The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-20 00:00:00

already stated, " the beginning of the end" has
arrived in that iiuportaiit district.

In Ondo valiou, columns are steadily concen-
trating, in expectation of the opening of the
campaign. Lord CLYDE seems resolved to
break the neck of the rebellion, south
and east of Lucknow, before entering On
Upper Oude. We may trust to the valour, tempered
with discretion, of the gallant Highlander, and feel
certain that he will also do his work completely,
and with the greatest economy of the lives of his sol-
diers. He has already been assailed for this cautious
prudence, which, however, may be regarded as the
very highest qualification that can be displayed by
a commander. Others have but to obey orders,
to follow their instructions, and to show an ex-
ample of fearless courage to others, but the Chief
must look at everything; and every life unduly
sacrificed, without an adequate object, will cast
a heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He
has already gained the applause of his SOVE-
REIGN, and of the Parliament and peofile
of the United Kingdom, and he may well
afford to despise the snarling of the captious critics
whom nothing can content, and who are resolved
to find fault with everything.
We may now anticipate exciting intelligence by
each successive mail. The time has arrived for de-
cisive action, and the golden opportunity will not
be wasted or misapplied. As we have frequently
intimated, the moment it is ascertained that the
waverers can join the stronger party, they will be
anxious to exhibit their zeal in the strongest light,
and to render real service against their country-
men who are more deeply committed than them-
selves. When once it is found to be their interest
to conciliate the conquerors, and that they can re-
ceive efficient protection, many steps will be taken,
of the results whereof it is as yet impossible to form
an accurate estimate. We shall, however, soon
learn more, and we have no doubt that the most
sanguine anticipations will be completely fulfilled,
if not exceeded.

There have been so many misrepresentations on
the subject of secret voting in America, that it will
probably be interesting to many of our readers to
know the facts of the case, with a few opinions

also, from an intelligent American. The Chairman

of the Ballot Society having learned that CHARLES
ANDERSON, Esq., of Cincinnati, Ohio, was particu-
larly qualified to give them full and impartial in-
formation on the working of the Ballot in the

States, wrote to that gentleman requesting a reply
to a few principal questions. Mr. ANDERSON'S long

letter shows that he was a very suitable person to
apply to, since he is conversant with the working
of both systems, began life where open voting
was the practice, and was prejudiced against the
opposite system, and writes throughout in the con-
siderate but measured manner which is its own
evidence that truth, not special pleading, is his
object.

Probably mist Englishmen imagine that Vote by
Ballot is universal in the Union. It is not so, how-
ever. The Slave States generally adhere to open
voting ; a fact in itself ominous enough to us.
Kentucky, in which Mr. ANDERSON was born and
brought up, for instance, adheres to exclusive viva
roce voting. lie left that State, therefore, about the
time he obtained his majority with strong prepos-
sessions in favour of open voting, and attributing
all the manly virtues of Kentucky men to that
system. The observations and experience of the
other system in Ohio in matur©r life
completely changed his opinion, and he writes—
"My early antipathies to the Ballot system hare
been more than overcome—the italics are his own.
And he mentions that this was the case, notwith-
standing his belonging to the Whig party, " whose
wealth ought naturally to have made it suffer
most, if not alone, through this independent voting
of the employee-claw2s."
An important fact is that, in the numerous Stat
which adopt the Ballot, it is not left to current
legislation merely. It is not a law which, enacted
one session, can be repealed the next ; it is embodied
in their constitutions, and can be repealed only by
the same authority which placed it there—by the
whole people voting against it, assembled in
special convention for that purpose. It has been
thought too important to be left to the representa-
tives for the time being.
Special attention is due to the fact mentioned
by Mr. ANDERSON, that the reason for the adop-
tion of the Ballot has always been the principle it
involves—" that every man should do HIS OWN
VOTING." It is acknowledged that there are in-
cidental advantages, such as the shortness of time
required for voting, the order and quiet, and
others, and that there are, also, disadvantages ; but
in America it is the principle of the Ballot which
caused it to be a clause in the constitutions of nearly
all the States, and which retains it there. Indeed,
the writer thinks that the preponderance of the
lesser advantages is on the side of open voting.
It is the principle which makes it of such import-
ance to all r ight-minded men.

It seems that in America, as here, it is by no
means those alone who are in dependent circum-
stances who most need the protection of the ballot.
" Men, in the fear of losing social standing or per-
sonal friendships, and all who lack moral courage
of any kind or degree, and from any cause, need
this screen over their vanity, their good nature, or
their pusillanimity, as much as the veriest paupers
in the land." We imagine this representation will
suit England as well as America. Indeed, Mr.
ANDERSON, after enumerating all the conceivable
advantages of open voting, adds—" All these
amount to nothing with me, under the convictions
I have on the inherent and irremediable vice which,
like a cancer in the heart, ' a rank corruption
mining all within, infects unseen.' "
Mr. ANDERSON bears his unequivocal testimony to
the universal practice of bribery in those Slave
S tates,where open voting prevails; andthis, notwith-
standing his partialities are with the manners and
habits of the South. In all the populous districts
where it prevails, open voting " leads regularly
and inevitably to the direct, absolute, and most
corrupt purchase of votes," the practice being, he
says, so universal, that both parties, like the accu-
sers of the woman taken in adultery, are afraid to
cast the first stone, " The means taken to insure
the success of the bribes are so open and shameless
that he is ashamed to particularise them." On
one side of the Ohio bribery is rife, universal,
and unblushing ; on the side on which he lives,
though possessing no superiority in general morals,
it is never heard of. As to the liability of the
Ballot to abuse, he has not seen it, and thinks it
impossible that ingenuity could be a match for
such legislative provisions as would be easy to in-
troduce, if fraud were attempted.
Mr. ANDERSON concerns himself chiefly with
the facts he was asked to furnish, but he modestly
gives his opinion upon two points. The Ballot, it
is said, does not secure secrecy in America, and
before some elections the votes have been calculated
very closely. He replies that no one ever dreamed
of prohibiting any man from declaring his opinions,
and in communities where all, or nearly all, the
voters, felt independent enough to a 0 so before ths