Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/76

38 ecrecy, and ome of thee are of great importance, are debated and determined.

The grand council aembles and deliberates by its own authority at tated times, and uperintends all affairs, although the moy important are delegated generally to the enate. The whole adminitration is celebrated for its uncommon moderation, preciion, and dipatch.

There are eventy-two bailiwicks, ditributed in four claes, comprehending a country of ixty leagues in length, or a third part of all Switzerland, ubject to this city. The bailiffs are appointed by lot from the grand council. They were formerly choen, but this method rendering all the members dependent upon a few, who had the mot influence, it had too trong a tendency to an oligarchy. The bailiwicks are the mot profitable places, and are filled from the grand council. The bailiffs live in much plendour, and are able to lay up two or three thouand pounds terling a year, beides dicharging all their expences. They repreent the overeign authority, put the laws in execution, collect the revenues, act as judges in civil and criminal caues; but an appeal lies to Berne, in civil caues to the courts of jutice, and in criminal to the enate: but as the judges on appeal are perons who either have been or expect to be bailiffs, there is great reaon to be apprehenive of partiality.

There is no tanding army, but every male of ixteen is enrolled in the militia, and obliged to provide himelf an uniform, a muket, powder and ball; and no peaant is allowed to marry, without producing his arms and uniform. The arms are inpected every year, and the men exercied. There are arenals of arms at Berne, and in