THE ROMAN SENATE.
[To THY Enron OP 2212 EIPICTILTOlt.")
Sra,—The following passages are taken from a letter of Pliny the younger's, describing an election in the Roman Senate ; they are curiously applicable to another, and a more modern Assembly, which meets at Westminster. The Roman Senate seems to have found the ballot a very efficacious cure for its disorders; but there were no Irish Members there.—I am, Sir, IL C. F.
"You must often have read of the violent opposition which the Ballot Law (lea tabeliaria) encountered 7.. . ... Now, the Senate has adopted the ballot, without opposition In fact, while the voting was open, no public meeting was more disorderly. The order of debate, the respect due to the speakers, the very decencies of the House were no longer observed. From every side resounded loud, discordant cries and the most indecent disorder prevailed. We have degenerated indeed from the manners of oar fathers! Formerly, the self-respect of the membera and a sense of the dignity of the
place, kept everything orderly, restrained, and quiet In- temperate party zeal had rednced our proceedings to utter contempt, and a recourse to the ballot seemed the only hope ; for the time, it was a complete 111COCss, the change was so sharp and sadden. Bat I fear the remedy itself may, in course of time, breed fresh evil ; for there is a danger lest secret voting should encourage political corruption."—Plin., Bp. iii., 20.
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