STATE ELECTION. 317 



kind on the outside of the ballot-rooms, and on entering one 

 of them, I found nine or ten people inside. There were two 

 printed ballot tickets, containing a different list of candidates, 

 and which were supplied by individuals near the door. The 

 voters, on entering the room, were offered tickets, which they 

 handed to people on the opposite side of a counter, appointed 

 to receive them, and who dropt them into a box. The voter 

 was asked his name and place of residence, and immediately 

 retired. The business excited little interest, the voters almost 

 never reading any part of the ticket handed them, and the 

 secretaries seldom referring to the lists for the identity of the 

 voter. I also entered a ballot-room in the suburbs. Here 

 a good many vehicles were standing around the door, and the 

 interior, which seemed the bar-room of a hotel, was filled with 

 men who had evidently been drinking spirits. Printed tickets 

 were also here received and delivered, as already described. 

 Individuals may prepare tickets for themselves. 



Independent of the election of members of Senate, there 

 was a ballot for reducing the duty on salt, which the follow 

 ing circular, copied from a newspaper of the day, will explain. 

 &quot; To the Public. After a most thorough examination of the 

 subject, and a full conviction of the injustice and partial 

 operation of the existing tax on salt of domestic manufac 

 ture, the Legislature of this State, at their three last sessions, 

 successively passed resolutions for an amendment of the Con 

 stitution, by which they would be enabled to reduce that tax 

 or duty from twelve-and-a-half to six cents per bushel. Those 

 resolutions are now submitted to the people for their approval, 

 and are dependent for ultimate success on the votes that may 

 be given in their favour at the approaching annual election. 



&quot; The words of the amendment are, 6 That the duties on 

 the manufacture of salt, as established by the act of the 

 fifteenth of April, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, 

 and by the section of the seventh article of the Constitution 

 of the State, may at any time hereafter be reduced, by act of 

 the Legislature of this State, but shall not, while the same is 

 appropriated and pledged by said section, be reduced below 

 the sum of six cents upon each and every bushel, and the 

 said duties shall remain inviolably appropriated and applied as 



