date

1 June 1811 Fallacies 31 35
1 June 1811

Fallacies

31 35

Ch. Authority worshippers

2

$ 5 Prevalence Cause

3. Question How happens it /can it happen/ that in a place /situation/ for which /for the [...?] occupation of which/ the strongest talents would not be more than required there should /how is it that there can/ be any such failure of natural talents?

Answer. Because the /when/ /forasmuch as/ in so many instances /existences[?] in that/ depending /depends/ either on himself alone or on others to whom whether he has or has not the requiste talents is a matter of indifference, no degree of intellectual deficiency, short of palpable idiocy, in those instances[?] can have the affect of excluding a man from occupying it.

A man who is fit for nothing else - a man who is fit for absolutely nothing, is not the less likely to occupy a seat in the House of Commons.

Question How comes it that the sense of responsibility is [...?] /[...?]/ in the instance of so large a proportion of the Members, and thence in so large a degree wanting in the whole House? the sense[?] of responsibility is wanting altogether? wanting?

Answer. Because in so small a proportion /in the proportion of an efficient majority/ are they at any time depend in any[?] degree of dependence on the people whose fate is in their hands, and because in the instance of the few who in whose instance any such dependence here[?] place[?], /the length of [...?] [...?] which /in whose/ / the efficient cause and consequently the sense /feeling/ of such dependence here[?] place[?] bears[?] so small a proportion to the length of /[...?] of[?]/ time expressive[?] of their existence in it;
Similar Items
  • Title: [11 June 1811 32 36 Fallacies Authority]
    Description: 11 June 1811 32 36

    Fallacies Authority worshipper

    3

    . 5. Prevalenve Causes

    To J. C. Mind the transportation[?]

    2

    Of such a state of things one necessary consequence is - that, excepting /with the exception of/ those in whose instance by anti-constitutional dependence whatsoever intellectual qualifications this possess are reduced so much worse than useless, the body /House/ is composed of a set of men the furniture of whose minds is /consists/ of a compound /collection/ of jarring prejudices pushed out at and for each occasion out of such of the current prejudices as on that occasion present themselves as most favourable to their interests - to the species of interests to which it has happened to be brought into action /operation/ by the [...?] of the day.

    1

    Thus while a few only are in any degree of dependence on the people whose fate is in their hands, even these few are in a state of more efficient dependence on the set of men who to the purpose of good government and the acknowledged purposes of the [...?] /existing/ [...?]bution should be dependent upon them, while as towards the [...?] set of men the dependence of the rest of altogether efficient and compleat.

    Between the possessers /holders/ /tenants/ of power /in power/ in possession and the holders of the same power or appropriate active talents are decided: of those who having nothing to sell but their votes are not worth purchasing at such price as men have to give - if walking or willing[?] bodies without minds are compared with few or no exception all who have any pretense to the promise[?] of probity and independence.
  • Title: [20 June 1811 Abdication Independence]
    Description: 20 June 1811

    Abdication

    Independence

    1

    25

    {Oh but they ought to be dependent on nothing but their own sense of duty - not on the will of the people. - Answer - But if not on the will of the people on who? better are they […?] to be dependent? is not it not more probable they will be dependent in the name of their own interest than in the name of their Duty?}

    On this subject the substance of a volume is comprised in one single word - and that word is independence.

    And Are men yet to learn, that for probity, independence is no efficient security: that the only efficient security is dependence: and that as between the virtue of probity and a state of independence, independence so far from being an efficient security for that virtue is but a licence for the contrary vice.

    Yet is independence the unqualified, as well as on the part of all who see the least chance of obtaining evidence, the universal boast.

    On the part of one English Country Gentleman be his independence equal his utmost boasting, it will still be but /no better than/ dependence in comparison of the independence possessed by {The Emperor of Morocco and} the Emperor of France. But this imperial independence how much the /what/ better are the people for it? about as much the better in point /the article/ of happiness as the independent man himself in point /the article/ of virtue.

    True it is that for dependence to serve as a security for probity it must be dependence on a right quarter, it must in a word be dependence on the good opinion and thence for it can not be otherwise on the good will of the people /on the people/. Yet who is there that /who/ so far from professing would not be shocked at {the} bare idea /mention/ of any thing in the expression of which as exemplified in his instance any such word /were employed/ as dependence were employed?
  • Title: [1811 June 10 + 11 . 5 33 37]
    Description: 1811 June 10 + 11

    . 5 33 37

    Fallacies ad vericundum

    Authority worshippers

    4

    . 6. Prevalence Cause

    Power without responsibility - real and efficient responsibility - is power without obligation - real and efficient obligation. Power in so far as it is clear of obligation is property: power in so far as it is coupled and charged with obligation is a trust.

    Obligation In every part of the field of action - and in every shape /exercise[?]/ obligation is in every shape a burthen, from which by the principle of self-preservation, by regard for his own case, by interest in that shape in which it may be termed the interest of the people, every man in proportion as be feels himself possessed by it feels himself urged and excited to endeavour to shake[?] off /[...?] himself/.

    So happily have matters been mangaed so admirably in the /managing/ hands of the managers has public power been adjusted to the purposes of personal convenience, - the power which a man possesses /is in the enjoyment of/ by the possession /property/ of a box at the Opera is not less pure from obligation than the power which he is in the enjoyment of /put with/ by the possession of a seat in the House of Commons.

    Power without obligation is the position of the Emperor of Morocco and /not to speak of/ the Emperor of France. Power without obligation is the position of the Members of the House of Commons, not to speak of the Member of the House of Lords.

    The power of the Emperor is a whole: the power of the Member is but a part of a [.../]lar whole: in this lies all the difference.