[lxxxiv. 147]

1822 Feb. 6

Codification Offer

Appendix 4¼o or Separate

?.5. Admission Universal

Members Unapt

Development

In a settled /Except in a rare and shortlived/ state of things, under no form of government that of the Anglo©American United States excepted, or one not essentially different from it, is it possible that by the aggregate power of the body on whom the sanctionment of the work in question depends the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the object to the attainment of which the exercise of that power will have been directed, they are sure to be /to a certainty/ under the dominion of a particular and sinister interest: to the force of this sinister interest this open mode of legislation is /will act as/ the most efficient and indispensable bridle.

Towards the directing the rule of action towards that exclusively justifiable end what is possible is that under /in/ a favorable conjuncture a body of law having for its end in view that same object may by means of this open system be presented to the universal notice of the greatest number /whole people/: in which case, those among whom the power of legislation is shared may, by fear of the ill opinion and resentment of the greatest number be engaged to adopt such universally beneficial measures, as if left to themselves no one of them would have originated.

The favorable conjuncture in question is this.© When, after a long course of misrule under a government having for its object the greatest happiness of a ruling one, or a ruling few, or a mixt body composed of the ruling one with a coordinately or subordinately ruling few a new set of men by means of the support given to them or expected to be given to them by the great body of the subject many, have come into possession of the aggregate powers of government: exercising them at the same time in

such
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  • Title: [ÁÁ[lxxxiv. 144] 1822 Feb. 5]
    Description: ÁÁ[lxxxiv. 144]

    1822 Feb. 5

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    Such the constant ”tendency• © only by a particular and transient state of things or conjuncture can the effect of that tendency be suspended.

    No man or body of men other than the greatest number themselves ever took for the object of government the greatest happiness of the greatest number or no body of men /rulers/ other than the /that same/ greatest number or if a less number a number actually subject to their effectual influence

    Applied to different powers in the same state, the notion of /to different branches of aggregate political power, for the conveyance of which the phrase/ a balance of powers if considered as a means of /an efficient cause of/ production to the greatest happiness of the greatest number is a gross delusion a palpable absurdity a notion /an image /emblem/ altogether inapplicable. /is employed is compleatly misapplied. No sooner is the phrase understood than the notion meant to be conveyed by it is seen to be compleatly erroneous and delusive./

    Suppose the equiponderance to have place any one moment the next moment puts an end to it

    At the foot of every throne is a fountain of corruptive influence: and that fountain /the stream of it/ a perennial and ever encreasing one

    An equiponderance between two interests the universal interest and a particular interest naturally and materially opposite to that same universal interest. Of such a state of things supposing it capable of continuing what is /will be/ the result? that nothing will be done for the advantage of the particular interest that is prejudicial to the universal interest. True: but not less so that nothing will ever be done for the advantage of the universal interest that is prejudicial to its antagonist the particular interest its antagonist

    No such conceit could have been entertained by any one in the character of a means for the advancement of the greatest happiness of the greatest number: by the utterance of it sufficient proof is afforded that in the mind of the utterer no such desire as that of giving encrease to the greatest happiness of the greatest number in preference to an equal share of happiness to the several individuals composing the smaller number could with him have place.