JB_127_257.xml

Title: [1818 Aug 6 + Parl Ref Bill]

Description: 1818 Aug 6 +

Parl Ref Bill

'.2. Electors who

Universality

In this case of the American United states is brought to view the only case which, with reference to the one here in question is, in any degree in point.

When by an Anti-Reformist in the character of a supposed source of anarchy mischief and confusion democracy has been brought to view, what are the cases to which, expressly or tacitly, reference has been made? In the American case? O no: by no such case would any colour for the imputation have been afforded.

What case then?

Two sorts of cases: 1. Antient Constitutions. 2. Insurrections antient and modern together.

Now at least when once the Intimation is given who is there, who, in his own mind at least does not recognize the completeness of the difference between the case of a modern Representative democracy - whether as in America paramount and sovereign or as in England with an Aristocracy and a Monarchy over it, and both those other cases -

1. As to Antient Constitutions. Under them whatever at any time went by the name of a Democracy was, in every instance a self acting Democracy or rather /at least/ the semblance of one: In no instance a Representative one.

Note

Mr Milford in his History of Greece Vol V. 4 to P- speaks of no fewer than four bodies existing at the same or different periods to all which he gives the common name of Representative bodies but which for a little explanation, coming from an author of such high and well deserved reputation the student might be in danger of being misled by the intimation thus conveyed. The conception naturally conveyed by such an appellative is, that of a national representative body whereas all these without exception international one - the States represented were in each of those instances States existing under different forms of government monarchical aristocratical and democratical: but in no one Instance was the people or any part of it governed in its internal affairs by delegates elected by itself.

JB_111_065.xml

Title: [1818 Aug. 25 Government Things]

Description: 1818 Aug. 25

Government

Things as they are: or First lines &c.

§.1. Misrule Necessity

6

6

9. In /Under/ a democracy whether self ruling or representative, self-regarding interest will in like manner be in every breast predominant. It will therefore be so in the breast of every member of the representative body. On such occasions Every such member would if he could sacrifice to his own personal interest the interest of the whole people. Without the concurrence of a majority of that whole body no such member can make any such sacrifice /as such can do that or any thing else/. If a majority could agree and continue long enough in such their trust they would act as an aristocracy, they would sacrifice the interest of the rest of the people to that interest which they have in common. But, by the supposition, acting on this ocasion they can not continue long enough in such their trust /situation/. For power on one part exerts not but in proportion to obedience /obsequiousness/ on the other. What the people are disposed to is to pay obedience /shew obsequiousness/ to the objects of their confidence, so long as but no longer than, they are regarded by them as abstaining from those acts by which the interest of the people is /would be/ sacrificed to the interests of all or any of these their delegates and so long as they continue so, their rulers. In the event of his concurring in the endeavour to make any such sacrifice, that which no such representative sees before him is any tolerable /considerable/ chance of success: that which every one sees before him is a certainty of dismission which is itself a punishment, coupled with a chance more or less considerable of ulterior punishment.

Under a Monarchy no such unpleasant chance does the Monarch see: under an Aristocracy no such unpleasnt chance does any member of the Aristocracy see.

A representative democracy is therefore not a government of misrule: and it is the only one that is not so. it is in its essence a good government; and the only one that is so.

125_303.xml

Title: [5 Jan y 1817 Necessity Cat]

Description: 5 Jan y 1817

Necessity Cat

1 Theory

§ IV. Democracy self-acting

13

10

3

To take for a constancy any immediately operative part in the exercise of the supreme power, a man must already be provided with a stock of the means of subsistence sufficient /adequate/ at least to the enabling him to subsist for and during that same time: to enable him to possess upon his first entrance into the possession and exercise of this share a stock of appropriate intellectual aptitude {not to speak of moral aptitude} competent to the situation will have acquired an ambivalent[?] and additional quantity of time filled with /occupied by/ labour.

Thus then so far as concerns the part taken by immediate and personal operation the physical capacity of any constant exercise of /given to/ the supreme power /the power in question/ is limited to those by or for whom a stock of the means of subsistence during the continuance of that /such/ exercise has already been provided: and the part thus already to so large an amount provided with the means of continued subsistence can never be greater than a comparatively small proportion of the whole number of the members of the community /state/

But if of the members /whole number/ of the supposed democracy /democratical state and government/ in question there be one /a/ part by whom alone the supreme power is exercised, which the remainder in much greater number in various ways occupied in the production of the means of subsistence, let this be the case then so it is that the state to /in the designation of/ which the appellation of democracy has thus been /was then in the first instance/ employed was /is/ in truth not a democracy but an aristocracy: and thus without the aid of the principle of representation another[?] reason[?] of limitation to the number of the members of which a democratical government is capable of being composed or brought to view

 Add for example Athenian &c pseudo democracies. 2. Roman democratic assembly maintained by tributary corn. 3. Speak of the confusion attached to […?] discussion[?] in large assemblies.