The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-19 00:00:00

THE ADOPTION OF THE BALLOT THE BEST
MEANS FOR PERMANENTLY SECURING
THE BLESSINGS OF FREE TRADE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—Whilst the various political chiettans are
macceavring co obtain power by securing the triumph of
their own particular dogmas—at a time when we have
a Protectionist Government actually in power, threaten-
ing to endanger the permanence of free trade, thereby
reviving the excitement of the Anti-Correlaw League,
and the antagonism of class interests,—and when from
the pledges of the Protectionists doubts are
engendered in the public mind as to what
may be the future commercial policy of this
country, it appears tolerably certain that the
battle between Protectionist and Free-trade principles
will for the present throw entirely into the shade all
prospect of a reform in our representative system, and
possibly retard for years the accomplishment of the
peoples' natural desires, unless some decided steps be
taken for uniting under one common banner the various
sections of Free-traders and Reform-s s. Strange that
such should be the position of the Reform party with a
majority of professed Liberals in the Commons House of
Parliament I
It behoves, therefore, all sections of Reformers at a
crisis like this to be united in purpose, and firm in the
principles on which they are to take their stand. I re-
joiced to observe that an influential meeting took place
on Thursday last at Lord John Russell's residence, as,
from what transpired at that meeting, hopes may be
entertained of better things for the fature from the
Whig party, should they again be called to take the
helm of the State. Lord John has withdrawn his milk-
and-water measure of reform, and will probably
see the necessity of making considerable amendments in
it before again introducing it into the House ot Com-
mons, so as to make it more palatable to the great body
of the people. Ere many weeks can elapse a dissolution
of the present Parliament will take place, when the
Reformers will have to fight the battle under disadvan-
tages to which they would not have been subjected
had Lord John's late measure been better adapted
to the exigencies of the times, and contained a
clause for taking the votes of electors at all future
elections by ballot, without which, I maintain, it will be
almost impossible to arrive at a fair conclusion as to the
feeling of the people generally, either under the present
system, or even supposing the suffrage to be extended
in the manner lately proposed by the Whig Govern-
ment.
The course that now appears to me to be open to the
various sections of the opposition party, comprising
Peelites, Radicals, and Whigs, is to unite firmly on two
grand points—" Reform and Free Trade," by which the
blessings of cheap food may be permanently se-
cured to the people, the prosperity of the country
at large maintained, and the cause of progress
materially advanced. The policy of free trade was
nobly carried out by the late Sir Robert Peel, to the
sacrifice of his own personal interest, and it is but due
to the memory of that distinguished statesman that
his followers and the admirers of his policy should
make a glorious struggle for the maintenance of the
legacy tor which that patriot suffered so much
abuse from former friends, besides loss of
power. There are many able statesmen left
of the Peel party, with Sir James Graham standing
prominently forward as their leader; these statesmen
are decided favourites with the great mass of the people,
arid if they play their cards well, are certain very soon
to be called upon to take a prominent share at least in
the management of the affairs of the country.
The Russell Retorm Bill being shelved for the pre-
sent session and Parlisment, let a demand be immedi-
ao ly made for the ballot; all sections ot Free-traders
should now unite on this one subject, and let a measure
be at once brought forward, before the present Parlia-
ment be dissolved, to secure " freedom of election arid
protection to voters in the exercise of their franchise,"
and even under our present system of representation, free
trade would be saved from all danger. If this course be
not ad p.ed, it i 4 tar from improbable the landlords' and
Government iefluence combined will secure a majority
to the Protectionists at the ensuing election. and whether
they could succeed or not in re-imposing a duty on corn.
tLe couutry would be thrown into a state of o revulsion
from no end to the other; trade and commerce would
suffer to a great extent by the distrust thereby
caused with regard to our commercial policy;
and instead of progressing, we should be decidedly taking
a retrograde sti p. The Whigs have ever been more zea-
lous Reformers in opposition than when in power. Now,
then, should be the appointed time for the Liberals to
urge upon the Whigs and Peelites the necessity of con-
ceding the ballot. This accomplished, the Protectionists
would speedily be driven from office, and we should per-
haps see established in their place a really strong Admi-
nistration, comprising the most liberal and enlightened
atetesmen of the age.
I, for one, do not despair of seeing a popular Govern-
ment formed from the ranks of the three parties to which
Peelites, Radicals, and Whigs.
listi contains names deserving of
I have
Surely beforeth allud
followinged, vii:,,
respect and confidence, and far better qualified for
safely guiding the vessel of State than the Protectionist
Government:—Sir James Graham, for instance, as Pre-
mier, and to lead in the Commons; whilst Lord John
Russell should succeed the Marquis of Lansdowne as
President of the Council, and with a Peerage to lead in
the Lords. The other more prominent offices of the
Cabinet could easily be arranged, when we have such
men as Mr. Gladstone, Mr. Cardwell, the Duke of New-
castle, Mr. Sidney Herbert, and others of the Peel party;
Lord Clarendon, Lord Palmerston, Lord Granville,
Lord Seymour, Mr. Fox Maule, and the more active and
liberal of the late Whig Government (including the late
Attorney and Solicitor-General); and from the Radical
party the names of the veteran Hume Messrs. Charles
Villiers, Milner Gibson, Sir B. Hall, Cobden, Mac-
gregor, and other favourites, might fairly be selected to
take what is but their due, a share in a Liberal Govern-
ment.

Such an Administration as the one I have hinted at
would give confidence to the Reform party throughout
the entire length and breadth of oar country, and would
be enabled to bid defiance for ever to Proteclionist land-
lords, who have only their own self-aggrand:z:.meut in
view in striving to re-impose a duty on corn.
In conclusion, then, let me urge on all Free-traders
and Reformers cordially to unite for the purpose of de-
feating the monopolists, and if it be not possible to carry
the ballot during the existence of the present House of
Commons, let the programme of a greatly amended
Reform Bill be at once submitted to Parliament,
that when the general election takes piace
the people may feel they have something to expect trom
a new Parliament, and something really worth making a
struggle for. Let the watchword be—" Reform, Free
Trade, and Vote by Ballot."
I am. Sir, your ob. dient servant.
Totnes, March 15. 1852. A LIBERAL-PEELITE