The Express.
London, England, 1859-01-08 00:00:00

MEETING ON THE BALLOT AT SHEFFIELD.

On Thursday evening apublic meeting was held
fa the Temperance-WI, Sheffield, to consider •'the Import-
sem of mating the ballot a part of the new Reform ball."
Alderman Hoot.' presided, and introduced the subject to the

arrilLiter Mom thee said be had been requested to
come and state the way in which the ballot operated in Ame-
n:a. He was sure that the line of argument adopted by
some of the opponents of the ballot wee unjust, because it
was not awarding to fact. and could not be proved. In
Americo they were of opinion that all power emanated from,
sad in tact belonged to, the people. Thattwas so in England,
whether it was the popular opinion or not. Some people
had the audacity to say that they could not see the meaning
of the ballot, about which there was so much noise, and that
they could not me ot what use it was. The reply was, that it
wee to protect the voter in his inalienable rights, and at the
thine time se • matter of convenienos. The people were not
scomnuthia to anybody for the use of their power, end ought
therefore robe allowed to vote la • way which did not My
them open to the interference of others. (Hear.) She
people were applied to for the Paths and for all the power
that was enured • and that being so, why should they nth I
have • vote in the election of those who made the taxes, sod
hadthe power ot entering into wan? It had bola add to I
opposition to the ballot, that io New York, where the ballot
was in use, there had been disorderly elections. That, no
doubt, was so • but had they not disorderly elections here
(Applause.) In England, about one man in every six was
an erector • but in New York nine out ot every ten voted.
(Hear, hear.) In New York they laboured under greater
oitlicniuse then in England, beelines more than two-fifths of
the population et New York were persons of foreign birth,
and were, therefore, Ifal eontrollsble. Open bribery warn
certainly not common in America. Purchaaing votes wan
not common, for a good ream), and that wee that there
was too large • crowd to buy. And that wee
not all, bemuse purchasing votes wee • very mmertaln spe-
culetioo, as they might By away. (" Hear, " and applause.)
Votes for the different 'candidates could be bad by. those who
voted, and if a ruffles asked, Who ere you going to vote
for the vote for the ruffian's friend might be shown to
him, and another one used. That showed the importance of
the ballot in • slight sense, because it could not be MOW -
tainted after for whom he voted. Those who were in favour
of a reform bill, and were opposed to the ballot, might he
understood to be saying, " We will give the people nominally
a certain amount of power, but in reality we will let these
have none, so that we can mill have them under our thumb."
(Applause.) There could be no objection to the ballot, ex-
cept that intimidation might to carried on as tumid. As
some ruffians had on some «Timken called for a sight of the
votes before they were given, the legislature dropped upon
them by ordering that votes should be enclosed an a secret
envelope before being dropped into the ballot box. The
persons who wanted the opinion of the people as they
thought them would give them the ballot, but those who did
not want them said, "You must have open voting." (Ap-
plause.)
Mr. WHITEHVItar having addressed the meeting,
Councilloe Bourn moved "That this meeting desires to
express its °pigeon that the adoption of the ballot is Incluipen-
mete to as honest representation, and that no measure fur the
amendment of the representation of the people in the Com-
mons Howe of Parliament will be satisfactory which does
not contain • provision that the vote' he hash by way of the
ballot."
The Rev. H. O. RHODES seconded the proposition.
The enAtilltAN wen proposed " That this meeting,
Bhilst it sincerer y rejoices in the convalescence of John
right, Esq., MP., desires at the same time to convey to
him it. hearty thanks for his untiring and unflinching exer-
tions to obtain fur the working classes of this country a Lair
and full there of the elective franchise, and that franchise re-
tailed by the bellot."
Mr. Mixes, in seconding the etiolation, said that in the
United States, where he had spent most of his life, the
opinions oftenee quitted, respected most, looked up to most,
were those of three or (cur individuate. The King or Queen
of England never made speeches, xcept short ones from the
throne, but there were three or four parsons in the British
parliament whose opinions were quoted and respected in
America. The first person he should DIMS was the late
Joiepla Hume, and the others were John Bright, Richard
Cobden. and that untbaching patriot whom they all knew,
John Arthur Roebuck. (Loud cheers.)
Toe resolution was carried uminiaitocaly.
Alter the thanks ot the meeting had been voted to the
chetroon. Mr. Whitehuret, and Mr. Miles, the proceedings
terminated.