The Placer herald., 1861-05-18
NUMBER 81.
The Swiss Rerublic.

SoNOy w IiduCc HAS OIOuguI Ll0 IdttoT III
dangerous proximity to these mountain fast
nesses, which form the key to nearly all of
Southern Europe. Nor is the feeling be.
tween the two nations Of the most agreea-
BILE character. Petty disputes have for some-
time been breaking out between them, and
these are usually made to assume a magni.
tude out of all proportion to their real i'm
portance. But the Swiss have had their in
,ernal dissensions which have been settled
only on fields of bloody combat 1t is to
these, with the agencies which created them
and the consequence to which they gave
rise, that we would more particularly direct
attention.
| 1t is nearly five centuries and q half since
the renowned William Tell struck the blow
which ended in the independence of his
country But the heroes who won Morgan.
ten did not possess much more than thous
and square miles of territory, forming the
forest Cantons of Schwy'z, Uri and Inter.
walden. These formed the nucleus Of the
present republic occupying the almost mac
cessible regions north Of the Mount St.
Gothard, in whose sides are found the sour
ces of the Rhine, the Rhone and the Ticno
The region was an eagles nest, provided BY
nature for the Matching of II race of men,
strong Of limb, bold in action, and full Of
enthusiasm the qualities necessary to
win success in such an age as that. Victory
brought them allies, and during the ensuing
forty years the Confederation was joined by
Luze rne, Zurich, Glaris and Berne. The it,
tie State was repeatedly called to struggle
with invaleIs-Austrians Burgundians, Sar-
dinians, French, MiIanese, and even English;
but at Sempach, Base. Grandson, Morat
Nancy, &c. its sons vindica,ed its rights,
and made it one of the most formidable
powers in Europe. New ran,ons were ad-
mitted, and at the close of severe struggle
with the Emperor Maximiian in l499, the
treaty of Basle acknowledged the uncon.
ditional independence Of the Swiss Confsd
eracy. Fourteen years aiterward, the last
of the old thirteen cantons were admitted.
1t was not however, a career of glory and
conquest without any draw backs. In a con-
roversy with the house of Savoy the repuL.
lie WAS driven out of possession above, the
Lago Maggore, On the Italian side of tha
Alps, and these have ever since remained
with Piedmont. Then the monarchs Of Eu.
rope ma de treaties for liberty to obtain re-
cruits among the hardy monntaineers; and
these men, accustomed to tie license Of the
camp, soon corrupted the morals Of tho
State, which they di>honored AZ much by
their license as their fathers had honored by
their valor Religious disputes formed an.
other element OF discord. The inhabitants
Of the cities and the lower districts adopted
the doctrine Of the Reformation; those Of
the Forest Cantons, including the nuces Of
the Republic, adhered to Rome. Disputes
came to blows; and in ono of the engage.
ments the brave Zwngle lost his life The
quarrel WAS renewed, and in time became
thoroughly sectional in character-th the Prot
estant North arrayed against the Roman
Catholic South. So long and bitter was the
strife that it is believed Austria might have
interviewed and conquered the country; but
the jealousy OF other powers prevented her
from acquiring position Of so much i'm.
portance. from which she might &C, against
all the neighboring States with safety to
herself. In l64s, at the great European
Congress, the independence of Switzerland
was formally recognized. France and Ger
many, with the smaller States, being unwiI'
ling to surrender that key to Southern Eu-
rope to any other power.
We pass by the disputes from inequality
of taxation, at the beginning of the last
century, and the war of CELEBRATION" under
taken by the French at it's close. For time
the country became in effect French prov
ince But Moscow and Waterloo restored
independence to these moustsins: and the
treaty Of 1914 saw the limits of Switzerland
far. her enlarged until they included twenty
fW0 cant OnS tha nrQsant numhpr WAS
not however, until 1880 that liberal cou,
sttuton was framed. and even that was des
lined to give way to the present. adopted in
i84S. This was at the close of another 70.
ligious controyersy. arising from determi-
nation Of the Diet to expel the Jssui.s,
Seven of the upper cantons formed a League
known as the SondeTbUnd, determined to rs.
sisl tho decree of the National Council,
Once more the two factions came to blows
aud ia ls47 the Sonderbund troops were
defeated at Friburg aud Luzssns, in conse.
Quence of which was the expulsion OK the
Jesuits and the formation of the present
constitution. Excepting the executive.
which consists of eommittes Of seven.
chosen foF three years by the othsr councils.
the general gogernE,ent bears Q very close
reSem banee to th&t OF this country. and
doubtless the result OF cur experiment. had
much to 40 in inodeiing ths fpnlapaentM
law Of the yeterap republic.
EsFEcTs OF TIE Wac MEws.-~Ws andsr.
stand that Gold Dust has heep reduced to,
SIC SO per ounce shis IL caused by the
byL rate of insurance, which has more
aLsn doubled, shippers being afraid OF the