date

1819 Aug. 21 Disfranchisement
1819 Aug. 21

Disfranchisement

Apology for the Borough-mongers, or Defence of Reform

2

behold[?] this delusion is dissipated, all conception[?]

will be inadequate inefficient[?]

To all those whose power has /terrorism/ for its sole or principal ground terrorism, it is manifest how acceptable this delusion – and thence the phrases which is /are/ /the figure and the phrases which are/ the vehicle of it can not but be: in proportion as it prevails, it points the whole force of reform against their rivals, leaving their own power untouched. It suits them as possessors of landed opulence; it suits them as men of taste: for pretensions to taste, i.e. to a share in the monopoly of /exclusive possession of the endowment of/ good taste, is one of the features of aristocracy, and naturally not to say necessarily accompanied with insolence and intolerance: with those antisocial vices for the display of which the word serves as a pretence. Being associated with the ideas of stench and putrefaction – with the idea of putrefaction, and thence with that of stench, it excites disgust: and it is in consideration of this disgust that it is condemned: condemned by many a man, who so it were not mischievous to himself and his own circle, would care little or nothing in what degree it were mischievous to the community at large. to any body else
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  • Title: [1819 Aug. 21 Disfranchisement]
    Description: 1819 Aug. 21

    Disfranchisement

    Apology for the Borough-mongers, or Defence of Reform ag st. Ed gh. Review

    1

    In an indirect way the word corruption as applied to Parliamentary Election, will upon reflection be found to have been productive of mischief in a shape which could not in the first instance have been anticipated. By this word the censure cast on the abuse has been placed on a ground that covers but a part of it: but a part of it and that the least noxious part: that which is by far the most noxious namely terrorism not being comprized in it.

    From this scantiness has resulted the inference, that where there is no corruption, there is no abuse

    Several causes may be assigned why this scantiness /deficiency/ has had place has taken place and been continued.

    It is only when it excels in this shape, that the evil has been such as to admitt of the metaphor /figure/ in question for the expression of it. The figure is of the number of those by which digust is naturally excited: the idea of animal[?] food, or something else which by putridity is converted from an object of desire into an object of loathing and disgust stands associated with it.

    The dislike to Election imposture in this form is thus placed upon the footing of taste: it is stated as an object of natural disgust: which being admitted, the epithet disgusting, because one of the favourites of the day, can not but be acknowledged to be applicable to it With all men of bad morals, taste is a favourite basis or standard for morality, for approbation or disapprobation on a question belonging to the field of morals that of politics included. Why? Because it places the standard of right and wrong compleatly in their power, warranting them in giving /applying/ the appellation of right to whatsoever suits their momentary humour or interests; that of wrong to whatsoever happens to thwart it.

    [marginal insertion:] {With all the participators in and supporters of arbitrary power – with all literary coxcombs /shallow literators/ who have learnt /acquired/ or think they have acquired the art of playing of the current phrenology[?] of the subject with advantage, without any clear insight into principles.}
  • Title: [1819 Aug. 22 Disfranchisement or]
    Description: 1819 Aug. 22

    Disfranchisement or

    Apology for the Borough-mongers

    3

    To every man /reformist/ who will give the matter a serious consideration, it must now surely be manifest, that it is not /by no means/ matter of indifference, whether in speaking of the evil and its causes such a word as the word terrorist and terrorism and terrorist, or such words as bribery, corruption, corruptionist borough-mongers and borough-mongering, be /are/ most in use. Where the relation considered is the relation between the Member of Parliament on the one hand and the Monarch and his placeable and displaceable instruments on the other, indeed, the terms such as corruption

    corrupters and corruptionists venal men and venality are the only ones that bring to view the true nature of the case. I say the only ones: for in this case in the particular mode of corruption designated by the word bribery, corruption never need, and thence probably, considering the danger it is attended with never does take place But where /in so far as/ the relation considered is no other than the relation between the Member of Parliamenton the one hand and the Parliamentary Elector on the other hand, then it is that the more that is said of terrorism and terrorists, and the less that is said of bribery, or corruption, corrupters and corruptionists of borough-mongering and borough-mongerists, the better. Why? because of {the evil being in two shapes} /two evils existing/ the lesser and the greater of all the exertions employed for the removal of it are bestowed upon /confined to {it is} the lesser in that case even supposing the exertions so[?] far[?] successful, the greater part of the evil will remain unremoved. But if in proportion as the lesser evil is thus removed the greater evil is substituted to it, in this case when all is done that has been endeavoured to be done, the sum of the evil, so far from being lessened will have been encreased
  • Title: [1821 Aug. 25 Codification Offer '.5. Draughtsman]
    Description: 1821 Aug. 25 Codification Offer '.5. Draughtsman single

    In proportion as, by the apprehension of resistance as above fear is produced in

    the Monarchs breast, a diminution more or less considerable in the quantum of

    the sacrifice which he has been in use to make of this happiness to his own - a

    degree of relief from the burthen imposed by depredation and oppression - is a

    consequence not altogether incapable of taking place. Of such fear, true it is

    that a proportionable degree of hatred can not fail to be the result: and of

    hatred, if exclusively listened to, the result would be - not the lessening but

    the encrease of the sinister sacrifice:- not alleviation but aggravation of the

    burthen. Here then in the Monarchs breast will be a conflict: a conflict between

    the two affections - the self-regarding and the antisocial. In proportion as the

    self-regarding prevails, alleviation of the burthen will be the effect, which

    whether produced or no will at least have been aimed at: in proportion as the

    antisocial prevails, aggravation will be the certain consequence. Most commonly

    it is the antisocial that prevails: and thus it is that tyranny grows

    unendurable and revolution ensues. It may seem almost a paradox to speak of the

    antisocial affection as capable of prevailing over the self-regarding affection:

    to say that in any instance it does so, is as much as to say that in that

    instance a Monarch hates his subjects more than he loves himself. But to put a

    restraint upon the antisocial affection requires self-restraint:- it requires

    self-command and the more used a man is to command others the less used he is to

    command himself. When he visits (as the phrase is) the objects of his hatred it

    is still to his love of himself, that he administers its gratification, though

    in a different shape.