[131a-038]

1819 May 20

Defence of the Ballot

Edinb

Ballot

Objection I

In ballot no secrecy

3

3

Follows an abstract of the subordinate position advanced by the learned Reviewer /Gentleman/ in support of the objection here in question: each is accompanied with a short answer. That To give the most efficient check which in the nature of the case can be opposed to misrepresentation on my part, undesigned or /and/ if it be more agreable to gentlemen to say /add/ designed, I shall not be angry – the text of the Review will be found at the bottom of these pages.

1. Proof 1. Case 1. Case of Clubs, where Members are chosen or rejected by ballot. By this means quarrels are indeed excluded: but secresy there is none. Answer. To this case as to every other applies the general observation: if the mode of voting is what it professes to be and might be, certainty as to the truth of any thing that is said about the direction taken by /effect given to/ the vote is impossible. But in small clubs, the smaller the club, the easier are each mans affections known in the loose sense of the word knowledge: the greater is the degree of probability of which a guess in relation to them is susceptible. In respect of numbers how opposite this case is to that in question, any /every/ body who does not shut his eyes will /may/ see.

2. Proof 2. Case 2. Case of House of Commons. Ballot produces not secresy; nor independent choice. This is admitted by J.B Answer. Oh yes that it is. Observation /Answer/ I. the universally applying answer as above: no use in repeating it any more. Answer 2. Neither is this case in point. In the principal case in question the individuals proposed for choice are proposed separately: in that case here referred to, in lists. This being a complicated case, an appropriate modification of the plan in question would be necessary. Answer 3. In this case to the purpose of practice the cause why secresy is not preserved is – that the intention is it shall not be preserved.

3. Proof 3. Case 3. Case of India House Ballots. Per Reviewer, secresy is not here preserved. Reason paid: because not desired to be preserved. Assumption for Reviewer. On this occasion every thing that any body says is true. Per J.B. On this occasion suppose a man who never says any thing about the matter, tell us which way it is he has voted, and how it you know it?