The Poor Man of Toggenburg - Autobiography of Ulrich Bräker

So it seems the first step has been taken. May Heaven look favourably upon it and preserve for us in the future peace and harmony in the land. Since then the people's representatives of all communes in the country have been meeting once or twice a week in the council chamber of Lichtensteig, to deliberate on the concerns of the country and the general good of the people of the Toggenburg and keep everything in order. The assembly numbers about seventy men, who will have work enough until the constitution of the government is revised." [Voellmy, v 2 pp 307-310]

"Ah, everything strives for freedom - all want to be free, and are freed, all around me. Only I am still a slave - and not free. Slave of my creditors - dependent on my sponsors - bound to remain at my post under this burden for the rest of my days - to gasp out the evening of my life in sorrow - grief, care and misery must gnaw at my health - and shorten my life by half of what Nature has left to me - no - all that shall not happen. Away with all dejected whimpering and quaking - I too will set myself free, shake off with courage and decision the yoke of slavery and breathe more freely again, and even if I did not wish it, yet I must do it - the times and my circumstances compel me to it. I have fought till I could fight no more - and now my mind is at rest ... the next step shall be the first step towards the achievement of my freedom." [Böning, p 195]

In mid-February the Landsgemeind of the Toggenburg met to consider requests for military help from Bern, Freiburg, Solothurn and Zürich for defence against the French. The incendiary speeches of "a certain Pundt" (the Chronik spells his name as "Bont") led to a siege situation, the government was forced to allow the appointment of another session on February 26th, at which Bont would be allowed to speak. [Chronik, p 454]

[On 13th February a new Landsgemeind was elected in the Toggenburg. On the 14th the new Republic was proclaimed at Gossau and the Prince-Abbot bolted again, this time to the monastery of Einsiedln.]

"All a consequence of revolution, as it seems to me. This is now the spirit of the age. The French have awakened it. Now it echoes throughout almost the whole of Europe. Even to us, in the highest mountain valleys. Even the democratic cantons will perforce have their revolution. The men of Appenzell are forming parties for and against the smallest point of disagreement. The government should dispense justice to both factions, but this is not possible. Then the losing party falls upon it and compels it to decide in their favour. That sets off fisticuffs, licentiousness and violent deeds of all kinds so that the matter has to be decided before an extraordinary meeting of the cantonal assembly.

On my way to dear St. Gallen to see my beloved friends I heard many a truly tragic tale of scenes in both parties. And see how it goes! When you hear one side, you think they are in the right, and when one then hears the other side, you think that they could be in the right too. But as I say, to my mind the matter is not worth making so much noise about it. They were just chattering, or if you prefer, scolding. A certain Pundt was the ringleader and chief troublemaker, as I perceived it. The matter had already come before the council. But the council and all who held with the council were grievously insulted by Pundt and his party. On my return I heard that there was another great assembly of the council in Herisau. I saw whole cohorts of men and youths streaming from all directions, so that I surmised that it would all go topsy-turvey again. I heard from their foolish talk that the council would lose advantage by it. By thunder, we will tell them what to do, I heard one say. They should be peacemakers, and not take sides with parties, and not stir up the people against one another etc.