What becomes of the boasted equality between the poor and the rich for popular favor, if this demoralizing agency of an appeal to the pocket is not arrested?
You will readily perceive that the poor, though worthy and meritorious, will be excluded, and the wealthy, alone, will obtain high places of honor and profit. When this is the result, you may expect had laws, and, if the thing be possible, a worse administration of them. With the hope that this disease is not constitutional, but merely local in its character, so far as our State is concerned, I would suggest one or two of a series of remedies, which, if adopted, would do much in arresting the further progress of the malady.
By the Constitution of the State it is provided: "In all elections by the People, the electors shall vote viva voce until the Legislature shall otherwise direct." The act of the 4th of December, 1799, provided that all future elections by the People, should be by ballot. The repeal of this act would revive the mode of voting prescribed by the Constitution, which would, it is believed, contribute largely in the correction of many evils that now exist.
All temptation to deceive by false promises and pledges never intended to be redeemed, with many other vices attendant on voting by ballot, if not entirely removed, would be of less frequent occurrence, in proportion as the chances for detection are increased by the one mode over the other.
It is also recommended, that it be made the duty of the Circuit Judges, to give in special charge to the Grand Juries of the respective counties, the substance of such Statutes as impose penalties for illegal voting, or buying or selling votes. Let suitable provision be made for the enforcement of the Statutes now in force, or otherwise repeal them.
Indeed, all oaths required by law, and all penalties affixed for their violation, whether in the shape of fines, forfeitures, or disqualification for office, had better be repealed, if they are not rigidly enforced. Where the first step should be taken, will readily occur to you.
It is believed that our laws regulating the salaries of the different officers of the State, require revision.
As a general rule, it may be assumed as sound economy that the State should secure the best services, at the lowest reasonable compensation, but, is it true, that low salaries secure, in every instance, the requisite qualifications? True economy consists more, in securing the efficient and faithful discharge of public duty, than in the mere saving to the State of the difference between reasonable and inadequate compensation. "The laborer is worthy of his hire," is a sound principle of the highest authority—and embodies the elements of true economy, as well as natural justice. It is
