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

THE BALLOT SOCIETY.

The weekly meeting of the committee was held
on Tuesday last. The following subscriptions were
reported :—T. Steiner, £5 ; W. H. Roberts, £2
; Robertson Gladstone, £1 ls.; P. Collin, £1
18., and seve,--ai smaller sums.
The following utter was read from M. Emile
Oliivier, 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 effez is to secure
agains;.- the tricks of the agents of thtl Govern-
ment the genuineness of the secret vote. The
feeling on this point amongst us is so unan mous
and so strong, that after the coup d'etat the precent
Emperor, who in the first instance established an
open vote upon the adoption of his constitution,
was compelled by the general uprising of public;
opinion, even imongst those who supported him, tra
revoke his first decree and go back from open to,
s-cret 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 pubiic
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 secresy
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 that they might have been elected in
this noble and courageous city of Paris ; everywhere
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,
favourable 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 Mona. 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
iiberty."
The committee then adjourned for ti;e usual re-
cess and appointed the treasurers and secretary to
act until the next meeting.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

,i,

MANCHESTER.-JULY 30.

At our market this morning there was a moderate at-
tendance of buyers, and there was only a limited demand,
with no change in prices from this day se'nnight.

BIRMINGHAM—JULY 30.
English wheat was sold at 48s to 568 for white, and 40s
to 508 per 36 stone for red. Barley, new malting, 32s to
42s per qr; grinding, 24s to 28s Oats, old, 24s to 30s
per 30 stone ; Irish, 22s to 255. Beans, 38s to 44s per qr.
Peas, 36s to 44s per 36 stone.