poorly remuncratcd. Let those who
complain of the inadequate salary of our Pres
idcnt, remember that the President of Switzcr-
land, for equally valuable services, received,
until recently, but $1,000 annually; and
when his salary was increased to $4,000, a
great clamor was raised by the ultra.libefals
at such extravaganza. This is what may be
called practical republicanism with VEN
geancc. 1t is here the Office which confcrs
dignity, and not its emolumcnts. The Presi-
dents of Switzerland live in humble hired
rooms-arc waited on by single servant =
they neither give brilliant entertainments, nor
do they ride in costly cquipagcs; and yet
they are just as much loved and respected by
the people as if they were rolling in wealth.
II is difficult, while pursuing this train of
thought to refrain from cstablishinga compar-
ison between tho sister Republics Of the Old
and New World. While the mighty colossus
of the Western hemisphere is making giant
strides in all that constitutes material progress
and national expansion, the little Swiss Con-
federation, almost lost in the midst of Europe,
circumscribcd within narrow bounds by pow
eriul Deighbors, can only hope to maitain its
moderate prosperity and its present limits
Millions upon millions pour into our Treasury
annually, afIording ready prctcxt for extrava-
gancc, whilst Switzerland is forced to adopt
Al