Sitting of the Federal Council and the Council of States

United Sitting of the Councils – The Federal Council

** Berne, 26 November. At yesterday’s united sitting of the councils  
Nr. 156, 30 November 1848  
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.  
not both Federal Councillors, Druey and Franscini, as was intended and stated as its purpose, were sworn in, but only the former. Franscini had not arrived, the post over the Gotthard having failed entirely on account of the heavy snow. The Federal Council was furthermore granted the authority to swear in those Federal Councillors and Federal Judges who might arrive only after a possible adjournment of the two legislative councils. – Previously, a sitting of the Council of States had taken place to consider the bill concerning the seat of the Confederation, adopted by the National Council the day before yesterday. The question, already made difficult by the National Council, was made even more difficult here. Fazy of Geneva moved that the seat of the Confederation be provisionally retained in Berne for one year, while in the meantime a more detailed law be drafted, which should also set out the obligations to be imposed on the canton regarding the protection of the federal authorities. The question was treated much too lightly. The Swiss people must also be given the opportunity to express its will beforehand. Briatte of Vaud, President of the Council of States, endorsed this view. Other members proposed further amendments: the seat of the Confederation should be determined by election in a united sitting; further, the seat of the Confederation should rotate, in the manner of the former presiding canton, but every six years, at least until the federal university is established, etc., etc. The debate had to be adjourned because of the hour fixed for the united sitting and is to be continued today. Rüttimann (Zurich) has proposed that the bill and the amendments be referred back to the committee. – After the united sitting, the National Council remained assembled to consider the bill submitted by the Federal Council on the assumption of all Swiss postal establishments by the Confederation

from 1 January 1849, with provisional retention of administration by the individual cantons until the definitive regulation of the postal system, but with authorisation for the confederate authority to alter the routes, etc., etc. The bill was adopted séance tenante, with minor amendments by Druey and others. Today the National Council is debating the bill on the responsibility of Swiss executive federal officials, proposed by the radical Dr. Emil Frei (Baselland), and, if time permits, the bill moved by Ochsenbein on the establishment of a federal university.
The Federal Council, the executive authority, has already held several meetings. On a provisional basis, Furrer has undertaken foreign affairs, Ochsenbein military affairs, and Frei-Herose finance. The confederate war council has consequently been thanked and deactivated. The Federal Council has further resolved to notify its constitution to the cantons, to the Swiss diplomatic agents abroad, and to foreign powers. Likewise, a complaint to the imperial government concerning the violation of territory in the Canton of Zurich, and at the same time the collection of inquiries from the cantons concerned regarding the conduct of the refugees and the truth of the facts published by the imperial power in the Ober-Post-Amts-Zeitung.