New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-08-23
THE BALLOT BILL.
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON TIE POST
PONEMENT OF THE BILL.

In the House of Lords of Great Britain on
the 10th ins the Marquis Of Rpon moved the second
reading Of the ballot BILL In doing 80 he adverted to
the agitation in favor the ballot and recommended its
adoption mainly three grounds: that 1t would great
" diminish bribery prevent intimidation, without d
mnishing the legitimate influence Of intelligence and
position and conduce TO the orderly conduct OF cleo
tons at happened" he said, that during my re-
cent visit TO the United States, witnessed an election in
the District Of Columbia to speak more ntelgby to
erected by Congress into what is called Territory ana
had to elect Legislature and representative III Con
cised for the first time, aud the circumstances were
peculiar in this respect. that the contest was really
for candidate and the coored electors voted
almost exclusively for the other SO that lhere was
danger OF hot and exciting contest yet the election
was conducted with the utmost tranquility In company
with my right honorable friend Sir Stafford NorthG9e
coed the good hunor Of The persons assembled round
IT, or the order which prevailed. Now admit that in
the United States tho ballot cannot he regarded
as secret voting, and not adducng this as an argu
ment for secrecy but It Is certainly the nnivet.aI
that conduces in remarkable DECREE 10 the tranquil
lty simplicity and order of elections" Hear hcarI
He added that he looked back with satisfaction to the
support which during the whole OF MS political NE ne
tS snpnorf Which the ballot had received in
the first House of Commons elected after the recent ex
tribute due weight to the fact that the bill had passed
the other House by large maOrities at every stage.
lord shafesbury, purposely abstaning from express
in any opinion upon either the principle or the details
of the bill protested against their Lordshps being called
upon at this period discuss measure OF such vital
IMPORTANCE Believing IL TO necessary that the post
movement Of this bin should be moved by some one m
dependent OF party he had propose to the Duke Of
Richmond to undertake this dgty' Inc Question had
they asked 70 pass bill consisting OF IS clauses
and schedules equally Important which en-, came before
the attention Of the other House for two months yet
their LOrdshps were asked to dispatch It In as many
aa1fI .,tUhff
carry both Houses well into september. Deny
ng that this was, as some asserlej' quesnInl
purely for the other House. he maintained that no meas
ure could be OF greater Imperial importance. The Min
isy could hardly claim for Il the credit of being work
provisions to be incoherept confused and contradictory
The Liberal members had given notice OF 100 am. Uu
must therefore think it imperfect. The ballot lin II
1871 was Numerically contrary Y IhRt Drought in by
present bin under the pressure Of political exgency
As their Lordsips were not under the pressure Of
they should have both bills before them. After subject
ipgthe clauses to a searching analysis, he said their
was not their fault II the other House refused
either to send up bills or allow their Lord
be told TO wait like lackeys the antechamber until IT
pleased their masters to give them something TO doi TO
language and If it not urgent, why should they
waste their time and health in passing confessedy in
indgnaon but II the country declared IN favor of the
ballot their ordshiDs at the beginning another
attention Their Lordships would, however obtain the
apnroVa OF every reasonable and thinking man IT, with
ont nassnR an opinion upon the bill tse they declared
mar in ought to receive full fair free and deliberate
consideration He moved, as amendment, that the
bin be read second time that day six months.
The Duke of Somerset tainted the Government with
usipc the plea OF time to themselves from doing
ANYTHING In regard Irish University education sani-
tary legislation though they refused the Of the same
ARGUMENT 10 the Lords. The fact was the Government
was I'm a difficulty, and wanted rallying cry. All its
measures bad broken down II was the most unucky
Governnent that ever was. What they had made
M IN the mark here and in the park IN lrcland Their
army could not march and their ships could not swim
The Government much care whether the bill
nassed or NOT IL would answer their purpose either
way He should vote with Lord shaftesDuTy in order u
pat the Government out OF their PAM
The Lord Chancellor replied TO some Of the points
raised by the Duke Of Somerset and said that II Lord
Narrowly when he said 1t mockeryitO move the
second reading meant that the Government knew they
should be beaten that unfortunately perfectly true
They however earnestly wished the bill to pass, and
fortnight would he ample time for It's dscussOn by the
Iordships The Lord Chancellor gave practical llustra
t0ns der from knowledge OF the necessity
OF protecting the constituencies, and declared that thu
mnorites of the other House must De taken as con
cusiycly representing the desire OF the electoral body
that the bill should pass.
The House then divided on the second reading
when there appeared Contents, 4s; Not Contents. 81
Lord shaftesburys amendment that the bill be read
second time six months from the day OF debate wal
thercupon put and carried by majority OF 49, and thu
bill was. consequently virtually lost