The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-09


Senate ratfy it-let Switzerland be represented in
the United States, and the United State in Swift
zerland. That nation has not degenerated The
spirit that animated William Tell is still alive.
Let as also cultivate relations of friendship with
the Sublime Porte, and let the moral influence oil
the United Ststes be felt and experienced through
out the whole of Europe. What a beautiful spec
tacle il would be-the New World extending relief
to the Old-the New World saving the old from
Cossack domination! Truly England, has reason
10 court the friendship of the United States, and
il may be that the probability of her requiring our
aid and assistance against Russia prompted the
MARI ed change owards this country which has
characterized her leading statesmen, and the press
of that country, within two or hree years.
BLANK BALLOTS AND THE ELECTION OF SENATOR
IN RHODE IsLAND-We publish the folio wing COM
munication on the subject of blank ballots and the
recent Senatorial election in Rhode Island, be-
cause desiTous to elicit opinions On matter
of great public Importance, and not that take
any interest in the squabbles of political cliques
and parties in Rhode Island. In discussing the
question in the Herald Of the 9TH inst, whether
blank ballots ought TO be counted IN legislative
elections, we had no. in view the interest of any
Gen James's seat in the United States Senate is,
or is not, disputed And here is the advantage
which an independent journal, like the Heratd,
has over mere party organs, devoted to the inter-
ests of ciques and selfish individuals, in the deve
opemenl of important truths and principles.
1t is therefore, of little conse quence,: the
matter in question, whether the seat of General
James in the Senate is disputed or not. We have
II ~ al o1rtae
by the oyster and champagne supper given by
him, after lis election, to men of all parties,
including Governor Anthony. Nor is it i'm
portant he,her the communication in the P.o-
whence paper, protesting against the exclu-
sion Of blank yotes, and quoted IN the Herald,
was written by Ex-Governor Sprague, as we had
Supposed, or ty either of the other ex.Governors
Of Rhode Island, knight or Francis. Il is sim
guar fact, that these three gentlemen have been
Governors and United States Senator'S of Rhode
Island, as the record shows, viz Nehemiah X.
Knight, Governor from 1917 to 1921, and United
States Senator from lS2l TO ISL; John Brown
Francis, Governor from 1888 TO 1888, and United
States Senator for one term, ISL ID; William
Spra que, Governor for one year, ls3S-39, and
United States Senator, ls42 to 1915. If Governor
knight, as we have now reason 10 believe, IS the
author OF the communication referred to, IN the
Providence paper, II Is entitled 10 even more
weight than ( i! had come from Gov. Sprague, aa
we had at first supposed, inasmuch as the former
has had the benefit OF much greater experience
than the latter as a statesman. Fortified as our
own opinion, expressed in the Herald OF the 7th
inst, is, by the decisions Of the Congress OF the
United States, by the action OF several State Le-
glslatures, and the opinions of some OF the best
legal mind. Of the present day, it is not likely to
be shaken By the bubbles and scphislry of cores
pondents, or the interests Of any of the clques or
parties, in Rhode leland or elsewhere.
70 the EDITOR on TIE NEW YORK HERALD
Having noticed in your paper long srtcle relating
10 the senstorsl election by the Legislature OF
Rhode leland, would like not to reply TO thai article
in Cetsil. because It requires no SUCH reply, out
merely 20 make some two or three ofist ooinmeaA
Because Hon Wm, sprayue was in favor OF the eisc-
ticn OF Gen. james IL il attempted in the article
above alluded TO- % make the public believe that that
gentleman wrote TIE article published IN the proVl.
Deuce Do y journal which questioned the validity az
tie election because Of the blank votes which were
cart 90 the oscA,on 1t would have been very curl
Gu, aa. 10 say the least O; it. had Mr. prague under
The well known oircuu stances OF the case written an
article Tor publication INTENDED 10 cast a doubt
the election OF Gen. James, But the editor OF tue
journal ,sid OF the occasion, In paragraph appended
to that article, that II was written by a gentl -man
who he'd been governor Of the State AID member OF
the United states Senate Mr. sprayue has been
governor u Rhode Island ami member OF the Y. {
oi the Senate. lie dd not write that article az isf
90 not believe he iid There are in Rhote Island,
two sentemen, and y J, believed only two VIC nave
been governors al that State and members OF the Z
3 senate They are. Hon. Nehemiah X KNIGHT, ana
John y. Francis The former i' the political ,nsdow
Of James simmons one OF the defeated candidates,
ard the other nov a member OF the Rhode Island
Espste u IL supposed enst oEe OF the blank votes a.
the recent election Whether the article was con
eoeted BY the fJEins latter gentleman by the two
former OF By al three. / pretend not to dstermine
bat It's paternity H. doubtless attributable TO some
HW q ~ Ii
A.to Ii. blank votes or ballots. have but word
TO say notwithstanding the ormiJaoe array OF precs
dents std opinions rarsGsd Ia the article or trt
dayfs Iyos Asto the suppositiop that Gov AEthsny,
af,r toe election had been declared and the resut Re-
corded would have reviewed bis decision and e,usrd
another ballot % b. taken % = al noon'hlne soh
procedure would have been ilrsal The election had
been declared th- resul. had eesn feooEdtdi hence
forth thsr. revising power that could interfere
short Of the Senate d the United States Before that
body, sir smmou, or his friends should they deem
II sEpedisBt ana think The game worth the candle
can contest toe election bat nowhere else Ana nov
q word or two a. to what /. termed a blank ballot
whs. /. ballet in the true intent and meaning OF
Iaw and Of eommcn ,,nss, Not piece OF blank
pap.r surely guppofs the Members OF the grand
sormi,tea 4 tie recent slestion in Rhode leland
hsa bee required 20 vote ura AMI suppose mtg
votes had r., , ouded q the call James Sin.
mons and forty nine others Charles T. James
and two had raid no6oiy; does any one Of com
a body Of sane would hav. decided mat there
~ ,potion o. shat James simmons would have
quietly ae4uie.ce1 In tush dse.ion The ls~ re,
quir.a the election 81 senator The Lsyhlsture had
voted 70 90 into joint ballot for the purpose OF eecns
one Dir somebody in grand committee on riea
vote c. les ont Eo0ody,n or. what IL equivalent,
caftt. not legal ballot. but piece OF white psper
either his object u to ,tavr OF the election In
defiance Of the juint resolution Of both houses and
thu, g. defeat the w ~ hs majority Of both branches
~ ths Legislature with blank piece Of paper having
failed 10 by hi. vote IN the branch TO which ne
belonged Here Is the case In point.
one Gentleman hoa John francis, voted aissf
the seventh ballot. to dissolve the convention. Tas
hou,es w Il sor vote determined q remain In con-
vsnton and r. on With the business and new 1t !.
supposed BY soms that the piece Of white paper cast
b. the gent the eighth ballet, had or should
have had the fset Of the OF the election
against the vii - the ms GRITTY. Bring up az many
rrscedents - phase IL u an outrage en- common
20 .uppos. blank pi.c. Ct paper should sount
anything, mean anything. unless Tnaj GRITTY OF all
present vas required snd which Ia not the case The
man no casts the blank simply says, BY the act,
vote Tor nobody in other words, l DO not vote
snd BY shat figure Of speech mans vote or ballot Is
10 BE- counted -ten h. does not cast u would puzzle