The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-08 00:00:00

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PAP 14:

7,;ci-vio\cg,
VOTE 131' BALL
.41'
On Wednesday night a meeting cif,t a e 43;1 4: •
ofthe Ballot Society was held at the Ladon
house, Ludgate-hill, for the purpose of p'Aimotitig S
the principles of the Ballot, and of giving it addi-
tional strength in both houses of Parliament.
Among those present were Lord Tcynham, Lieu-
tenant-General Thompson, Mr. James Bonwiek, of
Melbourne, &c.
The chair was to have been taken by the Hon.
F. H. F. Berkeley,: M.P., but as that gentleman
had not arrived at the hour appointed (seven o'clock),
Mr. Whitehurst, the vice-president of the society,
was called to the chair.
The CPIAIRMAN, in opening the business of the
evening, said he had no doubt that Mr. Berkeley
had been unexpectedly detained by his duties iu
the House of Commons, but that he would no
doubt arrive presently, as he had given his pro-
mise to attend. He would in the meantime open
the business, and was happy to say that gentle-
men were present from many parts of the coun•
try who were greatly interested• in• the question
of the ballot. If those who advocated the
ballot only made their influence bear as was
done in the case of the census, they could not
fail of success. Thirty years ago Lord John Rus-
sell said, in writing to the electors of Stroud, that
he had included the ballot in the plan of Reform
which he had submitted to the Cabinet of Earl
Grey;and all they asked was that Lord John would
return to the advocacy of his old principles. (Hear,
hear.) Mr. Whitehurst was proceeding with fur-
ther remarks, when the Hon. Mr. Berkeley entered
the room, and took the chair amid loud cheers.
Mr. J. F. BONTEMS then read letters of apology
from the following gentlemen :—Sir J. V. Shelley,
M P., Mr. W. Tite, M.P., Mr. James, White, M.P.,
Mr. Gilpin, M.P., Mr. Hadfield, M.P., Colonel
Sykes, M.P., Mr. Edmund Potter, Manchester;
Mr. John Crossley, Halifax ; Mr. F. Steiner,
Acrington ; Rev. W. Griffith, Derby; and the
Mayor of Ipswich. Letters were also read from Sir
Charles Douglas, M.P., Mr. William Hargreaves,
Mr. James Heywood, and the Rev. Michael D.
Jones, Bala.

General THOMPSON was then called on to move
the first resolution, and said, as he had lost his seat
in the House of Commons because he was opposed
to piratical wars, and had not therefore mingled
much in public, but as he was an old advocate of
the ballot, he had felt it his duty to be present at
this meeting. Ile did not know that there was
much reason to address them at any length, for
every man felt that in his own neighbourhood the
protection of the ballot was greatly needed. (Hear,
hear.) He therefore felt great pleasure in moving
the first resolution, in the wording of which he
cordially concurred. The gallant general con-
cluded by moving the following resolution :—" That
as a Strong breeze of public opinion is necessary
to carry any measure of Reform through the House
of Commons, and over the bar of the House of
Lords,' this meeting calls upon the constituencies
of the United Kingdom to give such an unmistake-
able expression of the opinion which everywhere
exists, in favour of protecting the electors by the
ballot, as shall ensure during the present session
the passing of a bill to secure that object."
The Rev. ROBERT SPEARS, of Stockton-upon-
Tees, seconded the resolution.
The resolution was then agreed to.
Mr. POPE, of Manchester, moved the second re-
solution, which was as follows :—" That as the Go-
vernment proposes, during the present session of
Parliament, further to legislate on the subject of
corrupt practices at elections, and as experience
shows that penal laws are powerless to secure
purity or freedom of election, the time has arrived
for more vigorous action in Parliament in be-
half of the ballot than has yet been made, and
this meeting respectfully but earnestly requests
those members of Parliament who are favourable to
this only effectual protection to the suffrage to co-
operate in active measures to induce the leading
members of the Ministry, in deference to the views
of the great majority of their supporters, at least
not to oppose the bill for the protection of voters,
proposed to be brought in by the Hon. F. Henry F.
Berkeley, M.P." He quite agreed, he said, with
his friend General Thompson, that the subject of the
ballot was pretty well talked out. He cordially
approved of_the resolution.
Mr. HONETWOOD, of Horsham, seconded the re-
solution, and bore his testimony to the rapid pro-
gress which the ballot question was making in
Horsham.

Mr. DANN, of Reigate, spoke shortly in support
of the resolution.

The Rev. Mr. BONNER also supported the resolu-
tion,

Mr. EBENEZER CLARKE, of Essex, next spoke in
support of the resolution, which was agreed to.
Mr. Alderman TOWLE, of Oxford, moved the next
resolution, which was as follows :—" That recog-
nising with gratitude the strenuous exertions of the
_executive committee, and their success in maintain-
ing and strengthening the position: of the ballot
Tiestion,ifoth in Parliament, and in, the country,
this meeting calls on every friend'offtaliamentary
reform to enrol himself among the members of this
society, and on all its present members, largely to
increase its income, and thus to enable the execu-
tive committee to continue and increase their
exertions until the ballot shall have become the
law of the land." They had succeeded in the Tory
town of Oxford in returning two members who
are in favour of the ballot. It was true Mr. Card-
well was in the Ministry, and might not vote in
favour of it in consequence, but they might depend
upon it he would not vote against it. Hear, hear.)
Mr, CUNNINGHAM, of Brentford, seconded the
resolution.

Mr. CHILDS, of Bungay, supported the resolu-
tion, and referred to the doings at Norwich, Ips-
wich, Sudbury, and other places, where they had
seen the deplorable results which the system of
open voting had engendered. The ballot must be
obtained by unfailing perseverance.

Mr. MARSDEN, one of the treasurers of the
society, stated that their expenditure for the years
1858-59 and 1860, amounted to £1,469, for print-
ing, rent, and all other expenses incidental to the
society. He bore his testimony to the valuable
services of Mr. Bontems, their hon: secretary, and
to Mr. Whitehurst, the vice-chairman, who was the
life and soul of the society.
Mr. BROWN, of Plymouth, spoke in support of
the resolution.

Mr. HANDEL CROSSHAM, of Bristol, also sup-
ported the resolution, which was agreed to.
Mr. BONWICK, of Melbourne, Victoria, inspector
of schools, bore his testimony to the value of the
ballot in that colony.
Lord TEYNHAM proposed the next resolution as
follows :—" That this meeting desires to record its
sense of the valuable services rendered to the cause
of free and protected voting by the people and Par-
liaments of the Australian colonies, and by her
Majesty the Queen and her responsible advisers, in
making the ballot a British institution, and in
demonstrating the practicability, simplicity, and
efficiency of secret voting." The difficulties to be
overcome under the influences of their evil nature
by the present system of open voting, he said, were
only to be overcome by means of the ballot.
Mr. WASHINGTON WILKES seconded the resolu-
tion, which was agreed to.
Mr. JOHN DALE, in highly complimentary terms,
proposed the cordial thanks of the meeting to the
hon. gentleman who had so ably filled the chair.
The CHAIRMAN returned his best thanks.
The meeting then separated.

THE WORCESTERSHIRE RIFLE VOLUNTEERS.-
On Tuesday, the sth inst., the Halesowen and Stourbridge
Volunteers assembled on the Monument-hill at Hagley'
provided with blank ammunition, n
(9th) Companies of the Ist Battalion Worcestershire fle
under Capt. Foster,
gone through. The Stourbridd
o edss,skirmishers, were
the manoeuvres of a
of
sham fight, as between two co
took up a position in extende
under Capt. Hunt, also ex-
tended, entered from the east,s
, gmrepdcaeaonr opn the west side of the
wood—the Halesowen corp
and forced their way through
till obliged to retire before the hot fire of their opponents.
from re
The skirmishing
l well performed, and was inte-
the firing was exceedingy teto tree and bush to bush with
wood,the Halesowen continued to re-
tire, drawing
the Stourbridge out also into the open, when
resting to the spectators and instructive to the riflemen.
Emerging from the
the former, supported by supposed cavalry, laid down
and allowed them to charge their adversaries, who im-
mediately formed square to resist, and afterwards
extended again. Some manoeuvring followed of chang-
ing position, the Halesowen by superior numbers
endeavouring to outflank the Stourbridge; being unable
to accomplish their purpose and the Stourbridge having
closed to prevent it, the llalesowen also closed, fixed
ltyleaviNeNn, r
et l
were
ei
nat
eNhvaea
ny i
driven
bvdouble td
sides.
no: and nAtdhtextendingwood
period
dao sd a thy
htheoet
bayonets, and charged furiously down the hill, the enemy
fiNgVereet!
was
agt
sheem
Halesowen ammunition failed, and the Stourbridge seizing
the opportunity delivered a tremendous fire, dashed out of
the wood and charged their opponents, another change of
position took place, and the Halesowen in their turn being
charged by supposed cavalry, formed rallying square ; both
companies then reformed and marched into line on tep of
the hill and gave a general salute, the Halsowen band
playing " Gud save the Queen." The proceedings then
terminated, and the officers were entertained by the
Adjutant, Captain Wolridge, who had conducted all the,
movements of the day. Some remarks were made on the
absence of the field-officers, neither of whom has taken
the slightest notice of any corps of the battalion since the,
review at Worcester in October last, though the junior
has been present in the county all the awe; the,),,
tinv :
i
consequently, " non- effeetives " for the last Fis mn h
s
and the battalion generally, would be glad fthey were
reFlaced by " effectives,"