On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
necessity for this u encouragement" subsists only with the corrupt influences , which the Ballot removes . Men left to act free of constraint will hardly require ^ encouragement " to follow the dictates of their own inclination . Influence on opinion , the Ballot so far from hindering , most cogently aids . This view of the mental benefit of the Ballot
has hardly been sufficiently enforced . The candidate excluded from obtaining his election either by purchase or compulsion , must necessarily have recourse to the influences on judgment . The opinion of a man of estimable character and reputed discretion , will have added weight in the absence of compulsory
motives , which destroy option , and nullify judgment . The Ballot will , moreover , afford an immense stimulus to the acquirement of knowledge . Men will have a motive for thinking , and an interest in intelligence . It will no longer be immaterial to them whether they be ignorant or informed . The salutary influence will be common both to candidate and constituent ; the moral
influences will expand , and benefit both . Arguments will be addressed to the mind and affections , and no longer to the fears or passions of the people . Each contest will be a test of principles instead of purses . Worth will prevail over wealth ( the true cause of hatred to the Ballot ) and elections will be appeals to the reason instead of to the debauchery of the land . The Ballot
will teach the rich to cultivate the friendly feelings of the poor . It will compel them to seek security to the legitimate influence of the aristocracy , by amenity , sympathy and kindness to the poor . It will curb the asperity , haughtiness and inhumanity , which widen the chasms in society , pit the poor against the rich , and place classes in conflict whose interests are common .
Lord Howick is sanguine of the growing influence of opinion in checking : corruption ; but he forgets the palpable fact that corruption is now checking opinion . Is it not puerile to maintain that we may safely entrust the destruction of an evil to an agency which the evil defeats ? There is a confusion of ideas involved in this sophism , which can scarcely be expressed without a solecism in language .
The democratic argument was reproduced by Lord Howick , viz ., that the non-electors ought to know and influence the electors . This is p lainly an argument for Universal Suffrage , and futile against tlie Ballot . If the non-electors are competent to sit in judgment over the constituency , th < ey are competent to vote themselves ; and assuredly have no claim to infringe on that right in others . If they are not competent to exercise this influence , why do you object to the Ballot for preventing it ?*
* The following argument on " Mendacity , " is from a lecture lately delivered at Cheltenham ; and proves that the Ballot will iu a very short time put an entire stop to
Untitled Article
260 Hints to the Home Secretary .
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), May 1, 1837, page 260, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1831/page/5/
-