Letters from Berne of the 18th instant report the first
sitting of the Helvetic Diet. M. Furrer, the Deputy for Zurich, proposed that two Federal representatives be sent to each of the Cantons of the League, that a proclamation be addressed to the people of those Cantons, and that the Committee appointed last session be directed to give instruc- tions to the Federal representatives. The deputies of the majority were extremely chary of words, confining themselves to the proposi-
tion, and observing that it was urgently necessary to adopt measures to restore the Confederacy. The deputies of the League, finding no respite for their respective Cantons except in a dilatory measure, demanded that the proposition of Zurich be printed and communicated to the depu- tations of the Cantons whom it particularly interested. This motion en- countered opposition; and the member for Argau, M. Frei Herose, ob- served that the delay granted by the adjournment of the Diet had been employed by Lucerne, and the other states of the Sonderbund, in making new armaments, and in circulating incendiary proclamations through the country, and that the same thing would occur if a new delay were accorded. The Deputy of Basle-City endeavoured again to perform the part of a mediator, by moving the appointment of a committee to confer with the deputies of the Sonderbund and hear their grievances. This motion, how- ever, was only supported by two members. The proposition of Zurich was then carried by the ordinary majority of twelve states and two half-states. The assembly next proceeded to elect the Federal representatives; but the deputies of the Sonderbund and Neufchatel took no part in the discussion. All those deputies, with the exception of one, who is a Radical, are mode- ate Liberals. On the 19th the Diet was to discuss the draught of a pro- clamation, and nominate the superior officers of the Federal staff.
The military measures adopted by Berne had rendered the League more circumspect; and the last accounts from Freiamt, the Catholic district of Argau, stated that the attempts made by the emissaries of Lucerne to in- duce its inhabitants to side with the League had completely failed.
Previous page
