The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-31 00:00:00

THE BALLOT SOCIETY.

The weekly meeting of the committee was held
on Tueeday last. TLe following aubseriptions were
r(Torled :—T. Stein Fr, ;W. H. Roberts, £2
10s. ; Robertson Gladstone, £1 ls.; P. Cullin, £1
18., and several smaller sums.

The following letter was read from M. Emile
011ivier, one of the recently elected representatives
for the City of Paris, in reply to one which had been
sent to him from the committee :—" No one in
France doubts that the ballot is a security of
liberty and independence, and that it constitutes
an indepensable condition to the true expression
of universal suffrage. Since 1852 the Liberals
have not ceased to employ all their efforts to secure
egainst the tricks of, the agents of the Govern-
ment the genuineness of the secret vote. The
feeling on this point amongst us is so unanimous
and so strong, that after the coup cietat the present
Emperor, who i❑ the first instance established an
open vote upon the adoption of , his constitution,
was compelled by the general uprising of public
opinion, even amongst those who supported him, to
revoke his first decree and go back from open to
secret voting. Certainly, in point of abstract theory
it would be desirable that everyone should come
boldly and express in face of all his opinion on public
affairs; the vote would gain in point of morality,
because it would gain in responsibility and courage;
but when institutions are organised it must not be
forgotten that they are intended for the mass of
ordinary men, dependent by character, or ren-
dered timid by position, for this mass the secrecy
of a vote is rendered necessary to secure its indepen-
dence. Ido not, then, hesitate to answer your first
question, Yes ; the election of the non-official candi-
dates was much facilitated by the secret vote by
ballot. lam less positive on your second question.
It is not impossible that the non-official candidates
might have been elected in some towns by open
voting; or rather, to speak more exactly, it is not
impossible tnat they might have been elected in
this noble and courageous city of Paris ; every where
else such a state of things is not supposable. To
conclude, whoever is favourable to free institutions
must be in favour of secret voting, for open voting
by common consent is an instrument of government,
favourab.e only to despotisms.—Accept, sir, my
eordial greetings, and my sincere wishes for your
success."

The following resolution on this letter was
adopted by the committee :
" The committee begs leave to call the attention
of the public to the very clear and convincing tes-
timony of Mons. Emile 011ivier in favour of the
vote by ballot, entirely corroborating the evidence
of his distinguished colleagues, Mons. Thiers and
Mons. Jules Simon. The committee trust that
after the strong and unanimous testimony of these
three distinguished Frenchmen, the enemies of the
ballot in this country will cease to point to its exis-
tence under the present constitution of France as a
proof of its being an institution hostile to public
iiber,'f•''

The clmmittee then adjourned for the usual re-
cess and appointed the treasurers and secretary to
act until the next meeting.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

~ ~'\

MANCHESTER,-JULY 30.

At our market this morning there waq a moderate at-
tendance of buyers, and there was only a limitE d demand,
with no change in prices from this day aa'unight.

BIRMINGHAM-JULY 30.

English wheat was sold at 48s to 56s for white, and 40s
to 50s per 36 stone for red. Barley, new malting, 32s to
42s per qr ; grinding, 24s to 28s Oats, old, 24s to 30a
per 30 stone; Irish, 22s to 255. Beans, 38s to 44s.per qr.
Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 btotte.