Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1869-03-11

Nation us 1t has many of the wards In our largest
cities, where men ore nominated to offices Of
trust and honor whose chief Recommendation 10
their acknowledged success In operating on de-
based and ignorant class of voters who walt to do
their bidding. In late years the evil has grown
and taken deep root In our State; the leaders Of
opposing parties estimate their chances OF sue
cess in many closely contested districts by tho
amount of money that can be raised for cleo
pioneering purposes. The influence this pur-
chasable vote is known to exercise or the result
Of The elections is well calculated to induce men
who have the interest of their party at heart to
contribute to the fund thus raised; they lose
sight of the question of morality in their zeal for
the success Of their party. The good result will
compensate for the evil, IT, say some IL is an evil,
to induce bad men TO vote right, even by bribery;
q doctrine specious but Jesultical, aud l think
but few who contribute to the fund would be
found defending II.
The best and perhaps only remedy for this
alarming deprayity is the enactment of some
stringent law which should impose a heavy pen
atty upon the person who offers as well as on the
one who accepts bribc,-" DISTINGUISHING" the
latter, Us your correspondent inllmates, Is the
true remedy, and is punishment appropriate to
the oilensc; brand 1t as n crime, subjecting the
convicted criminal TO the forfeiture OF his right
10 vote or TO hold Office for ten years. and this
corrupt practice would soon be checked. Those
who have no character 10 lose might still be dis
posed to buy, but they would find II difficult to
escape the vigilance of party men, and 1t would
not require more than two or three convictions
to work radical reform.
4 proper regard for the rights Of citizens al the
polls should also claim the attention of the
Legislature. The elections as conducted in many
voting places Of this and / suppose of other coun-
ties, is always attended with more or less conlu-
sion the space In front OF the polls Is frequently
blocked by crowd of noisy and excited men,
contending over some matter of difference IN re-
gard to'voting, which has ultimately to be dcci-
ded by the Judges, and could just MS well b. re-
erccd to them in the first instance, and certainly
the matter in dispute could be discussed with
more clcarness and propriciy by two persons
than by twenty, all .pteelng at once. Each party
should have the right To appoint two persons as
challcngels, 10 occupy places at the side Of the
polls--a space of several rods in front should be
fenced of i necessary to keep ntrudcfs at dis
lance, leaving open passage for voters to np-
proacl tho box one by one who after dcpositnp
their tickets should be requested TO withdraw and
give place to the next In orders thus we might
avoid all the unsclilsh wrangling and confusion
SO frequently witnessed around the polls, to the
great annoyance Of quiet and peaceful citizeus-
each man entitled TO vote, would exercise tho
privilege with that freedom from restraint which
should be accorded to him on the day OF election
whatever may be his political sentiments.
OBSERVER.
Kent County, March 18th, 1869.