date

1819 Sept. 22 Parl Reform Bill
1819 Sept. 22

Parl Reform Bill

Reasons ult o

§.2 Electors Who

Beginning

3

On the contrary, independently of usage and the associations attachments and expectations produced by it it is manifest beyond dispute that of the office of Monarch with the power belonging to it not only the tendency but the sure effect is to be detrimental to the universal interest – to diminish the net amount of the universal happiness.

For from the very nature of man, it follows that the Monarch, who ever he is will at all times prefer his own personal interest according to his own conception of it to the interest of all his subjects put together whoever they are, that therefore on whatever occasion and in so far as between his interest and theirs any opposition /contrariety/ and incompatibility has place, it is their interests that he will sacrifice to his, not his to theirs: and there is scarce any occasion on which such contrariety and incompatibility have not place.

As of /As[?] in/ every other situation, so it that of Monarch it is a man’s /his/ interest to have as much /large a portion/ as he can of the good things of this world whatever they are. It is in the power of the Monarch to have a much larger share of them than is or can be possessed by any other member of the community: and the greater the share he has, the less is the share left for all the other members of the community put together

As it is in this respect with the Monarch so is it and for the same reason with the Members of the House of Lords.
Similar Items
  • Title: [1819 Sept. 22 Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1819 Sept. 22

    Parl. Reform Bill

    Reasons ult o

    §.2 Electors Who

    Beginning

    2

    The only cause /sort of cause/ which the nature of the case admitts of is an /the/ historical one. It is because it has been all along what it is that the power exercised by the Lords is what it is: not because independently of usage and the associations and attachments produced by it, {that is independently of its having till now been what it is,} it would be conducive to the universal happiness – that it should be what it is but merely because such having been and being still the usage, men in general take for granted that the effects of it are of a beneficient nature

    It is because it has all along been what it is that in like manner the power exercised by the Monarch is what it is.

    {It is beyond the power of man /human reason/ to say,}Independently of usage and the associations and attachments and expectations produced by it, it is beyond the power of human reason /man/ to say in what way the office of Monarch with the power attached to it, is subservient to the universal interest /happiness/ to point out any mode in which any sort of occasion on which it is or can be so

    Independently of usage, and the associations and attachments produced by it, it is beyond the power of human reason to say in what way the Office of Member of the House of Lords with the power attached to it is subservient to the universal interest: to point out any mode in which any sort of occasion on which it is or can be so.
  • Title: [1819 Sept. 22 + Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1819 Sept. 22 +

    Parl. Reform Bill

    ult o

    §.4 Electors who

    Beginning

    3

    1

    3

    In favour of virtually universal suffrage the ground in point of reason is not only /altogether/ simple, and uncontrovertible, but even universally acknowledged.

    1. The only defensible end in view or object of government is the greatest happiness of the greatest number namely of the members of the community in question

    2 The happiness of every member of the community is not only a part of the happiness of the whole community but as large a part, as is the happiness of any other member is.

    3. The happiness of a community receives encrease by every lot of happiness possessed by any one of its members without the production of any equal or greater lot of unhappiness to that same member or any other.

    On the occasion in question the possession of a right of suffrage is in several distinguishable points of view a means of happi-

    1. It is a present source of enjoyment – a shield against contempt: a source of respect – of regard eventually of kindnesses and services in all imaginable shapes.

    2. It is in itself and at any rate In the opinion of the individual it is with a view to the future a means of security against mischief in all shapes for the universal interest, and thence /thereby/ for his individual share in that universal interest. If by the misconduct of his representative for the time being that interest has in his opinion suffered or been in danger of suffering, at the next Election he may contribute his share towards the removal of the supposed unfit representative, and placing a fitter in his stead.
  • Title: [1818 Sept. 9. Things as they are]
    Description: 1818 Sept. 9.

    Things as they are

    Appendix

    Borough mongers

    §.1. Why not attacked by J B.

    4

    4

    Thus much for the representation given of the present state of the Constitution by this theory by the Boroughmongering theory. If this representation were indeed correct, what the advantage is that the people /universal interest/ would really derive from the proposed reform must be left for those to state in whose eyes it has existence.

    What is true is – that between them and the Monarch and the set of men there is a community of interest, and that a particular and sinister interest: what is not true is that he is an instrument in their hands, what is true is that they are instruments in his hands. That they, and to a vast a large amount are sharers with him in the spoils /plunder hoard[?]/ on the people. But his share is to a prodigious degree more vast than any of theirs, and were theirs ever so much vaster than it is, the mere circumstance of their having some of them or all of them each a share would not suffice to place him under their dominion – to render him an instrument in their hands. On the capture of a town by assault or capitulation, the subordinate officers and even privates have each their share in the plunder /prize money/ as well as the Commander in chief. But he is not under their dominion /command/: they are under his.