The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-20
Mr.. Golden and the Ballot.

SR-With the permission of the writer ! send en-.
closed letter from Mr.. Wilkinson, formerly member for
Lambeth, for publication in your paper In considering
the remedies to be applied to the defects in present
electoral system, the first point to aim at is perfect
to this end the testimony Of the late member for LAMBETH
and the candidate for Reigate, is important
While with my pen in hand let me add a word the
subject Of the recent reocngs Of opponents the
letter addressed by Mr. Dana to Lord on the
ballot in America They would have believe that the
people United States do not care for the protection
Of the secret vote. My answer to this is-Find me q
dozen sane men in the free States of America who would
exchage their mode of voting for ours. ~ ~
II is true that owing TO the great independence and
general equality Of the population Of the agricultural
States, absolute secresy not much cared for 10 Aassa
chuses however, where there large portion Of the
people employed in trade and manufactures, demand
has been made for an improved system Of taking the
ballot which shall afford perfect projection to the voter,
and it has already been partially successful
ineicency OF the system elsewhere is"Give me trial
of the ballot in election for any large borough this
country, and will undertake to devise plan which
shall afford complete protection TO the voter Will thg
really commend it to the favor Of those who
paradng the want Of secrecy in the United satesY
tuency voluntarily resolves abandon the orderly peace
full moral ballot, and return TO our present mode Of
say no upon the subject during the rest Of my poll
teal life ] am your obedient servant,
AUGTsT 81. R. Golden.
LETTER FROM ". A. WILKINSON, ESQ.,, 10 R. COB
DEN, ESQ.,, N. p.
Ny DEAR Mr.. CoBDEN-I observe that in your speech
hOCl0al0,
as reason for the absence Of bribery elections in
America the largeness Of constituencies and your
opinion OF the impossibity Of carrying election by
bribery at Manchester Leeds any other large town.
Now, this was once my own opinion, but experience
has convinced me that this opinion erroneous and
that bribery is just as easy, easy in large
constituency than in small oneat all events in the pre-
sent state Of our electoral lawand this reason
In small constituency bribery is chiefly praeised bv
the direct payment of money, which is against the law
and easy Of dcection Whereas in large constituency
bribery is accomplished by the hiring Of an army Or can
vassers and hundred or two of public houses which il
not against the law and may therefore b perpetyated
with IMMUNITY All that is necessary in the latter case
is larger expenditure of money.
two candidates were TO come before such consti-
tuency as that of Marylebone, Fnsbury or Lambeth
no matter what the difference Of their respective auaca
tionsexcep in extreme of the appearance Of
man Of great nooriety like yoursel-and one Of these
candidates took the course which have described and
the other did not, believe you would find no two op-
MONS in the borough as to the result.
AS am not without experience Of both sorts of cons
tuencies am sure you will my ObtYudinp INV mo-
tons upon you, the more especially your eminent no.
siton has deprived yOu in great measure of thu exne
rience, and as you will doubt be called upon 10 take
considerable part in the framing Of any new reform
bill when will be important to determine whether The
argeness Of constituency has an influence and what
influence, on its capacity for bribery
am, my dear Mr.. Golden, yours truly
W. A. WILKINSON,