A friend of mine, who took considerable interest in this question, was present at the elections for the State of Massachusetts, and when, at the same time, a popular vote was to be taken on the proposed revision of the Constitution; this latter was by special enactment made compulsorily secret.  How far this object was attained, the following statement will show.  As the voters came up to the polling-place, tickets were offered them by the agents of the opposite parties, in a large room full of people.  The voters selected whichever ticket they preferred, in the presence of the whole room, and then, in compliance with the terms of the enactment, they sealed it up in an envelope before depositing it in the voting-box.  So much for compulsory secrecy.  Of course on this occasion, as on all electioneering occasions, the voters might have concealed their votes, had they chosen so to do.

The only States, that I am aware of, where secrecy is enjoined by law are New York and Indiana; and in the former of these I can most certainly testify, from personal observation, that in many instances, if not in most, it is a dead letter.  I never met a soul who, in talking about politics, ever thought of concealing his sentiments.  I am therefore forced to the conclusion that secrecy only exists among the very lowest; and here it may be as well to introduce the opinions of the Governor of this important State.  Mr. Washington Hunt, in his Message of January 7, 1851, says, “The alarming increase of bribery in our popular elections demands your serious attention.  The preservation of our liberties depends on the purity of the elective franchise, and its independent exercise by the citizen, and I trust you will adopt such measures as shall effectually protect the ballot-box from all corrupting influences.”

If any efforts were made to stay the tide of corruption, the message of the same Governor the following year will enable you to judge of their success.  In his address on the 6th of January, 1852, this paragraph occurs:  “The increase of corrupt practices in our elections has become a subject of general and just complaint:  it is represented that in some localities the suffrages of considerable numbers of voters have been openly purchased with money.  We owe it to ourselves and to posterity, and to the free institutions which we have inherited, to crush this hateful evil in its infancy, before it attains sufficient growth to endanger our political system.  The honest and independent exercise of the right of suffrage is a vital principle in the theory of representative government.  It is the only enduring foundation for a republic.  Not only should the law punish every violation of this principle as a crime against the integrity of the State, but any person concerned in giving or receiving any pecuniary consideration for a vote should, upon challenge, be deprived of the privilege of voting.  I submit the subject to your consideration, in the hope that additional remedies may be prescribed and enforced.”—­The two foregoing extracts do equal credit to the head and heart of Governor Hunt; but what a picture do they portray of the effects of secret voting!