The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-01-09 00:00:00

JANUATIT g. 1438.

alluding to electors of whom the interlocutor has tin itmid,
knowledge, you •oft en hear it said, on the mere strength of po-
pular report, that Mr. A the banker is a tory, and, that -B-the
butcher is a radical. The fact is, that, with very unequal ac-
quirernents, both the banker a butcher happen to possess
tongues. Tongues,: it is.well known, have a strange propensity
to talk—no matter whether in the clearing-house or in the
slaughter:house. In short, the political sentiments of every
elector are noire or less known, and therefore, the Grote-box
may envelop the voter in a temporary and ostensible fog, his
previously expressed predilections are so generally understood,
that tinder no system of covert suffrage can he possibly obtain
crelit for having voted against them. Ile may have been
bribed or badgered to assist the pretencions of a peculiar can-
didate. He may have felt it serviceable to gise that
a promise ; he nlay have been wheedled or dragooned into the
nominal support of a person whose principles he is notoriously
opposed to. But when the day of election arrives, it is all to
no pprpose. Vote he may, under the ballot system, there can
be no real secrecy, and consequehtly no effectual protection.
Nay, even if the cadidatb whom he professes to back shall gain
the contested seat, the elector's knoWn sentiments will be held
in all cases to have deter Mined his vdte; and as nothing can
rescue him from the suspiCion of hatring clung to his deliherate
opinions, and sacrificed his disSembled promise, we Have heie a
strong common sense presuMption whibit reduces the vaubted
secrecy' of the ballot to the very shallowest of folly's delusions.
'''to allege that votes polled under covert could neither afford
evidence of absolute treachery, nor justly provoke retaliation,
does not in our opinion • mend the matter. In the event of a
candidate having gained his election, we admit, that, in the
elation of victor), be might not be ditlposed to pry too curiously
into the fidelity or unfaithfulness with which the inure doubtful
among his pledged supporters had diScharged their ettgage.;.
As we shall endeavour to procure as full a report as mews; although, even in that event, the desire of iniCeftaining
possible of the special nonsense which may be uttered by the parties on whom no could or could not rely Ima future oecw.
sion might very natural!), stimulate hint to prosecute the inqui-
the " lean apothecary" on the occasion, eye may perhaps
orial process with a zeal and vigilance proportionate to its
have it in our power to show the decided contrast afrorded
difficulty and importance. Of course, if the candidate shall
by a Comparison of his present opinions with his former
have lost his seat, the said desire, aggravated by the tnortifica
sentiments as declared in his speeches at the anniversa- lion inseparable from an expensive failure will displat itself in
ties of the Bible Society. such augmented earnestness and strength as will leave nil expea
Of this,, however, we feel confident, that Mr. Black- client 'tattled either to elucidate the causes of defeat or to fur-
burn's sentiments, if still in accordance with those of the nish facilities for avenging it. Nor are the means wholly want-
lug tar satisfying this desire by modes of inquiry and calculi
Education quin.mittee, will tsoget -with no hearty response •
lino which,4no't absolutely unerring, must materially dintiuish
front the people of Liverpo6l-'—:of course we mean from I the citatreS of Mistake. Fur example, in prosecuting the de-
the protestant of this town. Should a petition in teetion of treachery, the doped and-disappointed candidate will
favour of an irreligious and unchristianising system of find that by fir the larger proportion of his pledged adherents
national instruction be adopted by the Reform Associa- i cannot possibly be liable to the slightest suspicion. All who
lion, surely no one will bare the hardihood to assert that
are notoriously identified with himself in political opinion—all
• who have expended money and zeal in his favour—all who have
'such a petition would be entitled to the designation of a
spontaneously promised him that support which their independ-
petition from the " inhabitants of -Liverpool." Nay, i eta circumstances wield have enabled them to withhold with
further, if such a petition should lie for signature in i impunity—all who have made sacrifices and encountered loss
different parts of the town, and if ten or twelve. or even for his sake—all who have never been known to give a vole or
twenty thousand names should be found appended to it, " utter a sentiment unfavourable to his principles and preten-
We would still designate it as any thing but a petition sions—all these classesof established voters, so capable of being
lly assorted, he will necessarily exclude from his
from the protestant People of petpool. It would only secaituegcnv.
a Down he comes, then, to his pledged fresh tnen
be a petition from the Roman Catholics and infidelsor and doubtfuls. Of the spontaneous bias of those electors who
the town. It should be borne in mind that the Roman , have been regiitered for the first time, he Will conceive him
Catholics boast that they constitute nearly a third of the ' self entitled to judge with tolerable accuracy, partly from their
Population. If -that is the• case, (which we are by no family polities, and pattly from the flippant frankness where-
means- prepared to allow,) what with canvassing from with they promised him their vote on congiderationa which
fairly be regarded as mercenar),. Concerning others
door to door for signatures, and exposing sheets at the may
whose promise•may have been reluctantly obtained by the use
entrances of the Popish chapels to be signed by men,'
of peat influence, or who may be known as opposed to bin),
women, and children, it would be no extravagant ex- in politics, or whose general character is habitually volatile,
pectation to look for a list of some twenty thousand capricious, and deceptit,e, be will naturally entertain the
Papists among the signatures. We mention this merely strongest • misgivings: Then comes the reit ibution :itis in
to hint that the circumstance of a petition being sent front vain to deny it. if the rejected Candidate be an opulent
Liverpool, with even that large number of signatures landlord, or an extensive consumer, it is but too probable,
will druid no proof that any Protestant has signified his whatever be his politics, that alter nanowing his list of defaul-
ters to those on whom presumptions tell most heavily, he will
approbation of Mr. Blackburn's scheme. The whole visit them with such a course of systematic retaliations as cir-
Matter is essentially Popish, and Mr. Blackburn is only cumsbinces enable him to exercise. Between squire and farmer
surrendering himself us a willing tool in the hands of the there will be suspicious distrusts, sharp reckonings, petty
vexations, and notices to quit. Between costumer and trades-
: man there will be diminished orders, false protestations, and
a closing of accounts. Between superior and dependent there
will be a breaking up of every kindiy reciprocity ;mind all this
the moire galting on both sides, because, while wholly insepara-
'tile from tiie infirmities of irritated humanity, it proceeds upon
grounds which, from their very nature, are not distinct!), as-
; and because, as one of its many evils, the innocent
may suffer with th, guiAy. The peaceful and profitable rela-
tions of society would thus be quite as Much disturbed under
the ballot-system as at present ; nay, our conviction is, that by
the plan of voting secretly the ordinary resources of retaliation
would be called forth to au extent of which the upeu poll has
heretofore furnished no example."

"' National Education." We -suppose_that- the addri; s •
which,lie is tri deliver himself of on this occasion is in
tended to produce a demonstration in favour of Lord
Broughanf;; education scheMes, the design of which, no
ddubt, is to exclude the principle of religious education
from all our eleemosynary institutions. This design is
certainly not avowed. Indeed the contrary is insidiously.
professed. But we leiow too much of the tortuous
course p►irstied by this hypocritical faction to suppose
that their professions are to be construed literally. There
is so much of Jesuitical mental reservation about their
declarations, that it evinces ally common prudence to
give no credit to their most solemn asseverations. Wit-
ness their oft refuted assertion that the Bible is not ex
cluded from the Corporation Schools.

But there is something very peculidr in the circum-
stance of Mr. Blackburn's being engaged to introduce
the nostrum of an anti -scriptitial system of education to
the notice of the Reform Asrociation. It is well kriown
to most of our readers that Mr. Sutor Blackbu►n is
a rigid Independent—" a Pharisee after tire straitest
sect".—and that he has rendered himself conspicuous fur
his advocacy of the Bible Society . That such a man
should concentrate his energies• to further a scheme
Which would render useless all tire exertions of that no•

Lie institution affords a specimen of mental degradation,
and of the triumph of party zeal over the monitory whis-
perings of conscience, which it is humiliating to con-
template. . .

priests.

We .perceive that the sithstitution of Sir John Cam
Hobliouse's Vestry act for Sturges Bourne's act is like-
wise to be Mooted at the meeting of the Reform Associa-
tion. We have already warned the rate-payers that the
radicals have been long meditating a grand attack upon
the present administration of our parochial afflits. We
again earnestly entreat the householders of Liverpool to
be prepared-of effectually resisting the threatened in-
terference.with the present System. if the monopolizing
faction should, by successful manceuvring, carry their
point, the public may rely upon it that the parish offices
would very speedily be packed with the menials of the
Reform AssOciation. The same jobbing and trickery
that we see practised in the management of our munici-.
pal affairs would be introduced into the select vestry.
But there are two or three other topics to be discussed.
Among these the "Ballot" and the " Extension of the
Suffrage are enumerated. Respecting the
_former of
these questions we solicit the notice of our readers to the
following admirable remarks from the Times of Saturday
last

"In our recent remarks on the ballaquestion we demonerat ed
successively, that if the privileye.of voting secretly were allowed
to those who prefer it, the right of the elector to give au open
Suffrage according to his choice could not be taken from him
without a tyrannical restriction of individual liberty and a total
sacrifice of the moral benefit which the public example of up-
right men always coolers upon the community; further, that if
the optional system were adopted, it would be found in practice
to be completely desti4ictive of the desired secrecy; and lastly,
that if, nevertheless, an oprositunity were actually afforded fur
trying the experiment of the proposed gagging bill upon the
liberties of the constituency, there is no conceivable device
whereby its contemplated objects could be successfully realized.
To say, in reply to this, that the practice of secret voting is
found to work perfectly well at the East India-house and in the
west-end clubs, is merely saying what is wholly beside the ques-
tion. Between a promiscuous political constituency and the
select membership of these aristocratic associations there is a
very palpible difference. While we admit that in the latter
neither the electors nor candidates art subjei:ted to the formal
ordeal-of a poll, we strenuously maintain that the actual method
whereby their elections are determined possesses only the name
of secret voting, and nothing of its substance or reality. When
gentlemen become candidates for the direction of the one, or
for membership in the other, the respective constituencies ate
invariably canvassed, either by themselves of by friends, some
time before -vote is to lie taken. From the staiion which
the parties (See y iti life, as well as from the rank and zeal of
ilit
their supporters, a direct and definite answer to such applica-
tions is always asked and given, as a matter of mere civility.
The votes; indeed, are so universally promised before the
eleetiOti; and Ao sure of being given in faithful fulfilment of the
promise, that the candidates, having in their hands a list it the
proprietors or members marked as pledged, can calculate on
success or rejection with such absolute certainty, as almost al-
ways induces them, in cages of premonislied failure, to relin-
quish their ptetenSions before the balloting day, just to save
their friend,. and opponents the trouble ef a useless ceremony.
Accordingly, we find that, in contests fur the East lonia Direc-
tion, it is the practice of candidates to put forth and withdraw
their pretensions, on occasion of several successive vacan-
cies, until, having obtained the promised suppoir, of a ma-
jority of proprietors, they at length advance to the ballot Only as
the nominal and pro forma act of tellership which declares their
previously-acqUired success. On that success, considering that
they have to deal With a straightforward and honourable con-
Stituency, they are accustomed to rely with the utmost confidence,
whiilly irrespectkre of the ballot, and as if no such thingexisted.
In stich cases; ai'all the world knows, them is no real secrecy
tehaterer. In many instances letters of thanks are sent by the
Successful candidates to the majority of the electOts, whom, in
spite of the ballot, they know to have been their friends. In
private clubs a person rarely thinks of applying for admission
Who is not almost certain of carrying his election wholly irre-
spective of ballot chances, and therefore, how well soever the
present mode of voting in these aristocratic associations may
work, the ballot,eonsidered as a device for securing secrecy, can
derive no recommendation at all for any such examples.
"But even if the members of these institutions hail pre-
tented in practice that experimental proof of the ballot's powers,
which we own they do possess facilities for demonstrating to a
Considerable extent, were they disposed to exercise them, we
should still contend that between their case and that of a pro-
. Miscuous political constituency there are certain differences
Which, as far as concerns the Merits of secret Soling, place the
latter body at a great and obvious disadvantage. What the
East India Company and the clubs are chiefly called to vote
. hpott are points (such as the election of office-bearers or ment.
tiers) on which these respective constititences have not been
previously committed by an antecedent course of opinion or of '
action. On occasions whereon they wished to defeat particular
candidates, they.might throw in their ballot-balls without hay-
ing been formerly known to entertain or express any such ha-
bitual biasses as might enable the public to predetermine with
confidence the side they would prefer to support. In cases of
this description, if privacy were their object, their vote could
neither be anticipated nor interpreted by a tecurrtence to last
sentiments; nor would they naturally be betrayed inch subse-
quent discloures on matters of such purely temporary interest-
But the secrecy which these parties might thus maintain, with-,
out much effort or management, is placed, almost necessarily,
beyond the control of the county and borough constitttences.
For the most part the suffrages of such constituencies must be
exercised. not on matters of parsing moment, but in regard to
• Certain distinctive principles of permanent po,itical policy, con-
eerning which, as constituting the topics of daily conversation,
their sentiments cannot fail to be known throughout the entire
s Ire* et their atquaintaste or neighbourhood. - Hencei when

SAMUEL KNIPE'S COMPENSATION.—We most cordi-
ally sympathize with this unfortunate tool of the Radical
faction. Our readers will remember that this silly old
man, under the persuasion that the shortest road to-fame
and emolument under the auspices of the Town council,
was by heapitik falsehood and calumny upon tlteTTorieS,
volunteered his services to Mr. Joshua Viralmsley, the
chairman of the Reform Association, and was employed
by him at a low figure in raising objections to some
hundreds of poor freemen, who had committed the unpar-
donable offence of voting for the conservative candidates
at the previous election. Such was the liberality of
Joshua's political creed, and such the honourable mode
he adopted to satisfy his revenge. In Samuel Knipe he
found.a most cony enient tool. With a prospect of ulti-
mate benefit he engaged in the work, and esteemed no
servility too abject so that he might conciliate his em-
ployers, and secure their suffrages for his own advance-
ment. The result was that several hundreds of men
were-objected to without even a reason being preferred
why they should not be retained on the burgess list; The
scene in the Registration Court was indeed a mockery
of justice, and the conduct of this Knipe and his asso-
ciate, Mr. Vandenhoff, then the soh6itor to the Reform
Association, expouse them to some severe censures from
the Revising Ilarrister. After a lapse of tithe, this Sa-
muel Knipe prefers a claim for compensation before the
Finance Committee, Who unanimously agree that his
claim cannot be allowed. The proceedings of the com-
mittee were afterwards confirmed by the council, and this
meddling, insolent upstart is left to suffer the reproach
and scorn of every honest roan, without sympathy from
his en-ployers. We have searched the. columns of the
Mercury, the Chronicle, the Journal, anti the Albion,
but ad his radical associates are silen!, and not a single
word is uttered in justification of his conduct. Poor
Samuel Knipe! Well, indeed, may your woe-begone
countenance lead us to "pity the sorrows of a poor old
man." Abandoned by your friends, and laughed to scorn
by the tories, what course will you now pursue? You
are too old to be a watchman, and too lazy to be employed
as a pitch boiler at the graving docks, therefore take our
advice and become a public informer. It would suit
your character and might become a source of considerable
emolument. In addition to the frequent violation of the
bye laws framed by our sapient. Town.clerk and his more
enlightened. Deputy, you might make some discoveries

of •a graver character. The Mayor of Liverpool might
he detected in the act of threatening to " wallop" a gen-
tleman, or his principal legal adviser first milling a
coachman and then driving his horses, and many in-
stances of 'a similar character. Mr. Hall will do on

justice in his peculiar way. Therefote, we say again,
take our advice and become a common informer:

SIR J,6lgs GRAHAM.—A. public dinner was given on
Thursday last, at Carlisle, to this highly gifted and pa-
triotic .gentleman. We are extremely. sorry that we
cannot find room for any thing but a short extract or
two froM the eloquent address which he delivered on the
occasion, and which occupies five columns of the Carlisle
Patriot.

We have also to plead want of room as a reason for
gi7ing no report of the very interesting Conservative
meetings at Oldham, Tintwistle, 8.7 c.

TAXING SMALL TENEMENTS.—We have elsewhere
inserted an admirable letter on this important subject, to
which we wish to direct the attention of the cottage-
owners of Liverpool, whose interests are most materially
jeopardised by the bill recently brought before the. House
of Commons.

There is one point, however, to which the letter we
have copied from the Times does not refer. We allude
to the wholesale diSfranchising effect which the Small,
Tenement Act would have througlicut the kingdom.
This feature in the meas"re is perfectly characteristic of
the Liberals.