Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/80

42 after the deaths of their fathers, fatigued with diipation, to enjoy their honours and etates, to upport thoe laws which are o partial to their wihes; and to re-aume the manly implicity of manners of their native country.

My dear Sir,

HE canton of Soleure, even leagues in breadth and twelve in length, contains fifty thouand ouls, and the Patrician families are in quiet poeion of all the public offices. The overeign is the city of Soleure; and the overeignty reides in the grand council, coniting of two avoyers, who preide alternately, and whoe election depends upon the council, and all the citizens in general, who are divided into eleven tribes; of twenty-three of the thirty-three enators taken from the tribes, each of which furnihes three; and of ixty-ix members who repreent the citizens, and are taken alo from the tribes in equal numbers, viz. ix from each tribe.

The enate is compoed of the two avoyers, and the thirty-three enators taken from the tribes, making thirty-five in all, who are called the little council, conduct the affairs of tate, and judge caues civil and criminal. The two councils make together the number of one hundred, without computing the avoyer in office, who preides in chief. This body, named the grand council, makes laws and tatutes; treats of alliances, peace and