Friedrich Engels

Bern Declared Federal Capital – Franscini

** Bern, 28 November. In today’s sitting of the National Council,  
No. 158, 2 December 1848  
Neue Rheinische Zeitung.

Bern was declared the federal capital by 58 votes to 42. All that is now
lacking is the approval of the Council of States, which the Bernese public
confidently hopes for. The Council of States will hold a sitting at 4 o’clock
this afternoon and pass its decision on this matter; as the post leaves at
half past 4, it will be impossible for me to report the result of this sitting
today.

In its sitting yesterday, the Council of States adopted the decision of the
National Council on the Ticino matter without amendment, and it thus
has the force of law. The discussion, which dragged on for quite some time,
was marked in particular by a speech in favour of the Ticinese by Federal
Councillor Franscini, who had arrived the day before. Carteret of Geneva
also spoke with much energy in favour of the Italian refugees, and protested
against them being described in this assembly as “culprits”, whereas they
deserved the sympathies of all Swiss by their endeavours and struggles. The
very fact that the Ticinese had shown them such lively sympathy proved
that they were genuine Swiss. Despite these and several other decided
protests, especially against Article 2, which deprives Ticino of the right of
asylum, the entire decision of the National Council was, as mentioned,
carried by a fairly large majority. The German cantons decided here, too,
although a few German deputies also stood up for the Ticinese in the
Council of States.