Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1853-10-27
SPEECH OF MIR. sIIEARMAN
on THE BLIND BALLOT.

When tho bill Tor amendir Y the city
charter Of Newport, by directing the
ballot. iIr city officers 10 he encIos,d in
sealed envelopes Ike the ballots Tor
State officers &C.. VAS under discussion
Mr.. SflEARMAN sad he had no wish
10 interfere in the controversy between
the gentleman IRON Newpo and The
Gentleman from Sciluate. The gen
ilen'an from Newport found fault with
lis trend from Scituatc for Introducing
Ihs hill, and also Tor Introducing other
hills relative 10 The affairs OF Newport.
lie (Mr. s. could remember when II
was considered improper and dIsrepu-
table by the members oi This House for
any member 10 interfere Nth matters
relating TO a town Tor which lie wac 10,
- member. Bui such Geicacy had
hong since gone out Of fashion. The
g,ulleman from Scituaie had done no
more than others we're IN the habit oi
doing and he (Mr. S knew Of 10 re-
ron why more mode ~ was 10 be
q'lired from HIM than Was eXacied from
otl er.
This bill was brought forward for the
purpose ol Introducing The system
NHOMu lilF bliiih
ten. INTO The city election ol Newport.
That system of voting had already
hem extended TO tie city elections Oi
Providence, and il il WAS 10 continue III
Providence, and also continue TO be the
system in State elections, lie could CIV,
10 good reason why II should not b,
extended 10 the city elections oi New
port. lie (Mr. S should therefore
have faid nothing upon this occasion
were il not for the lnvinclble aversion
and deep hatred which he iell, ~ COM
mon with the voters OF the State,
against that system Of veting. Il WAS
Il mean, low way Of voting. lie natrd
H. He wished he had command oil
language like his iilend from Warren,
50 that he could pour out hard names
against At, lbs tina, gentleman did against
anything tn Il did not suit him. The
system could only be justified by re-
sorting to arguments or reasons which
were taniamount TO saying that the
peeil le are unfit TO vote The original
hci by which the system was introduced
Inio our Stale elections, is IN fact such
It declaration. The reasons given for
II are precisely the same reasons given
by the Cars oi Russia and the Princes
OF the House oil Hapsburgh, Tor denying
60 men the right OF Young al all. For
they, IN common with all the advocates
uf desIoiism, have always Admitted
that all governments ought to be
elective, provided the people we're
su Hi, uty informed and Al sufficient
ind .pendence 10 act their sentiments.
But that the masses IN all countries and
at al times would always be too cow
ardly and weak 10 do 80, and would al
ways from fear adopt and act The SEN
linents oil lew. II III, re are but lew
among us who desire this system, or
ior whom is is necessary, the many
who are opposed to IL, aud who do not
desire l., ought not to be put TO The
uouble and Inconvenience which THIS
manner of voting occasions, and II there
are many who wish TO vote in this
mean, shameful manner, they ought
not 10 have a right 10 vote al all.
SO far de relates 10 our own cOun-
try, tins system is new. No State IN
our Union or ginaly Conducted It's
eeciions in that manner. Thcmas
JlHsrson was surely "a Dcmocrat the
apostle il not the father Of our Dcmoc-
Tacy. The first constitution oi Virginia
was the work Of Ills brains aud hands,
and that directed that all voting Should
be open and riva roce. Such was the
- '-osi"S unsn iusefy IN pemo-
cratic Illinois, and such lie beiev, d was
the manner there still, and in Texas, the
iavorile Stale Of democracy, aud in
many OF The Southern and Western
States. Thus II seems that II is Demo-
erd"c az one ''me, ana IN one o'a'e Tor
'he voter 10 ye'i oot the name OF me
person Tor whom Inc votes. al Tie top oi
ms voice, Ike sea captain III gaze OF
"ind ana al ahothcr tiihc ana ia ahoth-
or state 70 s'eai up 10 the baIl1t box
IKE thlel robblng henroost IN The
nI4h' Iiinc, put I'D his vote sealed up 50
Nlht 10 one can see u, ana theh shalch
pich MS hahu' as u nc was chueht
Win II ia HIS HeiShoofs rasi! draw
er,
lhIs system never mas hcen adopted
save III our heIeht oIihg STATE vi Massa-
'huseue, ana uhete IL was aGop'ed ny
means e' coalition when has never
peen eSceiieu ia 'le history oi human
PFoni4aey ohiy ny INC pHo!Ic sale o.
'he hohah EuhPlTe ny me iTGichan
Suarus 10 piu.us 'u iarus. IL Is said
hidt many ol the peoi IL ol Newport are
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y, ~ "oI'' Wv 'TI w.
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