The Express.
London, England, 1853-12-21 00:00:00

THE BALLOT.

BATH, Dcc. 20.
Latt evening a large and enthusiastic meeting
was held at the Guildhall, in this city, to promote the
movement set on foot by the London Ballot Society for se-
curing by any new Reform Bill which may be brought for-
ward the protection of voting by ballot to the electors. The
banquet iog.room, in which the meeting was held, was
crowded in every part ; and the platform was filled by the
leading men of the ❑►eral party. The chair was taken by
Mr. W. Ilust, ►n alderman and magistrate ter the city ;
and there were also present the two borough members,
Captain Seubell, It N., and Mr. Mina, with the veteran re•
former Colonel Thompson, ea-IMP., and Mr. E. C. White-
burst as a deputation from the Ballot Society, sod who,
with the members, were loudly cheered on making their
appearance.

Mr. E. AI:NIAtUt briefly moved the first resolution :
That it is the opinion of this meeting that t►e bras. ry, in-
timidation,and general profligacy at parliamentary etectione,
as Imposed before election committees and commissioner,
are fast tending to destroy the efficiency of reprenntstive
government, and have been encouraged by the system of
epee voting, and that no effectual remedy exists fur such
demoralising practices, nor can any real protection At
given to the voter but by the adoption of the yob: by
ballot." (Cheers.)

Captain Sconkki., MT., who was received with great
applause, after a few introductory observation', said, they
were met to-night upon a great and important que"tion,
and it was no nett to blink it, one which had a great man)
enemies, some conscientious ones, others pretended ones
lf, however, a right—or call it anything else if they chose
—was deputed to a citizen ought he not to be able to exer-
cise it freely? (Hear.) It was said, secret voting would
be ma-English. Were their Cabinet councils au-English,
and yet they were secret ? Lord John Russell, who was a
good reformer upon other points, but who had unfortu-
nately forsaken the banner of the ballot which he
formerly raised, said the courts of law were open,
and therefore voting ought to be open. Ile did
nit think there was any analogy between the two;
but he would ask wee there no part of the administration

of the law secret? Why, he bad often been on grand ju-
ries, and they were sworn to weresy ; and why, for the good
of the subject, that matters might not transpire injurious to
kllear, hear.) As an income tat commissioner

be was also sworn to secresy. So were all their clerks and
collectors. If secretly was not desirable in some cates,why not
have tradesmen's books thrown open and their business ex-
posed ? He maintained secrecy was desirable in the elec- '
den of members of parliament. The ballot had not been tried
in this country, except in the clubs. (Hear) There was not
• gentleman who would not feel it to be an evil to deprive ,
him of the ballot at his club. But for that protection they
would be always squabbling and calling each other out. If
then such a protection were necessary for the aristocracy,
surely it was for the middle and working classes, who were
striving to maintain their families. (Hear.) The ballot had
been tried, however, in Belgium, and had men found to an-
swer from beginning to end. (Hear, hear.) It had also
been tried in free America, and it had answered there, nut-
withstaudiog Mr. Duraeli's sneer when there was a little
row over the ballot-hoz. Mr. Disraeli might as well say,
because two members of Congress once fought on the ft wr
of the house, that the people ought to have no representa-
tives. The efficacy of the ballot in America was proved by
the peaceableness of their elections, and he might say, he
believed, the total absence of bribery. (Hear, bear.) In
France and Switzerland also the ballot bad answers d well.
Ile believed that the farmers desired the ballot as much
as any elves of men, but they dare not ask
for it. It was the towns that must fight this battle. If they
did their duties in independent constituencies like Bath,
and the electors in all the large towns pressed upon their
representatives to do their duty, the ballot might be gut.
(Hear, hear.) No less than 172 members divided for it on
the last occasion, and 200 members were absent. It had
always been said e. hen they could get 200 members to vote
for it, they would have it. Ile hoped the 172 would tell
the ministry that they were not to be trifled with, but that
they represented the voice of the people, and were deter-
mined to have their demands satisfied. (Cheers.) He found
that out of 50 members returned by 25 of the largest con-
stituencies, with a population of Diue or ten millions, 43
voted for the ballot. (Chan) Very nearly all the large cen-
stituencies were with them, and he believed it only required
determined and united action to secure their object. (Ap-
plause.) He trusted they should yet find that Lord J. Rus-
sell was not final upon this more than upon other questions
of reform. He advised them to buckle on their armour
for this fight, then—to be calm, bat flees, and never to give
up the contest until they had secured the victory. (Loud
cheers.)
Mr. PiiiNkr, M.P., rose amidst enthusiastic cheers to sup-
port the reeolation. He said they in Bath had been fur
years past convinced, and bad felt the deep and particular
necessity of some such measure—(hear, hear)—not so much
for their own sakes, although the effects of intimidation
were well known to them, as for the protection of other lees
independent constituencies against bribery and coercion,
disgraceful to those who used such means, and humiliating
aid dishonourable to the victims. lle would ra-
ther have • contracted suffrage with the voters
free, unbiassed, and unfettered, than an eateeded
suffrage with the electors unable to give free
expression to their opinions. The resolution pointed to
great causes of corruption, bribery, and intimi lama. The
ballot might not be • perfect remedy for these evils; but
it was as perfect as the ingenuity of man had yet been able
to devise, and unless its opponents could point out a better
they would continue to agitate for its adoption. (Cheers.)
If they retained small constituencies bribery might not be
entirely swept away, but with the ballot it would be diffi-
cult to carry it out. (Hear, hear.) When he was one of
the St. Alban's Commissioners he asked a gentleman of
great eltetioteeririg experience what he thought of the ballot
as a cure fur bribery ? He replied that he tbeught he might
be able to succeed with bribery once or twice, but that the
ballot in the end would prove effectual. He (Mr. Phinn)
asked him how he made that out ? Why, he replied, when
you have to deal with men who receive bribes, you have to
deal with slippery fellows. We are both engaged in illegal
transactions; and when two people are so engaged together
they are not very ready to trust each other. Under the
ballot system, however, I must trust the man I bribe, or he
must trust me. I mast pay him either before or after the
election. If before, I trust him, and he may go and vote
against me; if after, he must trust me, and then I may have
claims from every bribable man in the place without any
of them having voted for me. That would sever last long.
The statement of a man of experience like that (continued
Mr. Phios) was worth all the fine 'pea theories of what
might happen if the ballot were law. But it was said the
ballot was un-English. Was it English for sea to take
their custom from *then because they did sot vote as they
did ? Which was the most English of the two ? OLIO
great advantage of the ballet was, that it would pbt an end
to the abominable system of canvaniag. But it was ob-
jected that the ballot would encourage lying. He denied
that it would be prod.ctive of so mach lying as the present
spitem. If they asked a question they had no right to ask,
they must expect an evasive answer ; but under the pre.
oat system every man who voted under coercion positively
and directly lied. (Hear, hear.) There was a great
fallacy which he had often heard used—that the
franchise was • trust. It was not a trust,
in the sense intended, though it was in another sense. The
name "franchise" meant the tree right of an individual
to exercise it. All oar great constitutional writers had
treated it as such. It was • trust only in the way that pro-
perty was a trust, and talent and influence were trusts, to
be exercised for the benefit of all. (Hear, hear.) If it was
• trust in the narrower mese, who was it that alone had
the right to object to the ballot? Why, the non-electors.
But did the non-electors object ? He saw many non-elec-
tors there, whom he hoped to see electors by the time they
met again; bet, as non- electors. did they object to the
ballot? (Cries of "No!") That thee was the best
answer to that objection, and disposed of a good deal of
east on this subject. (Cheers.) There was an historical
fact of which perhaps they were not all aware—that a bill
for the ballet, introduced by Mr. Wortley, the ancestor of
Lord Wharneliffe, passed the House of Commsas in 1710,
and was thrown out by the Lords t'orough the influence of
the crown. The ballot, therefore, was not a new tingled
notion. But how were they to get the ballot! (A
voice—" Through the people.") Thats gentleman had hit
the ark; but how through the people? It must
be by bringing public opinion to act upon the representa-
tives. The government were now in jeopardy ; there were
attempts to patch up parties. Hitherto all these efforts
had been for self interest ; but it was remarkable that the
people's party in the house had never stipulated for their
share. Now let the 170 or 200 members favourable to the
ballot stipulate, and say to the government our terms of
support are the ballot. (Cheers.) That was what was
wanted. 11, did not say they were going to get the ballot
to-morrow; bat they should always be prepared for the
opportunity when it came. In English politics there was
no such weld as " Never," and that which was a grain of
mustard seed to-day, to-morrow might be • flourishing tree.
(Hear, hear.) He hoped they would push onward firmly
and boldly for this object, aid though he wished to see all
, climes represented, be believed an extension of the suffrage
without the ballot would be a positive evil rather than a
good. He trusted, therefore, the ministry would wisely
, give this protection to the people. (Loud cheers )
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. T. W. SAUNDERS moved the nest resolution. "That
the present government, baring promised to introduce a
reform bill in the ensuing session of parliament, this meet-
ing is of opinion that any referees in the electoral system
will be ineffectual unless accompanied by the ballot."
' The resolution was then carried unanimously.
Admiral GORDON moved the neat resolution, for the for-
mation of an auziliary society in Bath to aid the London
Ballot Society in more effectually collecting gad consoli-
dating public opinion upon the question of the ballot.
Dr. BRABANT seconded the resolution.
Mr. E. C. WHIEEHURST supported the resolution.
The meeting was also addressed by Mr. Archard, Alder-
man Hancock, Admiral Saumarez, &c., and votes of 'basks
to the deputation and to the city members were cart ied by
acclamation. Three cheers were also given for Colonel
Thompson, and three each for Captain &obeli and Mr.
Plains after which a vote of thanks was given to the
chairniao, and the meeting separated.