The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1872-01-05
HOW SHALL WE voTEs

our next Legislature we believe uonc
are more important than that of regu-
lating voting system which shall be
more in conformity with the freedom
and enlightenment of the present age
than that of he rird voce system
The day and cause for which this
system was instituted in Oregon has
long since passed away and; we be-
| lieve it would be for the good of
our State to abolish it. One by one
the great sisterhood of, States which
thus once voted have thrown it aside
IS bsrdensome and Injurious, until
now Oregon and one other are all the
States yet recognizing the viva Uoee
vote.
Previous to the assembling of the
last Legislature we urged that body
to affect change to the ballot system
and if such change had then been
made a difficulty which has since
arisen and which is likely to create
trouble would have been obviated.- -
We allude to the Force Bill, passed
by the last Congress, declaring that
all elections for Representatives in
Congress hereafter be by ballot, and
all votes cast in any other. way shall
be of no effect. T+s t.. =
As chs Congressional enactment
directly conflicts with our State law
in regard to the manner ofvotiHg, Il
is difficult to see how ehe matter can
be properly adjusted so as to render
our Congressional election in June
legitimate and valid. We propose,
of course, to elect Democratic Con-
gresham next June. and of course
Congress will not recognize his claims
to seat unless he is chosen by the bal
lot system. 1t is probable that we
can vote for Congressman by ballot,
and for Legislators and county Off
GERS by Uira uoce, but all must confess
that this would be annoying and ex-
pensive, ,as it would require every voter
to use two tickets and occupy by far
more time than a full. ballot by
either of the ways of voting referred
to. What course will be pursued in
regard to our next Congressional
election We are not prepared to say,
but trust that satisfactory So
luton of the question as to the man.
ner of voting win be arrived at by
the powers that be" before the elec-
tion comes off. az b
An eminent statesman once charac-
terizef the ballot "as one of the most
sacred rights belonging to free insti-
tutions and regarded everywhere as
the palladium of liberty" We be-
lieve this is true, bnt when the secrecy
of the ballot is infringed upon its sa-
credness is necessarily destroyed -
The secret ballot is the shield for the
protection of the poor man against
the persecution of the rich; it is the
safeguard of the laborer against his
employer, who might be nciined to
oppress him for his vote. When we
substitute the ballot for the the cira
roee system in Oregon we will lift a
great weight from the shoulders OF
the laboring classes and wrest pow
erful engine of persecution and cor
ruption from the hands of the capital;
lists and monopolists. The laborers,
mechanics and producers of Oregon
are already in need of protection from
the expressions of monopolists, and
we know of no better way to secure
them the desired relief than by giving
them free and untrammeled ballot,
where their political wishes and pref
erences can be expressed without es-
pionage or molestation. (.
The yira uoce system has ontlived
its usefulness, and we hope to see it
thrown among the rubbish Of the past,
and the poor mans friend, the BALLOT,
inaugurated in its stead. Confne the
people to the viua coce system, as
now used in Oregon, and you give
them into the hands Of oppressive
monopolies; !. give them the ballot and
you give them liberty. xfat barr i