The Express.
London, England, 1853-06-28 00:00:00

TOTE BY BALLOT.

Last evening a public meeting of the inhabitants
of Marylebone was held at the Court House, Marylebone-
lane, fur the purpose of adopting such measures as may be
deemed expedient to secure the protection of the ballot in
the exercise of the parliamentary franchise.
Lord DUDLEY COUTES Sicaur uecupkd the chair, and
stated that the meeting had been convened by those who
were desirous of securing a full, fair, and free representation
of the people in parliament. Although ho was not always
in favour of that measure, yet experience of life, and his
observation of the practices resorted to at elections for
members of parliament, had led him to the conclusion
that there was no means of protecting the people against
the influence of corruption and intimidation except the
helot. When he came to this conclusion, he did not hesi-
tate to give his support to the proposed measure for vote by
bollot, aad he had the pleasure of recording his vote in the
House of Commons in favour of it ever since he had had the
1 honour of representing this borough in parliament. After
alluding to the progress which had been made upon the
subject from the time it was first brought before the Ileum
of Commons by Mr. Otote to the present moment, when it
continued to receive the zealous advocacy of Mr. Berkeley
(who had upon two occasions obtained a majority upon the
question), the noble lord went on to say that the instances
of bribery and corruption which had been exposed since the
last general election alineeLantly proved that the principle
of vote by ballot was more deserving of consideration and
support than ever it was. An opinion had been expressed
that this meeting was ill-timed, seeing that the House of
Commons had recently given a decision against the ballot;
but be would remind those who held such an o inion that
the womb= tory whipper in, Mr. Forbes Micksooe, and
Mr. Turner, had been unseated fur Liverpool on the ground
of bribery, and Mr. Freshfield, the tory member for Bes-
tow, had given notice that he should, on as early a day as
possible, namely, to-morrow, move that a new writ be
Waned for Liverpool. To this he (Lord Dudley Stuart) Lad
given notice of an amendment, that at the next election for
the borough of Liverpool the voting should be taken by
ballot. (Cheers.) In order that he might be enabled
to bring forward this amendment he should move that the
writ for Liverpool be suspended till the 20. h July; and
in the event of his motion proving unsuccessful
there was another in reserve, by Mr. Bonham Carter, that
in all cases where the parliamentary election committees
had reported that bribery and corruption existed in
boroughs the voting should in future be taken by ballot.
On these grounds he thought the present moment an ap-
propriate one fur such • meeting. (Cheers.) The noble
lord concluded by expressing his opinion that great as was
the necessity for vote by ballot, the obje ct could not be
successfully accomplished without an extension of the fran-
chise. (Cheers.)
Letters were read from several members of parliament,
regretting their inability to be pica nt, and expressing
themselves in favour of the ballot.
Ir. HEPWORTH Ducox addressed the meeting on the
part of the Blot Setiety, by whom it appeared the meet-
ing was convened, and urged at some length that it was
quite impossible for the people to be fairly and freely
represented until the principle of vote by ballot was
brought into operation throughout the country.
Mr. Mizoram. moved the first resolutiou, pledging the
meeting to support the Ballot Society.
Mr. buoax seconded the resolution, which was supported
by Admiral Sir CHARLES NAPIER.
The lion. H. F. Bennetzv, M.P., said he now rose
to address the people of Marylebone for the first time in his
life, and he thanked the members of that borough, more
especially Lord Dudley Stuart, for the kind and zealous
support they had always given to that subject, to which he
had more particularly directed hie attention. Considering
the manner in which Marylebone was represented, there was
no borough in the kingdom in which the ballot was less nem.
miry, and therefore he might fairly say that they canoe for-
d unfettered, with a desire to aid in the accomplishment
of a most desirable object. The hon. gentleman proceeded
to explain the circumstances under which he Lad continued
to urge the ballot upon the consideration of the flame of
Commons, and quoted the opinicn of Sir H. Ward, ho took
a deep interest so the question, that no reforms inttuis coun-
try would be of any avail without the ballot. Mr. Berkeley
observed, in the course of his address, that open voting
tended to the suppression of public opinion, ands./ bare and
barren was the cause of open voting, that the minority for
the ballot had been growing during the last three years.
Mr. W. J. O'Coureett. said he was sure there was not
a single Irish member in the House of Commons, who
would dare to thow his face to Lis constituents, if he voted
against the ballot.
The resolution was then unanim3usly adopted.
A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the
business terminated.

CANTERBURY BRIBERY COMMISSION.

ADJOURNMENT OF THE INQUIRY.

CANTEEICAY, MONDAY EVENING.
At ten o'clock the commissioners proceeded with
their investigation, and examined upwards of do voters,
who admitted having been bribed in 1817 and in 1852, in
various sums varying from 21. to 8/ , but mostly in 31.
Shortly after two o'clock, the Chief Commissioner (Mr.
Slade) said they had now got through a very painful in-
quiry, in many vspects, sad lie complimented some of the
parties who bad been examined for the very fair and free
disclosures which they had made ; but thee were others he
could not say so much for. The cornmissioncn were ex-
eteilingly anxious that Lord Londeshorough should be ex-
smitten, and they communicated that desire to his lordship,
who had sent a medical certificate showing that his state of
health would not admit of coming to Canterbury for that
purge-e. If his lordship did not appear to be examined,
the commissioners would have to give crededee in that rc-
port to what had been depercd to on oath against his lord-
ship. Ile (Mr. &ode) thought the examination should
take place in Canterbury. (Applause.) They should now
adjourn to London, and if his lordship did not then appear
he (Mr. Slade) should give credit to the statement that his
lordship had been guilty of bribery.
Mr. Dunham observed that the testimony which bore
upon Lord Londesborough was the statement of Goodwin,
who had given his evidence in such a manner that he should
be very mutt) place implicit reliance in viy statement he
had made.
Mr. 'Wit/ should reserve his judgment upon the alle-
gations against Lord Londcshorough until he had heard
his lordship's answer to them. Ilu was of opinion, how-
ever, that the examination should talt, p!ace in Canter-

bury.
The court was then adjoutistd to the Grtat Ilall of Mal
at Westminster on Wednesday.
to evidence of Goodwin (above referred to) was to Hi*
effict that in 1847 he had an important Exchequer maw
on, and he communicated wi.b Lord Londesbolomea 1114.1 s
1/4,1 A. Convngham) to assist Min in getting Its penalty
mitigated. Hi. lordship promised to do so if he (Goolvtin)
did all h. could for his lordship at the election. lard
Albert ksrformsd his part, and he (Cloadwin) did his.