The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-17 00:00:00

THE BALLOT.

Mr. H. BERKELEY then rose to bring forward his
annual motion, to introduce a bill to cause votes at the
elections of members of Parliament to be taken by bal-
lot. The hon. gentleman said that, from the state of
the house just before, he had expected there would have
been no opposition to his motion, but he now saw that
the noble lord at the head of the Government and the
right hon. gentleman the Secretary of State for the Home
Department had arrived; nevertheless, he would venture
to lay the question once more before the house. It would
be remembered that after the Reform Bill passed there
were many eminent men who considered the bill defective.
Amongst others were Lord Macaulay, Mr. Brooke, Lord
Durham, Sir C. Burrell, and others, who complained, first,
that many of the English boroughs were left in a state which
was a positive disgrace to English institutions; and secondly,
that electors had not proper protection at the polling booth.
Mr. Brooke urged the latter view before Parliament for some
years in a series of most logical and argumentative speeches,
that had never yet been answered. The subject was sub •
quently taken up by Sir Henry Ward, who afterwards
requested him (Mr. Berkeley) to be his successor; and, feel-
ing convinced that the question must some day be settled,
he recommended that it should be brought forward every
year. For that reason he had annually, for the last 16 years,
brought the question before the house. There was no ques-
tion as to the existence of a great grievance, and to that mo-
ment the arguments for its abolition were founded upon rea-
soning, which was like an impregnable fortress. It had been
assailed from time to time in that house, no matter which
party were in power, but the attacks had always been unsuc-
cessful. He should not then bring forward any new argu-
ments, but simply throw himself on the defensive. (Hear,
and divide.) The old objection was that the ballot was un-
English and unmanly. He wished therefore to show that a
number of very large establishments conducted their busi-
ness upon the principle of the ballot. Amongst others he
might mention the London Institution, the Royal Astrono-
mical Society, the Society of Antiquaries, the Royal So.
city, the London Linnrean Society, Christ's Hospital (elec-
tion for Governor), Dulwich College (election of master of
grammar school), the Bank of England, the Charterhouse,
and the clubs known as the Carlton, Senior and Junior
United Service, Travellers', Oxford and Cambridge Uni-
versity, Brookes's, White's, Boodle's, the Wyndham, and
the Union. He believed also that the Manchester Unity
and the Freemasons elected their masters and treasurers by
the ballot, together with about 20 friendly societies--(divide)
—the Church Missionary Society, the Wesleyan Metho-
dists, the United Methodists, the Free Church, and some
of the Baptists. Finally, in Canada the bishops were
elected by ballot. That was curious evidence of the prac-
tice being un-English and unmanly. (Hear, hear.) An-
other point he wished to refer to was, that the right to vote
was a responsibility which no elector ought to try to evade.
The honourable gentleman then quoted same extracts from
speeches of Earl Russell and Edmund Burke in support
of his views upon the ballot question, and
incited some in-
stances of hardship to tenants and electors consequence
of the ballot not being in operation. At a Cork election
some time back, when Mr. Murphy, Mr. Fagan, and Mr.
Chatterton were candidates, there had been a great struggle,
and a number of men were stationed by the priests to watch
the booth, with the instructions, " We do not want any vio-
lence, but we think that whoever votes for Fagan and
Murphy is a good man, and whoever votes for Chatterton
is a bad man." The next day the principal inn in the town
was more like an hospital than a place of entertainment ; yet
the noble lord had a notion about these electors being the
trustees for the non-voters. He believed however that the
l at thTeh
hon.nt
re
eee electionsgen tl e
ballotprev was founded on abstract truth and justice, and must
n atSouthampton,
a Ithen
he
n referred
Ea
s t
ancesKent,
Totnes, Lill d, and Devonport.
described in rood' '
The latter place was
the fostering
wins
of the
Guide" as being under
singular that wheng I:rhe Dukes of Somerset. It was very
duke's candidate get fOur
Heath and Mr. Dent put up the
state of an English boron- hths of the votes. That was the
mean to say that there wasg aenven now. (Hear.) He did not
y t
if there were the noble duke w oulradthb in the allegation, but
was a non-elector, and had a right etoude.used, twee he
tenantry. (Hear.) Was he not to do as he likeletidt -a
with to
hip
wown?
In Kent a man had notice to quit for voting forDe'k
against
Knatchbull ; but the landlord, having the Corrupt i>r
Bill before his eyes, afterwards went to the tenant,
Sir, mind I do not turn you out from any political motive:l
And so that wonderful Act of Parliament was put aside in a
moment. Another man who was turned out in the saw. Way,
asked the landlord the reason. The latter said it had nothing
to do with his vote ; " but, sir," said he, " I have a
great objection to Roman noses, (Laughter.) You,

sir, have gOt a nose like a reaping-book. (Renewed
laughter.) In. future I intend to ha -e nothing but snub.
nose tenants; go back to those who sent you, and tell
them what I told you." (Laughter.):The man went back to
his lawyer and told him what had been said, upon which
the lawyer observed, "No redress; you must consider you
have been turned out on account of your nose." ' (Laughter.)
Since he has had the honour of addressing them on this
subject, the ballot had been bearing excellent fruit in every
part of the world—even in America—(hear, hear)—it was
looked upon as the support of respectability against an over-
weening democracy. What did the correspondent of the
Times say of the ballot ? He always found that the faithful
correspondents and reporters of that paper were constantly
in opposition to the gentlemen who wrote the leading articles.
The leading article came out one day ferocious against the
ballot, but the next day the correspondent wrote, "that the
ballot was the only hope of upsetting Abraham Lincoln and
his crew." The correspondent did not say the ballot was
perfect in America, but it was the best institution they had
got in America. (Laughter.) The hon. member then referred
to the recent French elections in proof of the good working
of the ballot in that country, and quoted some remarks
which were made by one of the Opposition candidates in
answer to a series of questions which had been addressed to
him by the Ballot Society. The remarks were to the effect
that the present system of voting in France was the shield of
public liberty in that country, and that the Opposition can-
didates would not have been returned by open voting. The
hon. member next referred to the working of the ballot in
Australia, and said it was not owing to the existence of the
ballot that the electoral system had broken down in the
colony, but because a residence of three months was made
necessary for the possession of a vote, and also the qualifi-
cation of reading and writing (which last he thought very
proper) ; but when the electoral constitution came to be re-
vised, not a man appeared who said the ballot was at fault.
He begged to place the motion in the hands of the Speaker,
and though he had no hope it would be agreed to, yet he
sat down convinced that the foundation of the ballot was
laid in that house. (Cheers.)
Mr. AYRTON seconded the motion, observing that it

•
was only the noble lord at the head of the Government who
answered the arguments of his hon. friend ; that he did so
with great spirit, and to the satisfaction of hon. members
opposite ; but for his own part he believed the arguments of
his hon. friend were unanswerable.

The LORD MAYOR (who rose amid loud cries of

" Divide") said he rose with reluctance, but he felt that
the arguments brought forward by the hon. member for
Bristol were of that nature that it was well they should be
protested against. The hon. member's arguments in sup-
port of this measure were mere fallacies. Amongst other
things he alluded to the United States, France, and Aus-
tralia; but if the house wanted the strongest arguments
against the unconstitutional and un-English form of secret
voting they could not have three more convincing illus-
trations against the system. What was the secret of the
United States difficulties? It was that there were no lead.

ing public men in the country to lead the public mind and
keep them out of their difficulties. (Laughter.) They had
got the ballot, but they had no public-spirited men. (In-
creased laughter.) The United States was a standing
warning to this country. He believed what was going on
in the United States had created a reaction in the public
mind which saved this country from the downward tendency
towards this motion. (Much laughter.) The existence of the
French Government in its present form was due to the ballot
box. And as to Australia, it was a warning to the world to
avoid and eschew the ballot-box. (Laughter.) He thought
the house and the country would say that the ballot-box
was a thing not to be tolerated in this country. They had
publicity. Thank God they had that array of reporters—
(laughter)—and so long as they had publicity they would re-
tain their position; but when they lost that publicity they
would sink to the dead level of the United States. The hon.
member for Bristol had referred to Southampton. That
was one of the greatest election struggles that had occurred
for a long time. They did not want the ballot-box there,
nor did they care for it. More than that, they did not care
for their masters, but were prepared to vote against their
masters. (Great laughter,)
Viscount PALMERSTON said he would not detain

them more than a few minutes, but he was unwilling that
his hon. friend should go to a division under the impression
that he had convinced him by the mere assertions, which
were frequently made, that all the arguments used in favour
of the motion had been unanswered. His hon. friend had
given his exploration, and, like other great performers, had
had his annual benefit, but he did not think it would draw
much to his side. (A laugh.) But his hon. friend, with
great simplicity and frankness, said that he had tried all
over the house to find somebody who would undertake to
moot this question, and he could find nobody. So mach
for his conviction as to the value of the question in the esti-
mation of members in general. Well, then, his hon. friend
said that, although he had a great number of amateur sup-
porters, still every Government responsible for the admini-
stration of affairs was opposed to his motion. That showed,
prima facie, that there must be some value in the objections
that were urged against the motion. (Hear.) But his
hon. friend seemed to him to place the whole thing upon a
wrong foundation; and in his arguments for the ballot he
seemed to forget that which was the vital principle, the
breath of life of the British constitution, namely, public
opinion and public responsibility. (Cheers.) His hon. friend
quoted the opinions of a number of private societies that sat
in buildings for the election of private members. Such
opinions had nothing to do with this matter, and were fo-
reign to the purpose of the argument. Those were private
societies, who had no public responsibility, and who were not
responsible for the election of members. They had merely
to consider who were likely to be pleasant or unpleasant to
have in the club-room. The argument was devoid of any
applicability whetever. If the hon. member had gone
further and said there were always reporters present to
detail what happened to the newspapers, he might have ad-
vanced something to hit purpose. But what was the effect
of the ballot-box upon public opinion ? What was public
opinion? It was the avowed opinion of the aggregate
members of a community. Well, according to the ballot,
an elector was not to avow his opinion. His opinion was
to be kept secret, not only on the day of the election, but
all through his life, because, if a man expressed his opinion
to his friends and neighbours, everybody would know when
he went to the ballot-box for whom he voted. The voter
would be obliged to conceal his opinions from his wife ; and
that was a position to put an Englishman in ? (Laughter.)
It was clear that sneaking up to the pall with a bit of paper
and putting it into a hole was not secret voting, unless it
was accompanied all the time by an entire suppression of a
man's opinions. Well then, he said, if they were to divest
a man of the responsibility which belonged to him, and
which he owed to the rest of his countrymen, they would
extinguish the great principle of the British constitution,
and it was therefore unconstitutional and un-English to
vote for the motion of his hon. friend. The hon. member
had spoken of America, but everybody knew that what
was called the ballot in America was not secret voting. The
elector put the paper in his hat, and with the exception, he
believed, of one State, it was no more secret voting than in
this country. The hon. member had also spoken of making
converts ; but he could evidence conversions the other
way. There was a society in this town which adopted the
name of the Reform Club, the members of which were sup-
posed to hold advanced opinions. (A laugh.) It was reported
that this society had become a convert to the opinion of his
hon. friend; but, from information he had received, while
up to a recent time,the election of members was upon the
mode similar in other clubs, they had lately, after dis-
cussion, and upon the advice of the hon. member for
Birmingham—(a laugh)—decided that election by ballot
was not a proper mode of election, and they went further
and invested a select committee with the choice of the
members. (Laughter and cheers.) What were called the
" unanswerable arguments" of his hon. friend had had no
effect upon him, and he trusted the decision of the house
would be what it had been on former occasions. (Cheers.)
Mr. COX (amidst loud cries of " Divide") said the Liberal
party looked upon this question as one of the cardinal points
of their creed, and he asked the house to consider the ques-
tion with that calmness and deliberation to which it was
entitled. (Hear, hear, and Divide, and other manifestations
of impatience.) The principle of voting by voting papers
had for many years been adopted satisfactorily. (Divide,
divide.) When an election took place by ballot the tempta-
tion to bribery was less than by the open system, as the
progress of the election and -the state of the poll was kept
longer a secret. (Divide, divide.) Believing that the
ballot was a cure for the evils that at present existed, he
should vote for the motion. (Divide, divide.)
Mr. H. BERKELEY, in reply, combated the opinions
expressed by the noble lord at the head of the Govern-
ment, urging that public opinion would be more influ-
enced by secret than by public voting. He defended the
wives of electors from the imputation that they would
disclose their husbands' secrets in election matters, and
thereby inflict great oppression on them and their fami-
lies. He had a higher opinion of them than some hon.
members appeared to possess. (Hear, hear, and Divide.)
The arguments used by the noble lord had failed to convince
him that the ballot was not wanted.
The house then divided. The numbers were—
For the motion
Against it 122
Majority —2o
(Cheers.) The motion was consequently lost

ASSIZE AND CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS.
Mr. M'MAHON moved a resolution " That it was ex-
pedient to make such alterations in the assize and circuit
arrangements as would secure a more speedy trial in the
country of country causes."
Mr, HADFIELD seconded the motion, and urged that
the expense of the proposed changes was not to be put in
comparison with the benefit which they would confer upon
the country.

Mr. BAINES supported the resolution, and instanced
Yorkshire as the county which suffered the greatest incon-
venience and hardship under the present system.

- - -
Sir F. CROSSLEY was proceeding also to support the
motion. when
An !lox. MEMBER moved that the house be counted,and
There being only 34 members present,
i The house stood adjourned at 10 minutes to 10 o'clock.

Pull benefit of reduced duty obtained by pur-
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ton‘g'elistiganh
dStanmodsatrddelacit 4e. 4d. (formerly 4s. Bd.), is the
ous imported. Agents in every
town supply it in pAcuo,

1 THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EiTILIVING, JUNE 17, 1563.

THE NAVY.

he threw under Jackson upon his enemy's rear, and
with the third he opposed the great Federal host
in front. Higher audacity was, I belietei never
manifested by mortal General than when General
Lee, about 4 on Saturday afternoon, opened fire
along his whole line against his gigantic foe, in
order to distract his attention from Jackson, who
General Lee knew must then be approaching
Hooker's rear. Again, I am reluctant, by reason
of its incredible smallness, to disclose the number
of men by whcm fire was opened that afternoon
upon the intrenched and multitudinous masses of
the Federals. History will do justice to the
sagacity which led General Lee to divine that his
enemy, having fallen back many miles to get
into his intrenchments, would be little likely to
leave those intrenchments and take the initiative.
But it kill be difficult to do justice to the composure
with which General Lee sent back men to meet
Sedgwick, without for a moment relaxing his gripe
upon Hooker; with what astonishing prescience he
read and frustrated the design and purpose of his
foe. General Hooker has shown ability, daring,
and energy ; but in striving to outmanccuvre Gen.
Lee it was the urchin boy conjuring with the wand
of Michael Scott.

lticilmoND, May 10.

Consummatuni est. One of the purest, most
guileless, most unselfish spirits ever lent to earth has
been taken to his rest, and " Stonewall" Jackson is
no more. From the violent bleeding of Thursday
last he never rallied, and with circulation so re-
duced that the pulse was hardly perceptible he in-
sisted, contrary to the entreaties of his doctors, in
having cloths dipped in iced water and laid upon
his chest. From the first he seems to have had a
strange presentiment of his approaching dissolution.
At a time when nothing but the most favourable
auguries were entertained as to his recovery, he ex-
claimed, with strange emphasis, "If I live it will be
for the best, and ii I die it will be for the best ; God
knows, and directs all things always for the best."
There was about him a living consciousness that he
was an instrument sent by God for a special purpose,
and left on earth so long as he was competent to
achieve that purpose. With the strong faith of a pre-
destinarian, he soared above all sensations of physical
fear, such as accompany ordinary mortals when artil-
lery is roaring and musketry flashing around them.
He was not a great strategist, a finessing tactician—
but he was the most downright sledgehammer of
war, triumphing over difficulties which stood in his
way with a facility unknown to any other General.
In only one quality of mind did his powers ascend
to the region of genius—in the most remarkable
geographical or topographical accuracy of percep-
tion which led him to march to his destination with
the unerring instinct of the Red Indian. He knew
the northern half of Virginia as the prisoner of
Chillon knew his dungeon.
He has gone at a moment when nothing can be
added to his earthly fame. In not one of his flank
movements, his fiery onslaughts upon his enemy's
rear, was he ever baffled or thwarted or disconcerted
by any opposing general. But never was surprise so
complete as that of Saturday, May 2, never were the
consequences of any of his movements so momen-
tously eventful. It is his own belief that if he
had had one hour more daylight, a large portion of
Gen. Hooker's army would have laid down their
arms. These words will be probably received in the
North with a howl of derision. They only who
witnessed the unmistakable evidences of Federal
demoralisation will recognise and admit the reason-
ableness of Gen. Jackson's impression. But one
thing is beyond a peradventure. If he had not been
wounded at the most critical moment of the battle,
he would undoubtedly have cut Gen. Hooker off
from the United States Ford, and it may be left to
your readers and to the whole world to surmise
whether the Federals would have been able to cut
their way out through strong lines of irtrenchment
thrown around them, when they could not keep
their enemy out of still stronger lines of intrench-
ment on the perilous ridge and in the memorable
oak thicket of Chancellorsville.

He has gone, but will not his memory be a pillar
of fire, leading, kindling, vivifying, and inspiring
his men, and from the tomb calling them to deeds
of more than mortal valour ? In one great respect
his mission has been fulfilled. He has roused a
heart and kindled an enthusiasm in his countrymen
which will but be intensified by the thought that he
is gone. While he lived it was not unusual to
hear disparagements of his ability, damaging com-
parisons between him and other Generals, asser-
tions that his successes in the Valley and elsewhere
were attributable to the advice and inspiration of
this General or that. But, now that he is gone,
the true instinct of his country's outspoken heart
proclaims that his loss is irreparable.
The battles of last week are unquestionably the
bloodiest of the war. After careful inquiries about
the Confederate loss, I find that it amounts to, but
as is thought does not exceed, 10,000 killed,
wounded, and missing. The computation of the
Federal loss I feel little disposed to enter upon, as
it must necessarily be of the nature of an estimate.
But, judging from the immense amount of pri-
soners now being marched to Richmond, amounting
to between 8,000 and 9,000, and also from the dead
bodies at Chancellorsville and Salem Church, it is a
moderate figure to estimate the dead, wounded, and
missing of the Federals at 25 000. It is, I think,
impossible that the number of Confederate pri-
soners captured and sent across the river can reach
2,000. Rumour puts them at 1,500.

Naval and Military Intelligence.

The Orlando, screw frigate, 1,000 horse power,
Capt. G. G. Randolph, arrived at Spithead yester-
day morning from the Nore.
The Channel fleet at Portland is under orders on
Monday evening to proceed on a few days' cruise in
the Channel, and to exercise the crews in gunnery.
The iron-cased frigate Royal Oak, Capt. P. A.
Campbell, will sail from Spithead to join the fleet
on the conclusion of her trials.

The royal yachts Victoria and Albert, Fairy, and
Elfin, have each received a thorough renovation
and embellishment at Portsmouth, in readiness for
the service of her Majesty and the royal family
during the remainder of the summer.
The Cossack, 20 gun screw steam corvette, 1,296
tons, 250 horse power, Capt. W. It. Rolland, made
her official trial of speed at the measured mile off
\laplin Sands on Saturday last, under the superin-
tendence of Capt.-W. K. Hall, C. 8., of her Majesty's
ship Cumberland, guardship of Steam Reserve at
Sheerness, prior to leaving for the Mediterranean.
Six runs at full speed, with full boiler power, were
made on the mile, which gave an average of 9.055
knots per hour, the pressure of steam being 201 b. ;
vacuum, 25 ; revolutions of engines at full boiler
power, 80; at half power, 56, Two runs were made
at half boiler power, giving an average of 5.945
knots per hour. The circle was turned with helm
to port in 5 min. 29 sec., and with helm to starboard
in 6 min. 12 sec. The Cossack is fitted with Smith's
propeller; diameter, 12ft. lin. ; pitch, 16in., and the
immersion of screw was 21. t. 9in. At the time of the
trial the draught of water was 17fL 7in. forward,
and 17ft. Bin. aft. The engines are from the
eminent firm of Maudslay, son, and Field. On
Tuesday the Commander-in. Chief at Sheerness,
Vice-Admiral Sir W. J. Hope Johnstone, K.C.8.,
attended by his staff, inspected the Cossack, and
expressed his gratification at the condition of the
vessel. Immediately after the inspection she pro-
ceeded to Portsmouth, en route to the Mediterranean.
The Vivid, tender to the flagship Fisgard, at
Woolwich, got up steam yesterday morning at an
early hour, and sailed from Woolwich at daybreak
for Ostend, to embark the Qneen of Prussia for
England on a visit to her Majesty.
The hired steam transport Samson, having shipped
80 guns of various calibres and a mixed cargo of war
stores from Woolwich pier, yesterday went down to
the red buoy off the Arsenal to embark 100 tons of
powder. She will proceed to the following stations
on the West Coast of Africa :—Cape Coast Castle,
Anamaboe, Dix Cove, Accra, Whydah, Lagos, and
Badagry.

The following appointments were made at the Admiralty
yesterday :

Edward M, Roe, assistant paymaster, to the Firefly, in
charge.

Alfred G. Roberts, clerk, to the Hibernia.
Joseph G. IV. Hoare, assi _taut paymaster, to the Victoria
and Albert,

Robert P, W, Soady, assistant paymaster, to the Magi-
cienne.
Charles Walker, assistant clerk, to the Black Prince.
John E. Mills, to be retired Master, with rank of Captain.
C. P. H. Burt and James Parry, assistant engineers, to
the Indus, as supernumeraries.
Dixon S. B, Mackenzie, Harvey H, Glazbrook, and C. H.
Cockran, to be naval cadets.