Constitution is the old Swiss league, which lasted from 1291 to 1798. But there had been simply alliances between different Cantons, and no real federal constitution existed. The establishment of the Helvetic Republic, one and indivisible, was the first attempt at a constitution. The representative democracy of the United States found a soil ready prepared for it in Switzerland, to which it was transplanted by French intervention. The constitution _unitaire_ was imposed on Switzerland most tyrannically, but it was not in itself a bad one. Under what may be called the French readjustment of Switzerland, constitutions rose and fell and succeeded each other in rapid rotation from 1798 to 1803. First appears a project of the Constitution of March, 1798; by this a single centralized state was substituted for the thirteen old Cantons. It served with modifications as the groundwork of another sketched in April of the same year. This latter was prevented by the outbreak of war between France and Austria in 1799 from taking root. Another Constitution of May, 1801, approved by Bonaparte, then First Consul, was acceptable to few in its political and territorial arrangements. The Cantons became mere divisions, like counties or departments. One of its earliest provisions abolishes the ancient democracies of the Forest Cantons. The traditions of independence in these older Cantons, and the elements of internal opposition, were too strong to admit of submission. The inhabitants of these sequestered regions, communicating little with the rest of the world, ardently attached to their liberties, inheriting all the dauntless intrepidity of their forefathers, clearly perceived that, in the wreck of all their ancient institutions, the independence of their country could not long be maintained. They saw that the insidious promises of the French envoys had terminated only in ruinous exaction and tyrannical rule. Animated by these feelings, “We have lived,” said they, “for several centuries under a republic based on liberty and equality; possessing no other goods in the world but our religion and our independence; no other riches but our herds; our first duty is to defend them.” This attempt to form the whole of Switzerland into a united representative system could not be permanent, and was soon dissolved. Other constitutions followed in October, 1801, February, 1802, and July, 1802. Then February 2, 1803, came, under the so-called Act of Mediation, a moderately centralized federal government granted by Napoleon. Old family and civic privileges were annulled; all Swiss were made equal in the eye of the law, and vassalage was altogether abolished, and free right of settlement in any part of Switzerland assured to all. All alliances of one Canton with another, or with a foreign state, were interdicted. This was stipulated in consequence of an improper alliance in 1442 by Zurich with the House of Austria. It was ordained