The Sun.
London, England, 1858-04-15 00:00:00

A soiree in honour of William Nicholson, Elq.,
late Premier of Victoria, Australis, and thefounder
of the ballot in the British dominions, took place

last evening at the Freemason's Hall.

There was

a large !attendance. Amongst those on the plat-
form were Mr. Nicholson, Mr. H. Berkeley, M.P.,
Sir Arthur Elton, M.P., General Thompson, M.P.,
Mr. Tite, Ayrton, M.P., Mr. White,
M.P., Mr. Greer, M.P., Mr. Wyld, M.P., Mr.
Whitehurst, the Secretary of the Ballot Society ;
Mr. E. Miall, Mr. Geesin, Mr. Doulton, Mr.
Samuel Morley, Mr. Elt, Mr. Nicolay, Mr. Stave-
ley, Australia ; Mr. Brown Basingstoke ; Mr.
' Westgarth, Australia ; Mr. George Jones, Bristol ;
Mr. James Campbell, Mr. Mackinnon, Australia ;
Mr. Prout, Mr. Bontems, Mr. Beardmore, Mr.
J. P. Robinson, Manchester, (te. , &c.
Refreshments having been served,
Mr. H. BERKELEY, M.P. (the chairman), said
that though suffering from severe indisposition, he
had great pleasure iu attending on this occasion,
when beauty, worth, and talent were combined to

do honour to merit. He rejoiced in seeing so large
an attendance of members representing important
boroughs.
Mr. WHITEHURST, the secretary, read letters
from Lord Stanley, M.P., expressing " his regret
at not being able to attend and pay his respeots to
Mr. Nicholson," also from Mr. Grote, Mr. M.
Gibson, M.P., Mr. Crossley, M.P. Mr. Sergeant
Parry, Mr. J. L. Foster, of Australia, Mr. Bright,
M.P., and Sir De Lacy Evans, M.P., expressing
regret at their inability to attend, and concurring
in the tribute to Mr. Nicholson.
The CHAIRMAN said that Mr. Cobden, whose
name was dear to every friend of the ballot—
(cheers)—was prevented attending by a domestic
bereavement. They had met to do honeur to Mr.
Nicholson. (Cheers.) He was our countryman,
and an excellent representative of the Saxon race.
He carried enterprise, indomitable energy, and
fixed principles to the colony, where he made his
fortune, and then turned his a, tention to the wel-
fare of his fellow men. After filling all honourable
offices in the colony, he finished his career by the
glorious triumph of carrying the great question of
the ballot in Australia. (Cheers.) This country
might feel some degree er envy at Mr. Nicholson's
success, but looking at lie number of able men who
supported that measure in this country its want of
success must be attributed to reasons which did not
exist in Australia. The advocates of the ballot
stood on the immutable principle, that no legisla-
ture had a right to confer the franchise on any set
of men without protecting them in its exercise.
(Cheers.) They held, with the late Duke of New-
castle, that every man had a right to do what he
liked with his own—with this difference, that the
late duke attributed too much value to meune, and
too little to tuurn, or rather put the one for the
other. (Hear, hear.) So long as a mau had a
right to vote for representatives he bad a right
to be protected in doing so. We in this country
had to contend with a difficulty which was not
known to Mr. Nicholson—to address a House
of Commons which was returned by a House of
Lords—(hear, hear)—and consisting largely of
the scions of noble houses, and held their seats in
the Lower House by descent as much as their fathers
did in the Upper. (Cheers.) These men considered
it a rebellion against their authority if the electors
did not vote for their nominees. It was true Mr.
Nicholson had to meet a very severe opposition ;
all the arguments wed on this side the water were
found " mocking and gibbering" at Mr, Nicholson
there ; all the trash about un-manly and uu Eng-
lish was there revived ; but lie could now say,
"Veni, vidi, vici." (Cheers.) He had read a lesson
to Englishmen, which they must be dull indeed if
they did not profit by. It was certain that at no
distant time we should reap the benefit of the work
so ably commenced by Mr. Nicholson. In present-
ing to him a feeble testimonial of their regard and
respect, this meeting honoured themselves as much
as him. (Elear, hear.)
Sir A. ELTON, M.P., expressed the high satisfac-
tion lie felt in moving the address about to be
presented to Mr. Nicholson, and in advocating the
cause of the ballot before so influential an assembly.
The future of our Australian colonies was destined
to be great and glorious, and their laws ought to
be such as would inspire the people with noble and
independent sentiments. The ballot was eminently
recommended by the principle of fair play, so dear
Englishman ; for it put those who were
to
without
every
influence on a level with those who pos-
sessed it. It was often found that those who sneered
most at the ballot were themselves addicted to the
degrading practices of corruption and intimidation.
(Applause.) Some said the ballot was not needed in
this country ; but ask the tenant, the tradesman,
and the artisan whether they did not require that
protection. (Hear.) They were entitled to vote
without let or hindrance, as much as the proudest
nobleman in the laud. lithey wished the franchise
to be a sham only, the sooner they went back to
rotten boroughs the better ; if they wished it to be
a reality, it could only be rendered so by the ballot.
(Cheers.) He rejoiced at meeting with Mr. Nichol-
son, and trusted that he would long live to aid in
the promotion of the popular rights of his country-
men. (Cheers.) The hon. baronet moved the adop-
tion of the following address ; and that it should be,
presented to Mr. Nicholson by the chairman :
" To William Nicholson, Esq., of Melbourne, in the
Colony of Victoria.
" In the name and on behalf of the Society for Pro-.
moting the Adoption of the Vote by Ball t, we are
commissioned to express to you their gratitude for your
services to the cause of representative government and
free institutions. Deeply attached to representative
institutions' and desiring their improvement wherever
adopted and their progress throughout the world, we
lament in our country they are marred by the operation
of debasing and tyrannical influences, the tendency of
which is to destroy all sense of public duty in the elector
—to falsify and suppress the genuine expression of public
opinion—to exclade virtuous and able men from Parlia-
ment, and to perpetuate bad government and maladmi-
nistration. We therefore rejoice that your far-seeing
care for the colony states
which owns you amongst her
simultaneouslytewrei
shouldth e as establishment
I ish
thrownuientof .
e n
representative provided
institutions,
around theta the invaluable safeguard and protection
of the ballot. The undoubted success of the
measure, of
which it is your just pride to be the author, by exhibiting
the well working of an electoral franchise,
widely extended,
and at the same time purified and protected, will promote
the improvement of our institutions at home, and the pro-
gress, concurrently with civtli,ation, of popular rights
throughout the world. Wegratefully acknowledge that the
adoption of the ballot by our fellow-countrymen in Aus-
tralia has greatly strengthened our hands, who are
labouring to procure for the people of this country a free
and protected suffrage, by enabling us to point to secret
voting as already a British institution. We should in -
adeqeately express the obligations to you of the friends
of free and protected voting in the mother country, if
we omitted to convey to you their thanks for sacrificing
that leisure, the enj.,yelent of which was the proposed
object of your visit to your native country, by pub-
licly narrating, on several distinguished occasions, in a
manner long to be remembered ley those who heard it,
the history and euccess of the ballot in your colony. In
the name of the society, and of an immense number of
our countrymen who ai.xiously look forward to the
establishment of protection to the people's franchise, we
thank you for your services to our cause, and wish all
happiness and prosperity to you, to your family, and to
the great Anglo-Saxon community of which you are a
member and an ornament."
Mr. GREER, M.P., seconded the adoption of the
address. He expressed, on behalf of himself and
the sister country, the warmest sympathy on be-
half of the ballot, and begged to thank Mr. _Nichol-
son for his distinguished services. (Hear, bear.)
He was a living argument in contradiction to the
sophistries that had been urged against the ballot.
(Hear.) He had devoted his leisure to travelling in
this country, and removing many prejudices which
still prevailed against the ballot. (Hear.) Within
the last century a vast alteration had taken place
in our treatment of our colonies. 'Wo had learned
a lesson from the revolt of the United states ; we
now allowed thrm to think for themselves, and
hence we had this young colony of Victoria spring-
ing, as it were, full-armed from the brain of Mi-
nerva, and with all Minerva's wisdom. (Cheers.)
Teat colony had adopted the ballot as the charter
of its liberties ; and we could not do better than
copy the example. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. G. JONES, of Bristol, a working man, ten-
dered the thanks of his class to Mr. Nicholson for
his hearty exertions in the cause of the ballot, and
refuted several of the hackuied arguments that have
been urged against it.
The CHAIRMAN then presented the address.
Mr. NICHOLSON on rising was most enthusiasti-
cally received. After thanking the meeting for
the honour done him, be said he had been
guided in his efforts in Australia by a desire
to benefit the colony ; but should the example
prove of service to this country lie should rejoice the
more. (Hear, hear.) Since be returned to
land he had been asked certain questions, and had
confined himself to answering them, as to the work-
ing of the ballot in the colony. On various occa-
sions he had (roue into full details, and in no par-
ticular had he ever been contradicted. (Hear.)
The legislature of Victoria had adopted his motion
for the ballot by a majority of 8, although that body
consisted of one-third government nominees. In
illustration of the working of the ballot Mr. Nichol
son exhibited a large painting, showing how the
first election by ballot for the city of Melbourne
had been conducted. It was so arranged that after
the voter was identified, and had received his vot-
ing card, he had no meats of showing it before ho
delivered it into the ballot-box. The plan lotd
worked well ; for though some elections had been
closely contested, in no case had the decision of the
leturning officer bean disputed. This mode of vot-

ing was generally approved by all parties. It had
groatly reduced the expense to the candidates—
(hear, hear)—in facr, the amount to be spent by
them was limited by the government. It had
secured peace and good order at the elections ;
there were no hourly returns ; nothing was known
till the close of the poll, and it was then too late to
make any disturbance. (Hear, hear.) Since the
adoption of the ballot in Australia numbers of per-
sons had become converts to the system. State-
ments had appeared in the press of this country as
to the bad working of the ballot, but these were
wholly unfounded ; the best order prevailed at the
elections, and this was testified by the Attorney-
General of Victoria, and others who had been leading
opponents of the ballot. (Hear.) A member of the
legislature had recently written him to say that the
ballot had done a great deal of good ; the worst fault
he had to find with it was that the electors did not
vote as they ought. (Laughter.) But it was a suf-
ficient answer to that that they exercised their own
flee will. (Hear.) It had been said that only the
town populations were in favour of the ballot ; but
in Victoria its main supporters were the agricul-
tural members—in fact, its only opponents were
the nominated members. (Hear.) Lord Naas had
expressed a doubt, at Cockermouth, whether, if the
population at large had been polled, they would
have been in favour of the ballot ; but his lordship
was decidedly in error. Mr. Nicholson then alluded
to the loyal feeling prevailing in the colony, and,
observed that its contribution to the Patriotic Fund
was 150,0001., more than that of Scotland. (Hear.)
It had since largely contributed to the Nightingale
Fund and the India Relief Fund. The legislature
had voted 25,0001. to the latter fund, and that le-
giblature was elected by ballot. (Cheers.) After
again thanking the meeting for the honour con-
ferred on him, he disclaimed the sole honour of
having attained the success of the ballot in Aus-
tralia, and named several gentlemen who had ably
co-operated with him.
Mr. S. MoRLEY moved the following resolution
Sucee,,s to the Annual Motion for the Ballot."
(Hear, hear.) The public business of the country
ought to be the private business of every English-
man. Mr. Nichohon had acted on this principle
in the colony ; and we needed more such men in
the House of Commons—men of honesty and intel-
ligence—middle-class men—who would firmly
uphold the rights of the people. (Cheers.) The
object of the ballot was to s'aield the honest, not the
dishonest, voter—such men as were alluded to the
other day by Sir Henry Dryden, that precious spe-
cimen of a landlord, who declared that a tenant
had no right to use his landlord's land to vote
ewd o
hisu
odl
ballot
orciwuon
tmhn
principles."
(del
isdod.
oo,rwns
ont(ti
auatpu anygmonhantem. )
desiree
nat Thereebn earus tenant
v owwt who
against him—(bear, hear, and laughter)—and said.
chhean‘g‘
fahonardimtililpeearerbdsas of one who said he always
iotnwl
only
ssaol hum
membersbug .
would( C r ies sincerelyd it; he
vote for it, but
be-
lieved that this was the case of many members. o
f
let it be known to the
"Hayter" of the day that they weredetermined on
question
what
Ministry w
carriedthe a thin
in
ldianvnien, g
nn this
matters
pgoNwveoruldHbe
hoped
the
house,sueh a combination
not
only
in
favourwould speedily bbe
ballot, for formed
in
to obtain a thorough reform in the representation.
Mr. AYRTON, M.P., dwelt on the influence which
electors as well as the elected. Onee
the ballot would exercise on the f moralityth e
besto f trhee_
sults would be to show the aristocracy that their
predominance could only be maintained by superior
theH meetingmoralThe
were voted to tine Le-
gislatures and people of
foradopting
the
ballotTa m a; n
andia, and
o
South Australia,
proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.