The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1849-09-15
Ballet vouIiRl.

| 0otOt VOuBuxs
In the discussion of amendments to the Consti
tuition during the recent canvass for delegates
among the many changes advocated, there Il
one which we think has not received that at.
iention TO which Its importance entities 1t. We
.llude TO the ma oner of voting. The failure to
disc uss this question generally, has not been the
| result OF snacq 1aintance Ia the policy of the
present system. On the contrary, we have
reason to believe, so far as the subject has been
looked to, general disqualification prevails, and
the people woald gladly have a change.
Other questions, IL 10 true, have taken prece-
tence over It; and In their zeal to bring about
reforms vitality affecting the interest and pros
| perity Of the Siate-reforms deemed paramount
20 all o,hers-this one has been partially over.
looked by those who have taken the most active
cart in tho discussion Of constitutional qu-s-
lions.
IL ia not our purpose now 10 20 into general
discussion Of the subject, but merely to throw
nut few hints for the consideration Of those
Who NAV feel an interest ia The purity OF tn
elective franchise aud In the perpetuiiy Of our
institutions. We know that the present. s, stem
Of vo ing is very much in keeping with the bold
aud fearless character tf the Kentuckian f; ana
how-vsr gratifying it may be TO know that the
sreat mass Of cur citizens can " sing out' the
usme OF their choice for any Office Ia their gfi,
with right good will. yet IL cannot be denied
thst there are many even In this land OF "boast-
ID liberty" Who are the mere slaves, the plant
,oOls, Of those whom circumstances have placed
hem under some Obligations We may talk
and boast much as We please about the inde-
lendence Of our voters, but ths truth Ia, aud nc
nan acquainted with the history Of Kentucky
lection can deny il, there men and no very
mall number either, ia every county OF the
State, whose real sentiments never reflected
At the polls. They have been placed under
'ersonsl obligations by some act Of Kindness o.
hs part Of inf initial partiraus, aud rather thon
incur the dispiea-ure Of those, they arc induced
o vote rgansi the man Of their chnies. Ra
. hts thing 10 perfectly understood BY all &c
quainlrd with the CANVASS carried on by III
'nttiguing p"hticlaa, aud such being the Case
Il Will nor he c-ued that thu evil here spoken at
you'd he greatly Irss~n-d, IL not entirely ohvi
aiei. by sdop,ing the halo, system OF voting
Under this system every msn would have
oght 10 d-po,iI hts vote la the ballot box, 5n'
40 msn couo rightfuIy quest on him AS L.
whom that vote was given. But, sHy moni-.
we wish IL kno~n Tor whom We vote; wehsv.
20 coucrslm-nt la the matter" Such ca,
nave Ih- consolation Of kuowing that uud-r th'
,aiiot system they are not deprived Of the righl
IT making their vote pubic.
There are a Thousand wayR by which theN
may do this. Tiny may proclaim Il upon III.
ur they may wen publish II 10 the newspapers.
# they deem the public are very SOLICITORS 10
\ now for whom their votes are given. But d.
not force those who would csst their votes for
The man Of their choice, and retire in peace to
their homes, To the necessity of being stopped
on the corners and on the streets Of your towns
to be cateohised and lectured by every Hare-up
politiclan and concety eiectioneerer with which
the country SO aba ndantly abounds.
But, aside from this, there Is another consid-
Grafton Of no little mo nent The present sys-
TEN is the only thing which throws a restraint
upon the Independence OF the polls. lfsn snaly
SIS were had OF the motive which influenced the
voting class the presen day. IL would I've fou nd
that hundreds Of the most respectable. worthy
snd Intelligent citirens la every section Of the
Slate, sre literally hemmed and curbrd In by
party lines, prevented from casting their votes
for the more talented aud deserving Of the op
position, and emphatically over ridden and
down-Irodden by meTest Iyroes end se.f-fOisled
political lie aoaues aud DULLES aud all because
party lines are drawn 80 closely aud because the
voter, whatever may be his relations 10 the can
didal-s or his position towards the POLITICAL psT-
ties, has TO "sing OUT for the man for whom
he votes How many ofth- beet and mos, caPa-
de men have been overrun aud beaten by mere
cyphers Of men, for small Offices unconnecied
with national politics becsus-, forsooth, they
bore the cognomen of Wings or DemocTatsf
Parii-,, Il has been contenced by some, ar
IN r. publican government; al oil
events q l. urged that they exert health
iul infrence upon repub icGn institutions. -
neither this doctrine holds god or not, Il can
not be said that the Of parties is beneficial
A, hi at abuse which exercises tyranny over the
mind. OF whole eomnu mites Of voters, driving
them in the wake OF every politics adventure.
worthy or unworthy, who may ehooS- to WELD
the tsshcs OF the party to which he belongs. IL
is rgtiust these abuses We now contend. and
one Of the most .ff-ctual preveniives Of them
would Re the adoption Of the ballot instead OF
the uiUa roc system Of voting.