The Sun.
London, England, 1837-01-31 00:00:00

C

OMMON HALL TO PETITION FOR

VOTE BY BALLOT.

(Abridged from the Worcester Herald of Saturday.)
Yesterday 'a Common Hall, convened by the Mayor of
this city, " to take into consideration the propriety of peti-
tioning the Legislature to cause a law to be passed for the
electors at elections to vote by Ballot," was held at the
Guildhall.
At one o'clock, the hour appointed for the Meeting.
. the Mayor, attended by a numerous body of the requisi-
tionists, appeared 'on the hustings, erected at the north-
' end of the Hall, and was received• with loud and long-con-
tieued cheering. The Hall was notwithstanding the very
unfavourable state of the weather, quite thronged.
Among the gentlemen on the hustings, we observed
Chas. Hanford, Esq., Wm. Acton, Esq., Aldermen Codes
and Hall, Coencillors Smith, George, Walter, Wilkes, J.
Hall, F. Padmore and Greening, Robert Canning,
Esq., Mr. J. Hill, Town Clerk, Mr. T. Walters, Clerk of
the Peace, Mr. F. T. Elgie, Mr. Hard), &c., &C.
The MAYOR opened the proceedings of the (lay as fol-
lOWA
'file object for which I have, in compliance with your
requisition, convened this public meeting:, is to give you an
opportunity to discuss the great and important subject of the
Ballot, and the propriety of petitioning Parliament to enact
that it shall henceforth be the mode by which the Re-
peesmtatives of the people shall be elected.—(Cheers.)
Aslthe question will, doubtless, be fully entered into by
those, gentlemen who will bring it before you, I shall merely
• say 71 few words, and those entirely in reference to my own
tardy and recent conversion to the Ballot. For I must
confess, gentlemen, that I have never been enabled, satis-
factorily, to disguise to my mind the possibility that the
Ballot might be productive of and accompanied by evil as
*ell as good ; but the conduct of the high Tories at the
late election for Longford, has convinced me that the good
which would result from the Ballot, would greatly surpass
the evil, that, possibly, may attend it. I will pass over
the kidnappings, base arts, and outrages, reported to have
been employed by the Tories at that election, and will con-
tent myself by observing only on a few of the words ut-
tered in his nomination speech, by the proposer of the
Tory candidate. It is true these words were addressed to
a Catholic tenantry, but I have yet to learn why a Ca-
- globe tenantry or a Catholic population are not entitled to
the same civil rights and privileges as a Protestant tenantry i
or a Protestant population enjoy. The words were these,
" Vote as I vote, or if you don't do so, I will never grant
a ,lease for a Catholic tenant again, or give him the power
• of Yoting."(" Shame, shame.") Although the spirit of
these words, I expect, has too frequently guided the ultra-
Tories in their electioneering conduct, I am not aware that
they were ever before so openly and shamelessly avowed.
Gentlemen, if the spirit of intimidation has at length, risen
;0 high in the thermometer of Tory oppression, that a
landlord can, without a blush, in open day and in the face
of his, country, hold such oppressive and tyrannic threats
„ over a dependent tenantry, what of baseness, oppression,
and persecution, may not be feared from the enemies of
a•freedom and reform, that can be carried on in secresy and
. darkness ?—( Hear, hear.) It does therefore now appetr
to me that the only sure shield of protection that can be
thrown over an honest but dependent voter, in the exer-
cise of a privilege granted to him, not for his own, much
. less for his landlord's selfish interests, but for those of his
country--is the Ballot.—(Cheers). The cruel and op-
pressive treatment, then, that the Irish voters hare sus-
. tained in this and other recent elections, has made me a
convert to the Ballot, and I shall be happy to agree with
)R1 in any petition that you may think proper to present
to Parliament in its favour.—(Tremendous cheering.) Let
me now beg of you to hear patiently, and without interrup-
tion, whatever any speaker may be disposed to say on the
subject.(—Applause.)
W. ACTON, Esq., rose, amid loud applause, to move the
• first resolution, which he read as follows :
" That while this Meeting feel deeply grateful to the
legislature for the extension of the franchise, as granted
them by the Reform Act, it is with extreme regret that
they, perceive, from painful experience, that through the
undue interference and unjust intimidation exercised
(Aver a great proportion of the electors, many of those in
• -whose hands the. suffrage is placed cannot discharge that
siMportatit trust in-a manner agreeable to their own feelings,
principles, and consciences."
• Re; too, was, a recent and reluctant convert 'to the princi-
ple of then, Ballot. Their worthy Mayor had called
their attention to what bad recently taken place in Ireland
---that theatre of persecution—as a proof of how much the
Ballot -was wanting in elections ;—he (Mr. A.) disputed
not that statement, but he contended that if he had looked
nearer home, he might have found reasons equally cogent,
and arguments. equally powerful.--(Cheers, and cries of
" Hear, hear.") When he considered the state of Ireland in
this respect, and called to mind that under the iron rule of
. the Beresfords whole districts had been depopulated of their
inhabitants when they had not done the bidding of their lord,
be was inclined to ask how the thunderbolts of heaven could
sleep while such profanations were committed ? He would
now venture to make a few remarks on another subject,
which, although not strictly within the object for which the
Meeting was convened, was, he conceived, one which pecu-
liarly interested them at the present moment. He could
not say that he had observed it in this city, but elsewhere
there was certainly something like an appearance of divi-
sion antong the Reformers, and in saying this he was
anxious not to give the slightest offence.--(Hear, hear.)
It had been argued by the extreme Radicals that the pre-
sent Ministry were inefficient—that the sooner they were
ant the better—that the Tories would then be in for a short
time, and then they would be able to have a Ministry
which would answer all their expectations. He believed
that upon the continuance of the present Administration in
Power depended the carrying of all their useful measures
which they were so much interested in pressing forward.—
(Cheers.) If they were compelled to give way, attacked
they would be by the Tories in front, and but feebly sus-
tained by the Radicals, they would have Sir Robert Peel
again in power.—( Loud and energetic cries of" No, never.")
He contended that under the circumstances the event he
bad alluded to would be perfectly inevitable, for they would
find an immense body of men who were now Reformers,
rather than support the Napiers, the Roebucks, and the
Molesworths, would quietly acquiesce in a Tory Govern-
anent. He introduced this subject for the purpose of im-
pressing upon them the necessity of unity of action at the
next general election.—(Cheers.) Their opponents were
united to a man, and they ought to be so also. He would
_ not trouble them with any further observations, but con-
chide by moving the resolution.—(Cheers.)
Mr. HARDY, in seconding the resolution, said he was an
out-and-out Radice], and that in his opinion he was not
even surpassed by Sir William Molesworth, Colonel Na-
Pier, or Mr. Roebuck—(Laughter and loud cheers)—and
Yet he was as great a friend to the present Ministry as any
• they had. His opinion was that no Government would go
fast 'without being driven.—(Loud laughter and cheers.)
The resolution was here put from the chair, and on a
Show of hands, was carried with six or seven dissentients,
the announcement of which by the Mayor was received
• with tremendous applause.
Mr. ARROWSMITII nest presented himself, and said he
had to propose to them a resolution, which, if adopted by
them, and carried out by the Legislature, would emancipate
them from a thraldom which had encompassed them ever
since they had possessed the power of exercising. as sacred
arid important a duty as any which could devolve upon citi-
zens.—(Cheers.) The resolution was as follows :
" That it is the opinion of this meeting, that a Legisla-
tive measure ought to be adopted which shall afford protec-
tion from personal injury to every elector in the right of
choosing his own representative. And that it is furthermore
their opinion that the most effectual cheek to bribery, inti-
midation, perjury, and every other corruption attendant
;Von elections will be found in the system of Vote by Bal-
lot, and which they conceive to be essentially necessary to
Purity of election."
• One of the ablest Statesmen in the House of Lords,
teveral years ago, declared that the suffrage was a great
curse to the people unless protected by the Ballot.—
(Cheers.) But they needed not a Nobleman to attest
that fact, for it had come under their own observation in
elections ctions for their own city. (Loud cries of hear, hear.)
, believed that no greater or more sacred trust could
chad Placed
in the hands of men than that which the Legis-
lature
placed in the hands of a small portion of the
their
eir people of this country—namely—the right of choosing
h ."" representatives : but unless they could exercise
tat t right a-fearless manner, according to their own con-
eaide th
al' ates, that ri q
ous judgment of the ualifiications of the several can-
ght, which ought to be a blessing, would
prove a curse. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) He was merely
stating facts when he said kith reference to the last
election, that he knew numbers of individuals who deeply regretted that the Legislature had placed
their hands in
a power which they were obliged to use,—
not as their own consciences had dictated to them—
not for the benefit of their country, and the advance-
ment of the common weal, but to please a party
whom
they and to support rinci I which they
abborred despised,hear,
(ille
and cheers.)P He so knew indi-
viduals who had disfranchised themselyea, because they
• would not place their vote within the power of an overbear-
employer--men who refused to occupy a 10/. house and
they
the poor-rate, because they could not exercise the right
1 would thus acquire as they deaire(l.—(Hear, hear.)
Hor had seen individuals in the greatest distress—one lie
thislell remembered, who belonged to a large establishment in
city--who, at the List election, shed tears when he found
that
he must vote for a candidate whose principles ha de-
spised, or keep from the hustings altogether.—(lleac, hear.)
But they
Were told that the it,tro'luction of the Ballot
would
lead to corruption and (Laui;liter.)
And who wan it that had told th-un this ?—(Cries of " The

Tories.") Who was it who professed to be so very carefd
of public morals ?--(A laugh.) Why that vrry party tvh,
debased themselves, and as many of the electors as the\
possibly could purchase at the last election —(llear,bear.
At their last city election there were thirteen votes re.
servel at a certain house which were promised to Col. Di-
vies upon certain conditions, with which, however, hi?
frien Is refused to comply, and in consequence twelvt
out of the thirteen were given to Mr. Bailey, all
whicii the Colonel might have had if he would have bought
them.—(Laughter, and hear, hear.) Did not that fact
show the necessity of protection ?—(Cheers.) Again—he
know an individual who waited upon a tradesman respect-
ing a debt due to him, and was told " Oh, Mr. so and so
has paid that, and I am to vote for him at the next eke-
tion."—( Laughter.) That Mr. so and so never was, and
never would be a candidate at an election, but this trades-
man had bound himself to vote as the party desired.—
( Hear, hear.) Mr. Acton had, in his speech, made some
remarks respecting the relative positions of Whigs and Ra-
dicals, and seemed fearful that a division had taken place
between them. Radical, however, as he (Mr. Arrow-
smith) was, he believed tl,at he might confidently say, with
respect to the Radicals of that city, that whenever an im-

perious necessity for union should he manifest, then the Ra-
dicals would be found to do their duty.--(Loud cheers.)
t• The watch-word with them at the next election, would, lic
believed, be—" Lord Melbourne and the rest of his Ma-
jesty's Ministers."—(Great applause.)
Mr. Jolt's HILL (Town Clerk), said that convinced as
he was that without the Ballot freedom of election was a
mere farce, he had great pleasure in seconding the resolu-
tion.—(Loud cheers.) If any arguments were yet wanting
to convince them of the necessity of the Ballot, let them
look to the occurrences of an election in any county, not
only in Ireland, but in England.—( Hear.) Take West
Worcestershire, for example, and observe how whole pa-
rishes voted for one particular candidate, in accordance with
the wishes of their landlords. This was the case with the
tenantry of Sir Thomas \Vinnington, Lord Beauchamp,
Lord Foley, and others. With instances like these, he
asked them whether he was not correct in saying that
freedom of election was a mere farce.—(Cheers, and " It is.")
Mr. RABY addressed the meeting in support of the
resolution.
The resolution was then put from the chair and carried
unanimously, amid loud and reiterated bursts of applause.
C. HANFORD, Esq., next presented himself, and was re-
ceived with great applause. He had now to propose to
them the third resolution, which was the adoption of a pe-
tition to Parliament in favour of the Ballot.—( Applause.)
With respect to the subject more immediately before the
meeting, he must acknowledge that, although perhaps a less
recent convert to the Ballot than either their excellent
Mayor or Mr. Acton, still he was a convert to the princi-
ple ; for whether the franchise was looked upon as a trust
reposed in the electors for the benefit of the community, or
as a simple moral duty, it equally became the electors to
exercise it honestly and conscientiously.—(Cheers.) He
begged to say he perfectly agreed in what had been said by
previous speakers on the necessity for union among Re-
formers ; there might be, and were, shades of difference be-
tween them, but they, the revolutionists,- Infidels, and
Papists, as they were called—(Laughter)—must remember
that they had the common cause to protect, and he trusted
they would do all in their power to promote it, notwith-
standing the insidious attempts of the Tories to introduce
animosities among them. Let their whole efforts be first
directed to the extinction of that faction and the exclusive-
ness which belonged to them, and then it would be for
themselves to say how far they would go, and where they
would stop. Mr. Hanford concluded by reading and pro-
posing the petition, which we gave yesterday.
Mr. F. T. ELatx rose to second the motion for the
adoption of the petition. The Constitution of England
was said to consist of three separate bodies, the monarchy,
the aristocracy, and the democracy. His observations
would be confined to the latter branch, which might be
defined to be the right of a few to vote in elections for
Members to represent them in the House of Commons.
Now he could conceive of nothing more clear, than that
if a right was given, the means ought also to be given by
which that right might be exercised freely, fairly, and con-
scientiously.—(Hear.) The Ballot was the only mode by
which that could be accomplished, and therefore it ap-
peared to him to be a subject of paramount importance.
—(Cheers.) He would never hold up his hand for the
extension of the suffrage until the electors should be
thus protected, for under the present system the fran-
chise was converted into a curse.—( Hear, hear.) It was
a fact that intimidation was used on all sides, not merely
with the poorer electors but with persons of higher grades.
The Longford election has been brought under their no.
tice, and they bad heard the threat held out by the pro-
poser of the Tory candidate. In proposing the Liberal
candidate, Captain Auchmuty said—" If I had a doubt
of the course I should adopt on the present occasion, that
doubt has been removed by a letter which I received from
Dublin no later than yesterday ; and I beg to tell you,
electors of Longford, that the letter contained menaces
and threats. People may talk of intimidation ; but when
it comes from high quarters, and is used towards men of
honour and independence, we can have little notion of the
extent it may be carried to when men have the power of
potting their threats into execution." Did they not think
(said Mr. E.) the time was arrived for the adoption of the
ballot, when the Tories thus dared to threaten a gentle-
man of this character ?—(Loud cries of Hear, hear.) The
great argument introduced against the ballot was drawn
from America. Now, without going into a long reply to
this, he would just what was the present situation of Ame-
rica as compared with this country ? In England we had
800 millions of debt : in America they had a surplus reve-
nue of one million per annum.—(Hear, hear.) And that
forsooth, was what the ballot had done for America.—

(Cheers.) Would they not be glad to exchange with
them ? Never, then, let it be said the ballot had failed
:n America, until it had, by its working, brought her in
debt 800 millions.—(Cheers.) There was, however, one
general argument against the ballot which he must just no-
tice. It was said that the electors were responsible to the
non-electors for the way in which they used their franchise,
and that under the ballot this responsibility would be in-
operative. But he asked why should they be responsible to
them ? If they were capable of forming opinions to which
this deference ought to be paid, then ought they not to
be non-electors?—(lmmense cheering.) Why were they
not to be entrusted with the franchise, who, it was thus
admitted, were so capable of exercising it aright ?—(Re-
newed applause.) But the Tories took every opportunity
to oppose the extension of the franchise to the operatives
at large, notwithstanding it might now, in the face of a general
election, suit their purposes to flitter and cajole them,
and soften down any asperities which they might find
between them.—(Laughter, and hear, hear.) It was
said too the ballot would be inoperative, inasmuch as the
electors would in their conversations state for whom they
had voted. This, however, was a very flimsy argument, for
was it to be supposed that men would be such fools as vo-
luntarily to state that which might prove of great injury to
them ?—( A laugh.) In conclusion, he exhorted them, by
the love they bore to their wives and families, to exert their
best energies to procure the Ballot, which would enable
them honestly to record their votes without the risk of ruin
and starvation. He had no bar of the petition, the adop-
tion of which he now seconded, being approved by that
meeting, and he now, therefore, stated, that in twenty-four
hours it would be ready for them to sign, and he trusted
that in a very short time thousands of signatures would be
attached.—(Loud applause.)
The MAYOR then put the petition to the show of hands,
and declared it to be unanimously adopted, amid great
cheering.
Mr. Alderman CORLES said he believed they were new
come nearly to a close of the day's business. He would
now propose—
" That Mr. Robinson, our worthy Representative, be re-
quested to present the Petition to the House of Commons,
and that Edward Holland, Esq., and the other Libera
Members of the County, respectfully requested to sup-
port the same."

Mr. J. HALL having seconded the resolution, it was put
and carried unanimously.
The Mayor having left the Chair, and Mr. Alderman
Cones having taken the same—
Mr. ACTON said he had now to perform the pleasing
duty of proposing the thanks of the meeting to the Mayor.
The motion was carried by acclamation.
The MAYOR most cordially thanked them for that mark
of their approbatio❑ of his public conduct. He had lived
among them now nearly half a century, and during that
period he had uniformly fought in their ranks the great
battle of freedom—(Cheers)—and of civil and religious
liberty—(Tremendous cheering) ; and he assured them he
was ready to die in harness if the liberties of his country
required it.---(Loud and reiterated applause.)
The Mayor and many of his friends here left the hust-
ings, and the meeting having given three times three deaf-
ening cheers for the Ballot, dispersed.

The Earl of Egreinont is suffering from indisposi-
tion. Sir M. Tierney has been twice to Petworth to at-
tend his Lordship.

Lady Rolle is entertaining a distinguished party of
friends, at his seat, Bicton, near Exeter.

Lord Cowley, who is now perfectly recovered from
his late illness, has commenced giving his dinner parties for
the season, at his residence in Grosvenor-street.

Lord and Lady Suffield arrived at the Clarendon
Hotel on Friday, from tl►e Duke of Beaufort's seat, Bad-
minton Park.

The Earl and Countess of Jersey, who were ex-
pected in town at the meeting of Parliament, have aban-
doned that intention ; and we now hear that they do not
intend leaving Middleton Park until the end of February.