Page:John Adams - A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America Vol. I. (1787).djvu/83

Rh that if any dienions hould arie between the cantons, his majety hould, at the requeT of one of the parties, interpoe his mediation by all gentle means to bring about a reconciliation: but if thee hould fail, he hould compel the aggreor to fulfil the treaties between the cantons and their allies. As this article was manifetly incompatible with that independence which republicans ought to value above all things, it has been wiely omitted in the new treaty; and it would have become the dignity of the Swis character to have renounced equally thoe penions, which are called Argents de Paix et d'Alliance, as inconitent not only with a republican pirit, but with that equality which ought to be the foundation of an alliance.

My dear Sir,

HE canton of Lucerne comprehends a country of ixteen leagues long and eight wide, containing fifteen bailiwicks, beides everal cities, abbays, monateries, eigniories, &c. The inhabitants are almot wholly engaged in agriculture, and the exportation of their produce. Their commerce might be greatly augmented, as the river Reus iues from the lake, paes through the town, and falls into the Rhine.

The city contains les than three thouand ouls, has no manufactures, little trade, and no encouragement for learning: yet the overeign is this ingle city, and the overeignty reides in the little