The Cecil Whig., 1873-03-08
The Omen Ballot,

This measure which was first proposed
between two and three years since, by our
fellow citizen Francis Vincent is being dis
cussed in the Pennsylvania Constitutional
Convention nowin session at Philadelphia.
Amongst its advocates in this Convention
are Mr.. Lewis P. Cassiday, and Mr.. James
s. Heverin. The reason of his proposition
of this plan was as follows: Mr.. Antoni
Pirz, scientific and educated gentleman
of New York, called upon Horace Greeley
in relation to the publication of his plan of
an Anglo Saxon Confederacy, which has
excited so much discussion both abroad
and at home. At that time the citizens of
the state Of New York were in terrible
state of anxiety in relation to the frauds at
the ballot box. One of the edito of the
Tribune, asked Mr.. Pirz if he thought Mr..
Vincent could devise some system to puri-
fly the ballot. Upon this being stated
to him he at once wrote an article, advo-
eating either the endorsement of the name
of the voter on his ticket, or the making
an affidavit before an officer entitled to ad.
minister oaths, of his identity, name, resi-
dence and profession. He also devised
other means, unnecessary at this time to
ennmerate, by which minorities could be
truly represented, all of which were elab-
orately set forth by reasons. This article
Mr.. Pirz handed to the editor of the
Tribune. A similar article was afterwards
sent to the Neao York Times. The plan
was also laid before several editors and
citizens, among the former. Mr.. Ewing of
the CECIL Wing, and Mr.. Walter of the
Delaware Co. Chester, Pa Republican.
The matter was also brought to the atten-
tion of Mr.. F. p. Church editor of the Gal
axy, and the ground work Of the plan of
an article to be written for the Galaxy sub
mitted to him for his opinion on the subject.
Most of the gentlemen to whom the plan
was submitted. thought that it made illegal
voting almost impossible, and fully realized
the plan of minority representation. The
article written either to the Tribune or the
Times we do not know which. must have
been published, although Mr.. Vincent was
ignorant of it, until informed of it by the
Rev. Fielder Isreal of this city, who saw it
copied into several New England News
papers, with his name given as the author.
Mr.. Isreal stated that they denominated it
as his plan of i" Minority Representation"
The arguments used for its advocacy by
Mr.. Cassiday in the Pennsylvania Conven-
ton, were the same as used by Mr.. Vincent
in the articles written for the papers before
mentioned.
essay upon the subject, in which the whole
matter of the open ballot, and representa-
ton of minorities will be treatsd upon in
full. At this time of general election frauds
it should attract the attention of the in
terested, in the subject of purity Of elect ion
franchise.
The above article from the Delaware Re.
publican shows our friend Mr.. Francis
Vincent to be one of the formost thinkers
of the day, on the subject of purifying the
ballot. We remember the conversation
alluded to in the above extract. One fea-
ture of Mr.. Vincent's plan struck us very
forcibly at the time, and, as near as we can
recollect, was in brief as follows:
In place of the Judges of Election, the
pollinglprecinct and stated day of election,
Mr.. V. porposed that the Justices of the
Peace should receive and file the ballots
and perform the duties similar to those per-
formed by present Election Judges, and
that in place of one day for voting there
should be several; that each voter should
hand certified ballot to the Magistrate of
MS precinct, the FOter 5 name DelnS enuOT-
sed on the back, with the affidavit touching
his right to vote under the election laws, &c
and executed properly before the officer
holding the election. Afte depositing his
vote in the hands of the Justice Of the
Peace, it should be the duty of that officer
to furnish the voter with certificate of the
fact, which would serve as check upon
any attempts to tamper with the votes
after having been polled. This is an cut
line Of the plan of voting by open ballot,
suggested to us by the auther, in 1871 or 2.
In the state conventions which meet to
form new constitutions. the questions of
altering and amending our election laws
attract a large share ofatten tion. The
evil Of corrupt elections is becomeing so
serious that it threatens to sap the very
foun dations of government, and knaves
nowadays we'll nigh rule the land and plum
der the people without taking the trouble
to concealit.