The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-09-19

Ep1ron ISrELLraENcHR: The following
extract of letter from Lord Macaulay-
Mr.. Macaulay when writton-will bear re-
publishing. The whole letter is good, and
will repay perusal; but this particular por-
ton on the mutual relations Of the candi-
date and voter will perhaps be found whole
some reading oil over the State, just now.
The Democratic party has borne this year
plentiful crop of candidates, and where SO
many representing the same general prin-
ciples aspire to the same Office, the contest
before the primaries becomes almost wholly
O personal one, in conducted with much
auuiduity and zeal, and is perhaps too often
attended with pretty free begging Of votes.
Mr.. Macaulsy had been invited to stand
for Leeds rs a candidate for the House Of
Commons. His letter is addressed to
friend, and through him to the electors Of
Leeds. 1t is 80 manly and Independent in
tone, 10 faithful to principle, and withal 80
apposits to canvasaing as not unfrequently
conducted in this country, that it loses none
of its interest to the American or South
Carolina reader. The practice condemned
il certainly one moro honored in the
breach than in the observance, though
lightly regarded by not few; and il this
letter from one SO eminent in literature and
politics, himself the exponent Of an en-
larged representation in Great Britain, shall
arrest the attention of the reading public
and cause them to think more seriously of
practice unbecoming, il not pernicious,
then its republication will have done some
good. VOTER.
LoNDoE, August Sd, 1882.
My Dear Sir: am truly happy to find
that the opinion OF my friends at Leeds on
the subject of canyassing agrees with that
which have long entertained. The prac-
tice of begging for votes is, as it seems to
me, absurd. pornicious and altogether at
variance with the true principles Of repre-
sentative government. The suffrage of an
elector ought not to be asked, or to bo given,
as q personal favor. 1t il as much for the
interest Of constituents to choose well as it
can be for the interest of candidate to be
chosen. To request an honest man to vote
according to his conscience is superhuous.
To request him to vote against his conscience
is an insult. The practice of canvassing
would be quito reasonable under system
in which men are sent to Parliament to
serve themselves. 1t is the height Of ab
surdity under a system under which mon
are sent to Parliament to serve the public.
While we had only mock representation,
it was natural enough that this practice
should be carried to great extent. trust
it will soon perish with the abuses from
which it sprung. trust that the great and
intelligent body of the people who have
obtained the elective franchise will SEQ that
seats in the House Of Commons ought not
to be given, like rooms in an aim house, to
urgency Of solicitation; and that man who
surrsnders his vote to caresses and supplica-
tions forgets his duty an much as if he sold
his vote for bank note. / hope TO sea the
day when an Englishman will think it as
great all affront to be courted and iawned
upon in his capacity of elector as in his
capacity Of ofjuryman. He would be shocked
at the thought Of finding an unjust verdict
because the plaintiff or defendant had been
very civil and pressing; and, if he would
reflect, he would, think, bo equally
shocked at the thought Of voting for can
didate, for whose public character he felt no
esteem, merely because that candidate had
called upon him, and begged very hard, and
had shaken his hand very warmly. My
conduct is before the eleators of Leedu.
Ny opinions shall on all occasions be stated
to them with perfect frankness. II they
approve that conduct, If they concur in
those opinions, they ought, not for my
sake, but for their own, to choose me as
their member. TO be SO chosen should
consider as high and enviable honor; but
l should think it no honor to be returned
to Parliament by persons who, thinking
me destitute Of the requisite qualifications,
had yet been wrought upon by cajolery and
importantly to poll for mo in despite OF
their better judgment.
Believe me ever, my dear sir, your most
faithful servant,
T. B. MAcAuLAY.