SWITZERLAND.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 732, 7 August 1852, Page 4

SWITZERLAND.

[From the linies's -Correspondent.] Geneva, March 14. The old quarrel between the Cantonal Government of Geneva and the Federal authority has been 'revived by the dispute of both with France, to such a degree as almost to reduce the external question at issue to a secondary importance, conrpared with the internal dispute. Both the Federal Council and the Cantonal Government have shown that they are far from wishing to resist or refuse the wishes of France as to the expulsion"

of any number of exiles ; there is but little scruple about sacrificing them on either side, and there would have been none at all had the language in which the expulsion was demanded been less insulting to the national pride. But the Federal Council excuses itself for not having done more, and more "directly, by complaining of the disobedience of the authorities of the canton, or rather M. Fazy, to its orders, and the disposition to evade them alleged to exist ; while the Getievese Government asserts it has strictly observed the Federal compact, has given tip all persons the central authority designated, but can* not, as guardian of the independence .of the canton, submit to the assumption of an authority ill defined, claimed in general terms, and not warranted by the Federal Constitution. The Central Council more tfian liints that Geneva, and the "Radical" cantonß generally, have caused the difficulty, and brought suspicion on the whole nation by, their avowed sympathy in political -opinion with many of the exiles, and deserve to suffer for it, — whether by an occupation by Federal troops, or a worse visitation from without, is not defined. Geneva protests against this charge, and pleads with some justice the positive measures it has taken against those who manifested any active hostility to other States, from its territory, and argnes that more or less of sympathy of opinion cannot be constructed into an offence, when it has carefully avoided any complicity of act. It also pursues the question further, and contends that, from the. tone of the permitted, if not authorised, French press, the demand of the expulsion of lefugees was little more than a pretext, and that the real ground of ibe hostility of France and Austria to Switzerland is its free institutions, a wish to revenge the war of the Sonderbund, and to restore Catholic ascendency wherever it has been overthrown, in Friburg, Lucerne, and Valais. By these recriminations the main question is thrown into the back ground, and treated less as a question of external policy than one in which the conflicting autboritfes of the Cantonal Governments and the Federal Council are principally concerned. In this respect it is only one of many other disputes, old and new ; but it is forgotten that abroad it is not so much regarded as a Swiss controversy as an European question, and one of international rights. The immediate difference with France, it is understood, is arranged ; and the internal conflict will be far less easily settled. Nor will a compliance with" the requisitions of France and Austria as to the exiles remove the other and greater causes of the dislike with which Switzerland is regarded by those powers. So far the conflict between the Federal authority and Cantonal independence has been limited to these accusations and replies, and the appointment of a Federal Commissary to Geneva, who has found little to do but procure the expulsion of a few German exiles who had evaded tt former decree. To these quite as little forbearance has been shewn as they would have met from their own Governments. Some of them have been sent to Berne, chained together 1 The Genevese Government must really be acquitted of any very tender regardfor them' now. There is no probability that Geneva will provoke extreme measures on the part of the Federal power, to which, indeed, the latter would_ resort with great reluctance ; gradually the territory will be cleared of the persons obnoxious to the Council, bythe apprehensions they excite in the susceptible French police ; whether through the Council and by a silent agreement, or given up to an imperative demand, is to the exiles much the same. But the form in which the riddance was to be effected has really been the great difficulty. The process of expulsion had been commenced long before the French note of January last so absolutely demanded it. And it is a curious .inconsistency of the French Government that, ever since it so insisted on this clearance of the Swiss territory of suspected individuals, it has itself added to their number. Persons continue to arrive from France with the police order to reside in Switzerland as exiles, as similar orders have been given for Belgium and England. The countries thus selected cannot bg the dangerous foyers of insurrection they are sometimes represented. To send exiles into a country, and then make their residence there aground of complaint and threats against the Governments of 1 those nations, is certainly a strange proceeding. It is rumoured that the Federal Assembly will be convoked, but the report cannot yet be officially confirmed. The measure is thought desirable, were it only to define the powers of the Federal Council, according to the 47th article of the Constitution, <( The" Confederation has the right to expel foreigners from its territory ;" it is not agreed whether this power ought to be exercised by the Federal Council, or by the Assembly itself. The latter, it is thought, as representing the whole country, is the best qualified to decide what is necessary for the national security. At Geneva, an order of the kind from the Assembly would be immediately accepted. The Independent, an Opposition journal, contains the following observations :—: — 11 Shall we have war 1 Are these' notes of the Elys6e serious, and to be taken as something more than mere bravado of the men of the sword 1 The question is an intricate one ; it must be cut to find the answer, for it may be reduced to* this — would the French Government declare war against Switzerland? Could it, without the greatest danger to* its- own existence, cross the Swiss frontier ? It is certain that hatred and a disposition to do it are not wanting, but a regard for its own preservation will arrest the execution of its projects. Switzerland cannot be taken like the liberties, the constitution, and, all the republican laws of France. It is impossible to suppose that England and the United States would allow our country to be invaded without some remonstrance. Not only is America opposed to every attack of this kind, but it is very probable that there the opinion in favour of intervention on behalf of the Free States of Europe will obtain the predominance. It should also not be lost sight of that an invasion of Switzerland by France, under its present Government, would be. more a religious than a political movement ; in this case, Prussia would be obliged to make common cause with the Free States against the brutaheing invasion of Ultramontanism. Certainly Switzerland would not be abandoned by diplomacy ; but what would constitute its true external strength is the revolutionary spirit that is again agitating France, and which is still active in Italy, Hungary, and the German States. The first cannon

fired by Bonaparte- ngainst a free people, who desire nothing bur to live at peace among their mountains, in the enjoyment of their own independence, would be ihe signal of a general insurrection in favour of freedom. This is known at the Elysee, and the French Government will confine itself to insolent notes; by which the Federal Council would not have been humiliated, if it had always been fully conscious of what was intrusted to it — the dignity of the nation. If it has prostrated itself, can it wonder^it is treated imperiously? The gross insult it has received from i reuch diplomacy is the natural consequence of the anterior conduct of the Council in" the question of the refugees. What consideration could it expect to meet with from the Prince President after it had acted as his gendarme and his gaoler ? Unfortunately, the Swiss nation felt itself outraged by such language ; but it must pocket the Bffront, wbicb ought. properly only to have been received by the Diplomatists of the Council." The same paper ventures to remonstrance with M. Fazy for appearing disposed to. reject the responsibility of the measures that have created the difference between the Canton, and the Central authorities. He has made a direct complaint that he is always so personally mixed up in the dispute. The democratic Opposition thinks he has always exercised so much personal authority in> all the affairs of the Cantonal Government, that it is quite natural to suppose the present policy on the refugee question is his also. He is surrounded by cyphers, states' the discontented faction of his party, and ought not to complain if he begins to feel the inconvenient pressure, of his omnipotence. This, however, is only the local opposition that all authority is almost sure to create^ It is very mild compared to the attacks his Government has to sustain from the Conservative party beyond the canton..