The Sun.
London, England, 1831-01-18 00:00:00

VOTE ]3Y SECRET BALLOT.

TO THE .EDITOR OF THE SUN.
• Sla,--Witbout disrespect to the very prevalent ()pinion
In favour of the vote by secret ballot, so strenuou.ly ad-
tQented by many of my fellow-countrymen, I beg leave to
Offer
a few remarks, by which I shall endeavour to show
that though an immediate Reform is necessary, secret
!What need not form a component part in girder to render
it salutary and sufficiently comprel se.sive.
I would ask- whether English independence is annihi-
',slated ? Whether the voice of public opinion is mute, or
dieregarded? If so, I bow my head to the ballot, not as
Il
cures but as a screen—a shelter to conceal the loss of
national honour. But no--to prove the former is not the
; ,e!tiet I need only refer to the numerous meetings and peti.
) nons
the , daily got up in all parts of the kingdom ;to disprove
1 ' •ue tatter I need only quotethe public comments upon the
elections of StarnfOiel and Newark, and the public acts at
/ . that of Preston. I Will the first-named boroughs afford
/ . .411°ther example of•suffering from exaggerated authority?
. ~.."r Will the-last fail 'to re-elect Mr. Hunt if he realizes the
'4Pectations of his. constituents and his own promises?
Is it necessary to procure the secret ballot to counteract
ilfss one, or to effect the other ? If so, I bow to the ballot.
.triennial Parliaments—if cheapening the cost of prose-
. riots for bribery and corruption, and strictly enforcing
t law on that head—if giving votes to large towns now
unrepresented, and disfranchising rotten boroughs—if the
°Pen sing of numerous polls, and limiting elections to one
11 three days are iasufficient to restore the purity of the
1..-,.°1 of COmmons—then I bow to the ballot. I allow
r - tne weakness of human nature ; but I wish to leave
f' ,resat for the open (because least dangerous) development
Of
iits sympathies ;Ind antipathies. I would have merit
„—`4,_ Preference shewn, political hostility and opposition as
,' r,Uuliely evinced. Nor is this an Utopian idea—it has been
tr'ea done—it may be as often repeated. We are informed
' 'at "as long as .the Roman tribes successively passed
n'rer narrow bridges, and gave their voices aloud, tlse
"ndact of each citizen was exposed to the eyes and the
l el" of his friends and countrymen. But a new method
l of secret ballot abolished the influence of fear and shame—
of honour and interest; and the abuse of freedom ac-
celerated the progress of anarchy and despotism."
ilecause clubs, societies for social intercourse, choose or
rist' members by secret ballot, this mode is recommended
t 0 the nation as the best for electing its representatives.
here a public vete might subject a gentleman to the
choic. of a kicking or a duel—as in Fighting Fitzgerald's
!Itne, fur example—.the merit of the ballot is clear. But
II there an analogy between such a case and the election of
41embers for counties or cities?
th:tgain, it is said (though it is also strongly disputed)
fe t the secret ballot answers all expectation in some
wherever
countries. I. should be sorry to refuse instruction
eerever it might be found ; but I have been taught that
tw
' - best system of Vgislatien is that which is drawn from
4 e
_ close observance of the people it is intended for; and I
run that I should rather prefer studying the condition of the
oglish nation in all its bearings, with a view to amend
,
- , ' laws, or to-impore new ones, to the hasty adoption of
foreign institutions, however strongly recommended they
might he.
In conclusion, I beg the English nation to pause for a
„,
• 'lnuaeut ere it passes an incorrect—a disgraceful judgment
LP" itself. It is still honest, still independent enough to
the
its rights openly in the lace of its friends, and to
ue beard of its eneinies.
I lurk, Sir, your most obedient servant,
A SOLDIER AND A CITIZEN.
2•S---If the secret ballot is established will the Mem-
,,,T. of the House of Commons give their votes by ballot?
""-eY are surely as much exposed to temptation as their
constituents.
isletresstle. upon-Tyne, Jan. 15, 1831.