REMEDY FOR BRIBERY AT ELECTIONS.
10th _February, 1860.
Sut—Among the many remedies against bribery, that suggested by Sir Francis Goldsmid, I think, will be found worth the especial attention of town readers :— Whenever a defeated candidate petitioned on the score of bribery, and established his case against his opponent, and no criminating charge could be made against him, he should obtain the seat." Sir Francis, in a short but telling speech, made in the House last night, when the Bribery question was under their notice, edged-out of the measure which he contemplates bringing forward, and it seems to me, that of all the remedies suggested, it contains the only and the surest antidote which can be applied.
If the defeated candidate is entitled to step into the place of his opponent, because bribery has been established against him, bribery. will be, of course, most anxiously avoided. To bribe a voter would be a suicidal attempt, and lead to an issue directly opposed to that aimed at. Perhaps the real ma- jority would not always be represented by the defeated candidate, whose supporters, however, must ,be untainted by corruption, and who frequently may amount to an absolute majority. The panacea recommended by 8,ir Francis Goldsmid, certainly deserves the most serious consideration, if 'it be honestly intended to raise the privi- lege of voting to that high and priceless right, "Not tb be purchased, not purchasable, by gems, nor by purple, nor by gold," Non gemmis, neque purpura venale, neque auro." I remain, with great esteem, dear Sir, yours very truly,
A. B.
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