VOTE BY BALLOT.
Fellow Townsmen,
As some of you may not be aware of the essential importance of the Vote by Ballot, I take this opportunity of stating a few of its advantages:—
It will effectually destroy bribery and corruption, as it will be in vain for any candidate to purchase votes when he cannot possibly know on which side the elector will vote.
Vote by Ballot is the only means by which we shall get the House of Commons filled with men of principle, who will manage the affairs of the Nation in a way so as to relieve us from oppressive Taxation, and eventually to secure prosperity to every class of the community.
If we exclude Vote by Ballot we are giving up our own right of choosing a representative to persons who, from some local circumstances, may have influence over us.
Beware of signing any petition for MODERATE REFORM, which excludes Vote by Ballot, as a Reform of that nature will only increase our present burdens, and our National sins, inasmuch as it will cause Bribery to be still more extensively practised, and render still more universal those appalling scenes of Electioneering dissipation.
A TOWNSMAN.
Dudley, February 8th, 1831.
This Townsman little dreamt that Vote by Ballot, which we now enjoy, would be the very means of encouraging bribery and corruption continually.