ALABAMA CLAIMS. a5 
moteness from the Old World, and the other because 
of its geographical position in the midst of the great 
military Powers of Europe. Both Governments are 
federal; and Switzerland, not content with those 
modifications .of her’ system of government adopted 
in the year 1848, which did so much to assimilate 
her political organization to that of the United 
States, now manifests the purpose to amend that 
Constitution so as to make it still more like to ours. 
In both countries the force of public life pervades 
society like the blood in the human system, so that 
every citizen is an active mentber of the Republic. 
Hence it is impossible to an intelligent American to 
avoid entertaining warm sympathy for the Swiss 
Confederation. 
Geneva is a cosmopolitan city, — situated in the 
very heart of Europe,—distinguished for the intelli- 
gence of its inhabitants and their love of liberty. It 
is city, in respect of the commodities of life: it is 
country, in so far as regards the locality and the sur- 
rounding natural objects, Lake Leman, the Jura, and 
the Alps. 
The Federal Government, as well as that of the 
Canton of Geneva, appreciated the honor of being the 
seat of this great international Tribunal, and did not 
fail to welcome most cordially the two Governments, 
their Agents and their Counsel, by conspicuous mani- 
festations of political as well as of personal considera- 
tion. The Cantonal Government at Geneva hastened 
to provide suitable accommodations for the Tribunal in 
‘the Hotel de Ville of that city; it afforded to the mem- 
