date

1819 May 24 Defence of | | Ballot
1819 May 24

Defence of | | Ballot

Caucussing 1 inevitable

2. beneficial

8

That in favour of a Candidate generally regarded either as positively speaking inapt, or negatively and comparatively speaking presenting no or[?] indication of inaptitude or such as in comparison of those afforded by this or that other Candidate is at no time probable: for in the opinion entertained of /in/ this /its/ aptitude in its aggregate capacity, depends the influence of the whole Caucus. By the concurrence of the majority in the recommendation of a Candidate generally regarded as absolutely or comparatively regarded as inapt, the influence of the /that same/ majority and thence of each member of it may be diminished.

One case there is in which in a manner not altogether uninvested[?] with moral probability corruption on the force[?] may have place. One case and one only. This is – where, concerning comparative aptitude on the part of the several Candidates the judgment of the public at large presents itself as being without much inequality of the parts divided.

But in this case, supposing corruption employed what does the utmost possible quantity of sensible evil amount to? Next to nothing. Towards giving effect to their choice, all that any one member of the Caucus can do, all that the whole Caucus put together can do /with the Electors/ is to give to the Electors /them/ to understand that in their judgment /opinion/ the Candidate they recommend is more fit for the Office than any other is. Well then upon the extent to which, among the Electors, the opinion has place that the Member in question that the whole Caucus taken together is fitter than any other person or persons are for forming the self-formed judgment in question, and thence for serving as guides to the Electors in forming their derivative judgment, and thus in a word recommending Candidates to their choice
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  • Title: [1819 May 24 Defence of | | Ballot]
    Description: 1819 May 24

    Defence of | | Ballot

    Caucussing 1 unavoidable

    2 beneficial

    5

    Not by depth of judgment but by want of it are suspicions &c[?] of the usefulness of Caucus produced

    Thus then, with or without the formalities of an Election will be formed a knot of selectmen by whom in the character of persons regarded as exclusively or preeminently well qualified to form each of them a self-formed judgment, the judgment of those who not regarding themselves as qualified to form any other than a derivative judgment, will be derived.

    And thus it is that, in relation to /on the occasion of/ a choice to be made among divers candidates for the purpose of filling as they become vacant the several official situations contained in the entire official establishment, there will be a set /knot/ of persons by whom or in case of disagreement /non concurrence/ by the majority of whom in number and influence, the choice /appointment/ is in the several instances respectively determined.

    In every one of the United States of North America in the first seat and source and example of good government to the designation of an association of this description the term /noun substantive/ Caucus has been appropriated: to the operation of making a such association and joining in the transaction of its appropriate business, the correspondent term /participle/ Caucussing.

    Nothing it has been seen can be more simple, nothing more salutary, nothing more pure of all sensible evil, nothing more unexceptionable than its operations and its effects.

    The operations which come /stand/ naturally the first in the order of law are those in and by which each Member makes trial of the influence with which he himself operates upon the rest. This matter being settled in regard to the whole business of the Caucus taken in the aggregate preparative is thus made – a ground is thus laid for the several particular decisions which from time to time may come to be made on the occasion of the several Elections.
  • Title: [1819 May 24 Defence of | | Ballot]
    Description: 1819 May 24

    Defence of | | Ballot

    Caucussing 1 unavoidable

    2. beneficial

    7

    In the Caucus itself, in each instance – in the Caucus itself if any where must be looked for the probability the moral possibility at any rate of seduction /corruption/ /breach of trust/ in either shape.

    /It is/ Without seduction in either shape he has /it is/ laid in his stock of this same pure and only legitimate influence the influence of understanding on understanding: of the understanding of the better informed on the understanding of the less well-informed. But, of this influence pure as it is in itself and in respect of the mode in which it has been acquired, of this influence, if we /to/ speak of what is conceivable, any use known bad may be conceived to be made. In the situation here in question, the case of terrorism – terrorism exercised in a Caucus by one member over /on/ another and thence on the votes guided by his influence – is scarce /not/ worth speaking of: but the case of bribery – of a bribe direct or virtual, received of /from/ or on behalf of a Candidate by a member of the Caucus, is. The quantity of influence whatever it be that he possesses in relation to and on the judgment and thence the conduct of a certain portion of the body of the Electors he may bring to market, and sell it to the best bidder among the Candidates.

    Without any difficulty the disposition thus supposed to be made of a mass of influence is conceivable. That to a certain extent on this or that occasion the supposition should be realized is not even out of the sphere /field/ of moral probability. But that it should ever have for its effect any considerable quantity of sensible evil, does not in the sort of Constitution in question present itself as having place in that sphere /within that field/.
  • Title: [1819 May 24 Defence of | | Ballot]
    Description: 1819 May 24

    Defence of | | Ballot

    Caucussing 1 unavoidable

    2 beneficial

    6

    Let us now see in what case /part of the system/ if in any, seduction in either of its two shapes – bribery or terrorism is liable to have place: and at the same time in what part if in any it is not liable to have place.

    A /The/ situation in which it is not liable to have place is that of the Elector, who not being a Member of the Caucus in question, nor on account in his own estimation qualified for the formation of a self-formed judgment naturally and almost unavoidably for the formation of his /a/ derivative judgment – the only other sort of judgment that the nature of the case admitts of – turns his eye towards the Caucus and the self-formed judgment formed and declared by it: formed by the majority – if not by the majority in number only – by the majority in number and influence taken together – and thence in ordinary cases naturally declared, and without much if indeed any departure from the pall[?] of sincerity declared to be the judgment of the whole.

    In this situation, as has just been mentioned seduction as above explained is not liable to have place. No, but of this position the correctness depends upon secresy of suffrage: for in so far as any infraction of the law of secresy has place seduction in both its forms – terrorism and bribery is capable of having place: terrorism more particularly: to wit for the reason already given, the non-necessity of expenditure in any shape: bribery direct and virtual much less probably and extensively by reason of the necessity of correspondent expenditure and the improbability of an adequate fund, and the risk of ignominy in the case of an unsuccessful attempt.