The Federal Council to Mr. Fogg.
In referring to the correspondence which it already has had the honor to exchange with the legation from the United States of America accredited to the confederation, concerning the individual named Jean Zweifel, of Brooklyn, State [Page 396] of New York, the federal council has the honor to present to Mr. Fogg as follows:
Jean Zweifel, antecedently citizen of the commune of St. Gall, at Kallbrunn, emigrated in 1851 to North America, and acquired the right of citizen at Brooklyn, by certificate of 28th July, 1859.
In consequence of this acquisition, Zweifel renounced by act 16th August of the same year the rights of citizen communal and cantonal of St. Gall, and was, in consequence, released by resolution of 7th December, 1859, from the ties which connected him with his original country.
Zweifel returned about 18 months afterwards from America to the canton of St. Gall, married in the canton of Glavis a girl coming from the commune of Rieden, in St. Gall, had by her one child, and settled in the last commune, where he still sojourns with his wife and child.
By the tenor of a report of the communal council of Rieden, of the 5th current, Jean Zweifel lives with his family in the greatest indigence, and being affected, as appears by a physician’s certificate, with a chronic pulmonary complaint of grave character is not possible for him to maintain himself and provide food for himself and family. At the request of the government of St. Gall, the federal council begs the minister resident of the United States of America to be so good as to procure, in the mode it shall judge proper, contributions in favor of Jean Zweifel and his family, citizens of the American Union.
If the condition in which Jean Zweifel is found should not improve, the government of St. Gall would find itself obliged to insist on his being sent back to America, in conformity with article 3 of the treaty concluded between the Swiss confederation and the United States of America of the North, of 25th November, 1850.
In expectation of overtures which the minister resident of the United States of America may be in position to make in consequence of this communication, the federal council has the honor to renew to him the assurances of its high consideration.
In the name of the Federal Council, the President of the Confederation,
The Chancellor of the Confederation,