The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-04-25
Elections in England.

!
! election Of new set Of rules, our readers
1 may be curious to know how such things
! are managed there. We find an admirable
description of the DaOdus opeIa"ai in late
number Of the Chicago Tunes, from which
we copy few paragr apis. 1t must be adj
mitted that Brother Jonathan has made
vast improvements IN these matters, as in
many other things, upon pattern of his res
| pectcd rarink :"
Immediately upon the dissolution OF Par
i.lament the various candidates repair to
| their respective districts and 'oTth commence
! a thorough canvass, which Is kept up until
! the day OF election. The first duty that
devoivrs upon a candidate is TO select some
one Of the.prncpal hotels as his headquar
! tiers, where lie takes up his abode, enter
tains his friends, and displays his banners.
! Ills next important duty Is To select and de-
! tcrune the color Of the ribbon, which all
his supporters are expected to display on
their persons and hang from their windows
during the contest. y eommitte Of man
/ ag.neut is next constituted. and cards OF
! invitation to the principal inhabitants are
| issued, inviting to JOIN the wou|d-be mem
/ Der in his canvass. Thcse prrlniuarcs
/ disposed OF. attended by h : comm ttee, such
citizens as accept the Invitation, and the rest
/ of mankind in general, all adorned with the
party badge, the candidate embarks upon
/ his canvass. Every voter ~ waited upon
and his support solicited. With the more
intelligent aud independent class OF voters,
! politics are privately discussed and with
the lower class argument u! Il more s0.d
AMI substantial character are resortcd to.
All the taycrns IN the neighbOrhOUd are
thrown open, and liquor freely gwen out 10
all who app y FOR il. Al the trades IN town
are III turn invited TO dine with the candI-
date, and all the apprentices are treated at
his expense.
The canvass having been concluded and
the writs fixing the day Of the election re-
ceivcd the nominations are rIade. On these
occasions il il the duty Of the IN iif to pre-
side. lie announces the object for which
the meeting has been called, reads the wrts
ordering the election, and requests those
having candidates to propose 10 announce
their names for the decision of the assembly. +.
Speeches by the various candidates follow, .
after which q show Of hands j. called tO- by .
the sheriff. The candidate receiving the .
largest display of hands * announced as the .
choice Of the constituency, and If no opBG-
si,ion is offered, is forthwith declared the
regularly elected member to serve in tin.
next Parliament. Gcnera.iy :, however. the
friends Of the unsuccessful candidate rise,
dispute tHc Justice o! t,.e sheriff decision,
ami demand d pol on behalf % their rso-
tegcs; the shcrIh complies with tie demand
and dc>icuf the time and place o. holding
the electig
Then - enccs scene which We shall
not attcaptfo describe. Vt ui- 't th- 20 "a
i Illuminated by the burning + comhu>'-
bic matter. and parties wearing To, baG..
of the rival candidates peraul.4.ate streets.
At dayhrr"k on tie following u..rui...- tie
bugle sounds, and AL the troops in garrison.
are marched 20 POINT distant not less than
five miles from tae po.i", p.ar-, waere
tury remain until the ,.u~.r- 1T the foil.
~ voting enter, the election booth. ar-
unuuces his name and residence, au4 t.ea
'"' '"i"e 81 'ht eaa.''''-,s i.' "''Ai Or