The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-05 00:00:00

desire to influence these voters ? 'Why, for no other
reason but because they thought themselves oppressed.
On examining the question, however, they would see that
the adrantage possessed by their enemies, from the system
of open voting, was greater than any that could be derived
by the people from the exercise of any improper influ-
ence.—(Hear, hear.) The system of tie Ballot, which
was highly practicable even in its mechanical parts, would
not only obviate the sufferings to which the honest
voters had been exposed, but would seriously check the
I progress of corruption ; for who, he would ask, would be
foolish enough to expend their money illegally when they
had no security that the creature who was base enough to
' take a bribe, would do the dirty work in return ?—(Cheers.)
• In the many objections which had been made to the Ballot
there was one thing very obvious, viz , that the opposition
to the measure came from those who were most eager to
apply the Ballot when their own interests or wishes were
concerned.—(Hear.) Let them look to the clubs of the
aristocracy, and they would find that when they wished
to exclude a disagreeable or bad member of society, the
system of the Ballot was invariably had recourse toe—.
(Cheers.) In his opinion, nothing could be clearer than
that they were bound by their dearest political interests to
urge forward in the attainment of this important right.
Mr. G. A. YOUNG said he felt it to be almost unnecessary
to offer any observations in support of the argument which
had just been used by Colonel Thompson to show the utility
of using every means to obtain Vote by Ballot, as he found
that the meeting was all of one mind as to the achievement
of that system of voting. It would influence and conduce
much to the energy by which he should bring forward ar-
guments in favour of the Ballot, if any person could be
found who would oppose his opinions on that subject. H©
considered that the question bad been fairly put by Colonel
Thompson whether the present system of voting was one
that should he countenanced by the people of this country.
He knew of nowhere that the privilege of voting ought legi-
timately to rest but with the majority of the people, and
that right was not at present sufficiently extended. It had
been said that the practice of voting by Ballot was an un-
English one—that it was a practice which would demo-
ralise the country. But he would ask, was there nothing
demoralising in the present system of voting ? \Vas
there nothing in the bribery and corruption which
was constantly put in requisition at elections, which was
not demoralising in the extreme ?—(Hear, hear.) That
was the system which the Legislature offered to conti-
nue. VVas it not un•English for a man to be dragged
up to the poll to record his own degradation by voting
against his inclination, and to record the falsehood which be
means to tell in the face of his country ? Vote by Ballot
was the only means by which the rights and privileges of
the people could be secured, and he would give that prin-
ciple of voting his best and warmest support.—(Cheers.)
It was then proposed and adopted that monthly meetings
of the Association should be held, and that on the evening of the second Tuesday in January, a lecture shorlld
be
delivered by Colonel Thompson on the subject of Cora
Laws, and a lecture by Mr. G. A. Young, on the causes of
the Polish revolution.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, Mr. Young,
and to Colonel Thompson, for their assistance in forwarding
the objects of the Association ; after which the meeting
separated.