The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-27
Vote by Ballot In the United States, and I.n,ss
John nuss~i's Notion Of our EiecrOs al

V9tS by Ballot In The United stnsss' a. SS rn,.;
SoIn Rosa~h's Notion Of our kSiectOsal
Purity.
In the House Of Ctmmons, on the 14th inst, Mr.. II.
BEIKsIEY moved for leave to introduce bill for the pur
pose OF protecting the people from undue influence at
elections in England, by substituting the ballot box for
the present pird Doce system # voting.
A. the conclusion OF the debate Lord RUSSELL said
The honorable gentleman thought CT 10 that
while had held ve-y popular snpuage in opposition
bad when in Office, changed my course and taken very
different view Of the subject The fact is that the speech
tie honorable gentleman alluded to made in the
month of July last, previous to my election for the city
Of London had voted in this house against the ballet
fe~ weeks before and when asked before large
meeting 10 Gudhall what course should take the
ballot said should vote against IT. and gave my
IONS TO that numerous assembly which generally
meets in Guildhall on those occasions against the
secret voting which the honorable gentleman proposes.
win not go into arguments with regard to foreign
countries. with exception to which the honorable
member for Manchester has alluded and It Is worthy
tanly If remark, because we have usually heard that
the example of the United States of Amerca-no doubt
great ard free country that ought to be held
forth for example and worthy of imitation but
IL 1t should appesr that of the United States of
America themselves have great doubts with respect to
for us to pause at least, before We adopt plan
which they for long time pursued, but upon which
plan Qiear.) The honorable gentleman has, be-
leve, truly related that in Massachusetts, the bal
lot has for lorg time been established . but the
of the voter was to be written on a paper, open
ard unfolded. (Hesr, hear) These was no secrecy
whatever about the vote. (Hear) II was a mode of
voting different from but mode of voting which
did imply cresy which did pra cticay carry
crecy with IT and therefore in principle esembled
mode Of voting rather than the secret mode proposed by
the Hon. gentleman. Qlear, hear) 1t is true that the
party who had the majority stated that there such
abuses such intmidatoDs that 1t necessary to
tablish the secret ballot; great party opposed that
change but it was carried. However, within year
after 1t carried there q majority of believe
1S3 TO in favor OF the repeal OF the secret ballot
kw. The Hon. gentleman says there has since been
n convention, and that the majority of that conven
tion in favor Of secret ballot and will make
IL part CT the constitution. We do not know
how that may be, but know that after the Sc
cret ballot which the Hon. gentleman proposes had
been tried for In that noble and free State Of
aehusetts it abandoned by large majority, and
that majority, may say, contained some Of tho most dis
ting.ished men, and supported BY the opinion Of
Of the most patriotic most learned and most emf
rent men in that State. (Hear hear) Then all argue
from this ia not that the State of Massachusetts not
finally establish secret ballot but at least, Is matter
OF contention amorg them and party at least having
this year majority in the legislature refuses to carry
that ballot. aud decided that 1t should be
peaed. We know Likewise, that, my right honorable
friend the secrey War has stated that the govern
corruption making great advance in that STATE ond
was an evil that required to be checked by new
law. Can any man any longer state that for bribery
and init 'nidation they have a perfect and infnl
Bile rem coy, when you have such accounts from the
Unitcd. States Of America, where said to have
beer most successfully WE'LL say, not that America
c. etainy win finally have recourse to open votinga
boueh an old patriot of America, John Randolph sale
that fecret voting II It did not find nation scoundre
| was sure TO make them 30 Oaughter)-for IT may b
that the United States Of America may think expe
dis at to adopt of secret ballot but what
believe Is that they will no. persist in that law, but vii
prefer the oren ballot. II that Is the we in fact