270 Humboldt's Letters. 



SUPPLEMENT. 



" Spenersche Zeitung," of 1852, Feb. 4, No. 29. The 

 transactions in reference to the formation of the second 

 Chamber have repeatedly been the subject of our com- 

 munications. It is perhaps not equally well known, 

 that at this moment the attention of higher circles is 

 also directed to the formation of the Second Chamber. 

 The present electoral law presents the right of suffrage 

 as one to be exercised or not at the option of the voter, 

 without a corresponding obligation on his part. A law 

 compelling men to vote would seem to be equally inex- 

 pedient and impracticable. But by refraining from 

 voting in any number, the voters repose the decision of 

 the question in the hands of an unknown minority, who, 

 by exercising their privilege, frequently bring about a 

 state of things by which representation is given, not to 

 the political views of the constituency, but to their very 

 opposite. The principles had in view in fixing the 

 reconstruction of the First Chamber, have, by force of 

 logical inference, led to the proposals to alter the elec- 

 toral law for the Second Chamber in this manner, that 

 His Majesty, the Ring, shall appoint in each district, 

 long before the election, a government candidate, who 

 shall be the representative, unless the majority of the 

 voters should at the election record their preference for 

 another. The specific arguments in support of such a 

 plan will appear to-morrow in connexion with its details. 



