The Sun.
London, England, 1838-02-05 00:00:00

VOTE BY BALLOT.

ANDOVER, FED. 2, 1838.—A public meeting of the Bur-
esses a.e a other
inhabitants was held on Monday last in the
wo hall, for the purpose of adopting a petition to Parlia-
merit in favour of the Vote by Ballot. The meeting was numer-
ously and respectably attended, and composed (with few ex-
ceptions) of friends to the measure. The worthy Mayor,
'Thomcs Heath, Esq., being unanimously voted Chairman,
introduced the subject by stating that the object of the meet-
ing would be more clearly understood by reading the requisi-
tion. teen. After reading which, he said, he hoped to claim their indu
gvnee, having never interfered in, nor attended any, registra-
tion •political meetings since belied the honour of being eleFted,
Mayor. He had carefully avoided taking a personal or emer_
wise active part in politics ; but so long as he held 'tits present
'office, he would most readily attend to the yr:quest of the in-
liebitants, and afford them every oppoeteenity of free and fair
discussion. He should be ready tq ',leer the sentiments of any
gentleman unon the question before the meeting, and trusted
they wrth', afford all parties the opportunity of expressing their
opinion?, freely ; for though it was his wish to avoid political
rneetj'egs, yet, whenever it was necessary to tender his vote,
he 'would fearlessly and conscientiously discharge his duty.
Mr. W. GOODALL then rose and said—Mr. Chairman and
Gentlemen, it devolves upon me to submit the first resolution.
It would appear superfluous that I should argue in favor of the
mode of voting by Ballot in order to protect the voter in the
exercise of his franchise. I need only remind you of the de-
linquency which was practised during the last election, bribeey
and corruption having prevailed to an extent before nnibeard
of. The exercise of the elective franchise ouPt:t to be for
the welfare of society—it is our duty to use it 'as in our judg-
ment will best promote the general interest of the country, by
the choice of fit and proper men as our representatives. We
must, therefore, endeavour to obtain. the Ballot, as without it
the dependent voter cement conee:,entiously discharge his duty.
Lord John Russell rony objece to it upon the ground that it
may lead to further derreands by the people, and refuse to give
his sanction to what 'he is pleased to term organic changes in
the Constitution. What man dare arrogate to himself superior
wisdom upon ';his point, and tell the people of England no
change eliall.'be permitted, unless it conduce to the interest of
his Petty? We know that under present circumstances it is
inne;ssible for a poor elector, without risking the loss of friends
or the ruin of his business, to vote conscientiously. Upon the
principle that no man should be taxed but with his own con-
sent, we shall deserve to be still more heavily taxed, unless
we seek for the poor voters the protection of the Ballot, on
the existing state of the House of Commons, the priteeiple of
their Poor Law economy was, that it sheeild prevent the con-
fiscation of property, which they asserted would 'oe swallowed
up under the old system. "Whigs and Tories are alike impli-
cated in passing that B;;11. Again, with regard to the Pen-
sion List, did they no; exclude Mr. Harvey, that very indivi-
dual who forced them to the enquiry, and thus refused the va-
luable serlicP3 of a most efficient man—the man whom the
people svoeild have most wished to have seen upon the Com-
mittee, The people ought to have a better controul over the
Publi' expenditure, and this they could only obtain by sending
representatives of their own choice to, Parliament. In condo-
s' on he begged to submit the first resolution .
" That it is the opinion of this meeting that a great number
of persons, who are entitled to the elective franchise, and who
by the Constitution are required to exercise that right accord..
leg to the dictates of their consciences, are prevented from so
doing by the mode of open voting now adopted at elections for
Members of Parliament."
Mr. C. MUNDY—I rise for the purpose of seconding the re-
solution, which has just been submitted. I shall detain
but a short time. It is argued by many that the subis.n,t'ior
which we now meet ought not to be conceded, arid t.:..it'llaying
obtained the Reform Bill, we should b satisfir-e. ; but I con-
tend that the Reform Bill was not eneant -el a final measure,
and that laws should be altered aecordini to the circumstances
and the increasing intelligence taf eke people. In the counties
the Members are elected by
t} le tenants of the Aristocracy,
and it is notorious that unless these men vote as their land-
lords request, they will '
e 00 expelled from their farms, and he
therefore sought tne • r pportunity of enabling them to vote
agreeably to their
consciences. At the last election tenants
carried theirila --rdltn:ds tickets' in their pockets to tell them for
whom they eratiWi vote. When the Reform Bill was carried,
Lord Grey "saie:i.," Let us see how it works, and if it is not com-
plete, wo.
can amend it afterwards." Although he himself
would ' prefer giving his vote openly, still he contended they
d'
were 'n duty bound to seek protection for poor and dependent
e' etors.
Mr. T. LANGSTAFF.-Mr. Mayor, and Gentlemen-1 know
the difficulty I encounter in rising to address an unwilling
audience, What a commentary is this upon the Reform Bill !
I always said a Bill so incongruous as that never could be
final. What advantage have we gained by that Act ? Greater
dissensions prevail amongst us. Have not thousands of pounds
been withheld from the town by the neighbouring gentry in
consequence of your votes at elections? Why, if you have
the liberty of voting, are you ashamed to tell a candidate
whether you will vote for him or not ? I believe the measures
i
of the Reformers will lead to revolution.—( Laughter.) Mr.
O'Connell said there wculd be very great changes, and you
wish to divide us still more. lam confident this measure, if
adopted, would lead to a collision between the Hoineen of
Lords and Commons.--( Roars of laughter.) When have the
'Whigs done? Voted twenty millions of our me.,ney to enaan-
ciwate the slaves. The Dowager Chaneello-,—(Laughter)_
and O'Connell did not frame tho Poor Bill as it should
have been. I always objected to it i'; being contrary to the
laws of God. Ministers were vern glad to adopt the recom-
mendation of Sir R. Peel—_:lie naay be said to be the principal
dictator—they have all ":.he pay, whilst Sir Robert does the
duty.—( Laughter.) If we seek to abolish the good old laws
of the country, we shall end in revolution, and then I suppose
Mr. Goodall ',would be Lord Chancellor, and Mr. Marsh,
Vice. Then, would be for making laws of their own. Look
at the fru;ns of your darling Reform Bill, we were to have
nothing but happiness and prosperity. The Vote by Ballot
wore',d make Members of Parliament pledged delegates—it
e:'ushed the French monarchy—the blessed House of Com-
mons would be nothing but dictators.—(Laughter.) I am
desirous for the liberties of the people, but many of you would
do away with t,'ne Lords as in Cromwell's time. The last ad-
dress
you eent was too strong even for Lord Radnor. He
told you 'it was before him, and would soon be behind him.—
( Much 'mughter.) It was ultimately kicked under the table.
Whee.ever you do, I strenuously oppose the measure.
de. MARSIL—The usual custom is to move an amendment
tie the resolution, and call upon some person to second it.
Mr. T. LANGSTAFF.—Then I propose that this meeting be
-adjourned sine die. One hand only was held up.
H. MARSH, Esq., then came forward, and was receivod with
great applause. He assured the meeting it gave, him great
pleasure in witnessing so respectable an aatendance upon the
present occasion, particularly as they appeared to meet in a
friendly spirit; and although they mint differ in sentiment -
he was convinced they had only Gee, object in view—the ha •
piness and prosperity of the cnemery.—(Hear, hear, and
plause.) My good friend ( Mr. T. Langstlff), for suc a
h e
considered him, notwithstanding they might now differ with
each other on political questions, had been pleased to nomi-
nate him (Mr. 11,.) and Mr. Goodall to very exalted situa-
tions—of couree they should look to their Tory patron to take
care that th:e emoluments should correspond with the impor-
tance of t)
ae station.—( Much laughter.) It was a very corn-
mon remark, that renegades and apostates were almost alwa \ s
the %lost virulent opposers of those principles they formerly
ho ~j —( Hear, hear.) Thus it appeared upon the present 7. c,-
.7-asion—for he remembered his 'North), friend, in bygone days,
a most strenuous Reformer—indeed he went far beyond him
( Mr. M.); for whilst he (Mr. M.) only read. and quoted
Cobhett, his friend used to read and quote the, Black Dwarf,
and many other peppery and high.scasoned political publica-
tions of that day.—( Much lalighter.) -Vv-hen a boy, he hod
read Ovid's Metamorphoses ; but lie could not recollect
any one of them half so singular, so curious, and FO
amusing, as the great change his worthy friend had un.
derrr°one ; he would not have alluded to these circumstances
had not the wornhy gentleman been so pointedly kind in
marking him (Mr. M.) out for future preferment.—(l great
deal of laughter.) He (Mr. M.) begged pardon for this
digression, and would now come to a subject of infinitely more
importance than any change that might have taken place in the
opinions of Mr. T. Langstaff or any other person—( Hear,
hear)—he m.iant the all-important question of every elector
exercising the elective franchise according to the dictates of
his conscience, uncontrolled, unmolested, and uninjured.--
(near, bear, and cheers.) Mr. M. here went into a very in-
tense:trig detail of facts, to show how difficult it was, under
the System of open voting, for many persons to vote agreeably
to their own wishes and desires: he then illustrated Isis argu-
ment by referring to the situation of landloi:a and tenant ; he
saw no claim the landlord could have that could entitle him to
oc.rnpvl the tenant to vote contrary to ls',3 wish and his con-
science.—( Hear, hear.) The Peerorm Bill, in giving the
elective franchise to the farmer, never intended that he was to
exercise it in the feelin and spirit of a mere vassal.—( Hear,
bear, and much troplause.) The intention of those who
tramen that Act undoubtedly was, that as the tenant embarked
he,
capital end exercised his skill in the cultivation of the lam',
that even in a pecuniary point of view he had an unques-
tiened right to a free vote, if it were only as representing the
capital he employed.---(" True," and much applause.) So
also with tradesmen, Was it not a most degrading and dis-
graceful circa ;,stance, that an honest and industrious man,
instead of consulting his conscience and the good of his coun-
try, Pitist be compelled to consult his ledger, to ascertain
whom he may please or displease before he tenders his vote?
—(Shame.) He had witnessed many elections, and had seen
most worthy and respectable families thrown into great dis-
tress and perplexity, by the coercion and force exercised to
compel the head of the family either to break his promise or
violate his conscience.—(" It must be altered.") It was said
by some that the Ballot was an un-English, sneaking, and
unmanly way of voting ; but, supposing such to be the case,
who was it that drove the people to demand this alteration ?
Why the Tories, who would not suffer the people to act as
they had a right to do. If landlords would let their tenants
mount their horses, and go to the poll as uncontrolled as they
go to market, and if customers would suffer tradesmen to
leave their counters and give their votes freely and unre-
strained, there would be no outcry for the Ballot.—( Hear. )
For his own part, he preferred open voting, because he
neither courted the smiles nor feared the frowns of any one ;
but he well knew that all persons were not able so to act, arid
therefore he had become a reluctant convert to the Ballot,
seeing that we had only a choice of difficulties, either that the
Reform Act should become a dead letter, or that some means

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,i.,,.,,,,,, must be devised whereby' the elective franchise may be exer-
';:iii:-.,. - : cised without let, hindrance, molestation, or injury to the
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t.^,,..,; Y,), r.—(Cheers, and much applause.) If a more desirable
)1:
•,-.:A'is! s 4 . hod than the Ballot, and equally efficacious, could be
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,‘ ~t4,,,,,t 4„ foltd, he for one should have no objection to it. We often
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4?":14, , 1 -t t;... tr... 121,11. tf.i* a great deal said about the wisdom of our ancestors:
r7:l:7';-•; „,,,,
.; Tong other instances of their wisdom, he could well re-
l.° .OV. . -.:"..c_ Etpber when he was a boy, if any persons coming under the
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