The native Virginian. [volume] (Orange Court House, Va.) 1867-187?, 1869-06-11
(FRoH THE WESTMINSTER REVIEW, RADlCAL)
VOTING BY BALLOT.


"Granted that it is an electors right
as well as his duty, to vote according to
his dictates of his own conscience, with
out reference to private or individual
conside fations, and that the ballot ena-
bles him to exercise this right and to
perform this duty without fear or favor
OF any man, we confidently assert that
in adopting the ballot the elector is ac-
tually surrendering a right as least as
essential. valuable, and indeleasible as
any that he is asserting thereby.
Ii hypocrisy be The homage that vice
pays to virtue, surely the adoption of
secrecy in the exercise of what is not
merely public and recognized right,
but a public and paramount duty, can
not be regarded as other than a tribute
rendered to Intolerance and oppression.
And heavy tribute, too, is it when the
cherished traditional character and pre-
tensions of our country are considered;
for it involves the forfeiture ofour claim
any longer to be looked up to as a free,
enlightened, and law-abidhng people.
Freedom of expression is as much
and as valuable q right as freedom of
opinion; and he who requires the shield
of secrecy resigns his claim to such
freedom of speech and action as is alone
compatible with the doctrine of equal
rights for all. Moreover, by the impo-
sitiou of such secrecy the State admits
the low moral tone of its members, de-
clares their unworthiness to be treated
as freemen, and confesses its impotence
to arrest the operation of their mutual
tyranny.
The right of the voter to the security
Of secrecy was never more powerfully
maintained than in the interesting adj
dress delivered by Mr.. w. HepWorth
Dixon at Brighton last year. AS an
argument against the interference of
the State with the freedom of election, it
| was complete and unanswerablc. But
| its moral was drawn from period
when fine and imprisonment were inn
| posed at the dictation of influence or
| authority irrespective oflaw, and when
the antagonism between classes amount
ed to an internecine conflict. Agree
| ing tally with Mr.. Dixon, that the voter
has right TO all safety aifordable by
secrecy, we hold, and doubt not that
Mr.. Dixon also holds, that he has an
equal right to the enjoyment of perfect
publicity. And we are disposed to be-
ieve that the latter Is the more impor-
tant right of the two, inasmuch as the
resort to secrecy involves the abnega-
ton of all that moral courage and self
assertion which alone constitute and
prove the true freeman.
Since it is the essential function and
duly oftbe State to protect each citizen
from the trespasses of his neighbors in
| the exercise of his legitimate rights, it is
manifest that the state abdicates that
| function when 1t virtually confesses
that it is unable to protect its citizens
from such interference without the i'm
position of secrecy. And il is more
over equally clear that the advocate of
secret voting in public elections virtual
ly acquiesces in the abandonment of his
own right 10 assert his OWN opinion be-
fore all men, as well as in the abdca-
ton by the State of its supremcst duty,
tnat of protecting him Ill the exercise
of the rights which it has conferred up
OH him.
A momentary application ofthe prin-
ciple we are here maintaining to some
other and more fragrant instance, will
serve to Illustrate its exceeding impor-
lance For example, under the new
order of things in Spain the Govern
ment has proclaimed liberty of eIigious
worship. What would be thought of
the condition of real freedom in that
country if 1t had also to say to any rel-
gious sect, "You may worship as you
please, but you must do 1t wit such Sc
crecy as not to be found ont, or we cam
not protect you?" Would not such
COME ssion be an admission that al
though the Government itself had at
tanned certain degree of enlightcn-
ment, yet that the people were hopeless
ly intolerant and the law miserably,in-
efficient? The question.of the ballot in
England is none other than the ques-
ton whether we are to make such
confession as this about our own law,
and our own people; whether we are to
stultify ourselves and belle all our pro-
fessioas OF enlightened liberality and
social Advancement; whether we are to
resign all hopes for evermore of being
able to present to the world the speeta-
Gle of people at once civilized, indie
pendent, free, and respecting each 9TH
er's freedom"