The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-05
Effort to Revive viva voco Voting.
LoUDoUN Co., VA, January 81.

w., VA, january OIL.
To the Editor Of the State Journal
The result of the recent state election in
Virginia has evidently alarmed the govern
or and the legislature of this state, hence
they will mako an effort to restore the old
system of voting sylvia voice." or by open
ballot, expecting thus to control the votes
Of those who have not the moral courage
to vote against the party in power, OF, in
other words, their honest sentiments. l
can assert confidently from my knowledge
of public sentiment, as a public officer,
that the measure proposed by the legisla-
ture to vote by open ballot will not receive
1900 votes if submitted to the people, but
will destroy both the governor and legisla-
ture, politically speaking.
The present system of voting is much
less liable to fraud and to abuse than the
old system, and the pretence that BY open
ballot fraud and ballot-stufing will be
avoided is sheer political trickery to obtain
new lease Of power on the part of those
holding state offices. So long as we have
q registration law. fraud at the ballot-box
can be easily detected by comparing the
number of ballots with the list of reg
istered voters. Tho governor and legisla-
ture know this full well, but they wish to
restore the open ballot in order to exercise
an outside pressure on the voters who are
too timid to vote their true sentiments for
fear of political prescription. As far as
ascertained, the voting at the last election
throughout this state was in all respects
fair and honorable, except it did not exactly
suit the hopes and aspirations Of those now
in power. | have seen many of our best
and most substantial citizens, under the old
system, vote in direct opposition to their
convictions, for fear of mourning public
condemnation Of the majority, and Of hav-
ing their business relations injured by po-
litical opposition. / speak the general
sentiment of this community when / say
that if the method of voting by secret ball
lot had existed before the war, the ordi-
nance of secession would never have been
passed, with all its attendant horrors and
evils but at that time voting openly
in opposition to the majority exposed the
voter to violence ut the hands of q crazy
mob.
The citizens Of Virginia will never consent
to have the present system o fvoting changed
so long as they have the power to prevent
it by their votes. The present legislature
seems determined, if possible, to vote the
present. COHStltuuoH away ny pleCe.Hucals
until they get one to suit their own selfish
political purposes. These old Virginia re-
actionists seem to have forgotten that there
has been a great resolution that has swept
away all their old Democratic institutions
that existed before the war, and that revo-
lutions are ever progressive and never re-
trograde like the old Bourbon Democrats
with which Virginia has so long been ours
ed. They would doubtless restore the
defunct institution of slavery if they could.
The people are tired of this mischievous
legislation-this eternal tampering with
the state constitution to secure political
power. The citizens of Virginia of all
parties are satisfied with the present
system of voting by secret ballot +;
it is only the anxious Democratic office
holder that is alarmed at the advance
of this monster Republicanism !; the per
diem men and the high salarled officials
are at their wits ends how to devise means
to restrict free suffrage. / speak the senti-
ments of .fourJffMs of the voters when 1
say that the present system of voting by
secret ballot is the strongest bul,oark of free
and Independent suffrage.
ONE OF THE PEOPLE.