Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-02-09
1 Contested Election.

MI" pur gess'soi DorOughs. There Is however
no distinction Of privilege in tho different
classes and az cor the honor ubjrb o,t,,cbcs
TO a seat in Parliament, it depends entirely
upon the number and character Of tho co,.
s'ituehts The county members are sub
posed to represent the landed interest of the
country, the citizens and hurgesses the com
merela! and manufacturing interests. In
like manner the interests of education rnov
be considered as represented in the moroIors
returned by the Universities, viz two each
by the Universities of Oxford. Cambridge.
and Dublin, and the interests of the church
by the Bishops, who as Lords spiritual have
seats in the House of Peers.
\ property qualification is required both
oil candidates for seats in Parliament and Of
electors In Scotland, hewcver, no pronertv
qualification is demanded Of candidates In
other parts of the United Kingdom, capdi.
cate Tor county seat must possess an estate
ot iboo year, candidate for city or
borough an estate of $500 year.
As soon as Lord Ebrington and Mr.. Bell
determined to contest the seat for Marvle.
bone, each set about organizing committees.
central and local. composed of the most in.
hnential inen among the electors whose SER
vices could be secured. The worst feature of
tins committee system in England il that the
local committees almost invariably 81. at
public houses, by which are meant dram
shops, The campaign was formaIIy onsped
by the publication of an Address to tho cleo
tors by each candidate, setting forth hi.
views on the great questions Of the times,
and promising the most implicit devotedness
to the interests Of the constituency if he
should be elevated to the proud nosit1on of
thcir representative, Public meetings were
then called in different parts under the direc.
ton OF the committees, to be addressed bv the
candidates themselves, or by other leading
men. Meanwhile The different ,re,i.< and
scots we-e busy in eliciting from the candi-
dates pledges Of attachment to their own be.
cuiiar interests, and helping to swell the cry
for or against this one Or that one according
to his compliance or Noncompliance with
their wishes. The Publicane want to know
if Mr. Bell is in favor Of the Sunday closing
act. ir. Bell replies in elegant terms that
he is not in favor of that provision which de-
privcs people Of necessary refreshments on
Sunday. Then all the Publicans cry,
" Hurrah for Jacob Bell, the man Of liberal
sentiments ~ Forthwith in the windows of
all the beer shops, hiding for the time those
stranger in London, appear placards announ-
cling in huge letters--to all who love these
" necessary refreshments" who il their
friend. Vote for Jacob Bell, the liberal
candidate" But step to the next shop,
which may be Grocer's or Butchers. and
you will see something not so favorable to
Mr.. Bells popularity. 1t is put in the Cock
Robin style and sremarkably pointed. "Who
protested against the War Jacob Bell.
Who was unseated for bribery Jacob Bell.
Who opposes the ballot, though protesting
to be liberal Jacob Bell" All, jacob
Bell, tins Is bad time for you-oppos cd to
the war and election by ballot as YOU noto.
riously are. But here is something positive
for Niscount Ebrington. - Who is in favor
of prosecuting the war; Lord Burlington.
Who advocates the ballot and purity of
oioos'on '.uru Lnrngton. Who instructed
his agent to withdraw his name if there were
any attempts at bribery Lord Ebrin,ton -
You could not walk dozen rod. in anp
street without seeing hundreds of these
placards. saw one large public house four
stories high literally covered to the roof with
them They were affixed to the omnibuses
they stared at you from every shop-window
ifycu bought pound Of tea or q penn 'orth
OF lozenges you were sure to find on the
wrapper some contentious political advice
During all this while the agents of two |
candidates were going from house to house |
solicitating the votes Of the electors Each |
of the candidates sent his card to every cleo |
tor whose name was on the Register, asking |
ms vote and influence in the coming election
W hcther any less fair means were used to
influence votes | cannot say | have not
heard whisper Of anything to that effect.
The laws OF England are now very stringent
against bribery, and that they are executed
with good deal Of vigor is shown by the
case Of Mr. Bell and the borough OF St. Al
bans Of which have before spoken When
you read Of the expense incurred in an cleo.
ton contest. you must not always conclude
that there has been bribery. Every candidate,
that is every one nominated by his own con-
sent, must share il defraying the common
expenses of the election, such as the officers
fees and the sums necessary for erecting poll
ing places Besides these there is the private
expenditure Of each candidate, for publishing
his address, printing and distributing bis
ards, and many other things which are
almost unknown in your elections. 1t is at
cast quite safe to say that compared with the
practices of fifty years ago, bribery at cleo
ions is Of rare occurrence.
According to the prescribed mode Of pro.
'eedins to election, the returning officer SUN.
nonel meeting Of the electors al tie most
central polling place for the purpose Of nom
mating candidates, Ii is usual for the mover
md seconder of the nomination as well as tho
'andidate himself TO make speeches on this
occasion. There is no restriction as to the
number Of persons who may be nominated,
Tor any obstacle III the way uf any elrrtUr
Who may wish to bring forward a candidate
nd ,isnot required ofa member of parliament
hat he be resident Of the county, city, or
oorough which he represents. After the
nominations have all been made, the return
ing othcer calls for a show of hands, an
declares the vote. This is a mere mutter Of
form preliminary to poll being demanded
BY the party or parties declared in the mino.
'ity. Indeed in this case the officer an.
bounced that ne was unable to decide in
whose favor the slow of hands really was.
'ut as it would make little matter, he should
lecare it in favor of Mr. Bell. Orcourss ora