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The Virginia Gazette
Williamsburg, Virginia
What is this article about?
A pseudonymous letter to Virginia freeholders advocates for electoral reforms including secret ballots, voter assistance for the illiterate, public candidate lists, and bans on canvassing to foster a virtuous legislature and avoid English parliamentary corruption.
Merged-components note: Continuation of the letter to the freeholders of Virginia, proposing election reforms.
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Gentlemen,
There is nothing has a greater tendency to preserve a state strong and vigorous than a virtuous and well chosen Legislature. All the venality and base conduct of the parliament of England, by which the empire has been torn to pieces, is chiefly owing to the unjust and ungenerous methods the members have taken to get themselves elected. Whether such practices are to be found among us, or not, I leave you to judge, and to prevent, as much as possible, any thing of the like kind in future, I most earnestly recommend that you would instruct your Delegates, next Assembly, to have a law made to this effect:
That Senators and Delegates be chosen by ballot; that two persons may be appointed, who shall be on oath faithfully to discharge their office, one of which shall always ask the freeholders, as they give in their ballot, whether they have read it or not. If they answer in the negative, one of them shall retire with the person and read his ballot to him; and, if necessary, make such alterations as he shall be directed by the freeholder, and no other. And that all those persons who are candidates send a list of their names to the sheriffs, to be published with the writs. But if any of them, after such publication, shall apply to any of the freeholders for their votes, or use any means, directly or indirectly, to get themselves elected, he or they so offending shall be incapable of sitting in the General Assembly.
A FARMER.
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Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Farmer.
Recipient
To The Freeholders Of The Commonwealth Of Virginia.
Main Argument
urges freeholders to instruct delegates to enact a law for elections by secret ballot, with assistance for illiterate voters, publication of candidate lists by sheriffs, and penalties disqualifying candidates who canvass for votes, to prevent corruption like that in the english parliament.
Notable Details