320 INHABITANTS CONSULTED IN POLITICAL MATTERS. 



&quot; The salt-springs, judging from the consumption of brine 

 for the last two years, each of which require from ninety to one 

 hundred millions of gallons, and produced about 2,000,000 

 bushels of salt, without any perceptible diminution, appear as 

 inexhaustible as the Onondaga lake itself. And we may, 

 of course, confidently assume, as the state possesses unli 

 mited control, that there can be no monopoly, and that an 

 increase in the quantity made will establish a steady supply 

 at the lowest prices, and be a security against any sudden and 

 extravagant rise, which would otherwise certainly happen in 

 the event of a war, or interruption of our intercourse with 

 other nations. 



&quot; The subscribers would present herewith other statements 

 and calculations, but for their great length, and a desire to 

 avoid prolixity, which have appeared upon this question in 

 the several reports to the Legislature, especially that of Mr 

 Throop, made to the senate in 1831, No 56, and which most 

 fully sustain these representations. The committee rely on 

 the aid of the people at large for the accomplishment of the 

 object in view ; and in order that you may be prepared to co 

 operate with them, send a quantity of ballots, to the distribu 

 tion of which at the polls, to be held in November next, they 

 solicit your attention. 



&quot; The following is the form of the ballot which the law 

 prescribes for those in favour of the proposed amendment. 

 For authorizing the Legislature to reduce the duties on 

 salt/ &quot; 



I rode with a gentleman in his gig to a ballot-room in the 

 suburbs of New York, and saw him vote for continuing the 

 duties on salt. An immense majority, however, of the inha 

 bitants were in favour of reducing the duties. 



To the people of Britain it may appear somewhat strange, 

 that the inhabitants of a country should be consulted on a 

 political question, its supporters and opponents being ascer 

 tained by ballot, and the circumstance of universal suffrage 

 and annual parliaments prevailing in the state of New York, 

 will heighten the feeling. The followers of aristocracy may 

 denounce the proceeding, and proclaim the people incapable 

 of judging political matters, which are alone comprehensible 



