date

27 Dec r 1809 Parl y. Reform
27 Dec r 1809

Parl y. Reform

I. Necessity

Ch. 17. Opposition no security

'.2. Despotism only changes hands

2

2

It being understood that a Minister can not be Minister any longer than while Parliament continues her toil, an appeal to Parliament against any act of injustice for example committed by a Minister is considered not as an application for redress against that particular injustice, but as an application for /made to Parliament to pronounce/ the dismissal of the Minister. {Be the injustice or misconduct in any other shape ever so flagrant, it is confirmed of course unless the dismissal of the Minister be pronounced.} On every such occasion be the question proposed in form[?] what it may, the question really voted upon is always one and the same, viz. whether he who is now shall continue to be Minister. To the merits of the question meaning the particular question submitted as above in point of form: not the smallest regard is ever paid or when men talk confidentially so much as professed to be paid. The subject of the real question is - not the measure but the man /men/ - and of each vote the measuring is I am for the Minister or I am against the Minister.

As no man is expected to vote - as no man can vote for the redress of injustice in any shape for the correction of mismanagement in any shape, without voting at the same time and thereby for the removal of the Minister, so no /as in no other way neither in this way does any/ man thinks of voting for the removal of one set of Ministers unless he is prepared to vote and means thereby /accordingly to be understood to vote for the appointment of some other set.
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  • Title: [11 Sep 1809 + '.4 Parl y Reform]
    Description: 11 Sep 1809 + '.4

    Parl y Reform

    Ch. Electors Voting

    '. Wagering eludes[?] Ballot

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    '.4. Wagering - a mode of purchasing votes notwithstanding secrecy - Sole remedy, shortness of the term - i.e. Election annual, and Electors numerous

    There is one case in which the secrecy of the mode of voting will not operate as a bar to corruption: viz. /and in particular/ to that species of corruption which takes the shape of bribery.

    If /Let/ matters be so ordered /arranged/, that That portion of the matter of good, which, in the shape of a reward for the {sinister} service in question, viz. the co-operating towards the desirable event in question, is destined to serve /operate upon a man/ as an inducement to do what depends on him towards the bringing about the event, shall take place as of course upon the happening of the event, and this whether it be or be not known whether he to whom the reward has been contributory /instrumental/ to the production of the event.

    [Side note:] If matters be so ordered, that the bribe shall take effect /be received/ whether the part which the intended receiver has taken in the election be known or no, bribery will not be prevented, nor so much as obstructed, by the secrecy of the vote.

    There exists a mode of operation /of [...?]/, in which unless adequately opposed by him, bribery may /might/ be employed with effect and safety in the purchase whether of a seat in parliament, at the hands of an indefinite number of electors, or any other political situation, or in short anything that constitutes an object of desire.

    This is the mode called wagering. Number of electors, say 1,000: majority 200. Applying himself to each of this number, an agent of one of the Candidates engages each of them {to lay} /them to lay/ a wager with him about the success of his employer. The agent lays with each of them, say a guinea, that the Candidate will not {gain his election} /be chosen. The Candidate being chosen, the agent loses his wager, and pays to each of the voters the stipulated guinea. (a)

    Note (a)

    (a) In the novel called Chrycal, or the Adventures of a Guinea, the wife of a dean lays a wager say of ,5000 with the Minister, that her husband is not appointed to a then vacant Bishoprick. The vacancy is filled by the reverend Dean, and the wager being lost by the lady, is honourably paid. A Dr O'Mearn might in this way settle matters with a Mrs Clark.
  • Title: [27 Dec r 1809 + Parl. Reform]
    Description: 27 Dec r 1809 +

    Parl. Reform

    Necessity

    Ch. 17. Opposition no security

    '.2. Despotism only changed hands

    1

    1

    Quere where to place this?

    '.2. Changes in administration prevent not the despotism - only cause it to change hands.

    Under the present order of things though the management of affairs is by this or that accident forced now and then to change hands, yet in each set of hands it is while it lasts a despotism. It is understood that unless Parliament be absolutely and constantly at his command, the situation of Minister is too troublesome to be worth holding. So long then as a man continues Minister, Parliament is under him: over him there is nothing: meaning always the secret advisors[?] of the crown to whose will be given effect.

    It is not every measure that he can carry: and in this particular the sort of indirect and imperfect despotism differs from pure and compleat despotism.

    But there is no parliamentary measure that he can not prevent: and in this consists the sort of despotism actually established.

    In the exercise of what is called his executive authority, viz that branch of his power for the exercise of which the concurrence of parliament is not necessary, his agents misconduct themselves in all manner of ways: imprudence is committed in all its shapes injustice in all its shape.

    Parliament, so long as a man is Minister being but a tool in his hands, appeal from the Minister to Parliament is appeal from the Minister to the Minister.

    [Marginal notes:]

    abroad[?] at home[?] every other

    Board[?] abuses and mismanagements.
  • Title: [+ 1819 Oct. 10 Parl. Reform Bill.]
    Description: + 1819 Oct. 10

    Parl. Reform Bill.

    §.5

    §.8

    Art. Secresy

    3

    Go to Westmoreland! Go to Cumberland! according to his conscience! To vote according to conscience! /learn there how good and joyful it is, brethren to vote according to conscience! how sad a thing to vote against conscience! how wicked a thing to force men to it!/ Good: but how? by voting out of the sight of tyrants? of tyrants on one side, as well as on the other? Oh no, that would be “wild and visionary, absurd, visionary, and senseless”: practice in America is not practice: never could any a man have thought of such a thing, had he been as conversant with men as with books.

    When the subject many – when Peoplesmen have condemned secresy of suffrage, it has been for want of thought: when the ruling few – when Tories and Whigs – condemn /have condemned/ secresy of suffrage, it has been from the result of thought: when the others have condemned it, it has been because they knew so well.

    Suffrage, open or secret: say which of the two you will have? This question – this is the spear of Ithuriel. At the touch of it, with not less agony than the most outrageous Tory, the Parliamentary Whig writhes.

    Say secret suffrage – secresy of suffrage. Do not say ballot. Election may be by ballot, and yet no secresy. Such will of course be the case, wherever the design is that the secresy professed shall not be preserved. Matters are so contrived that there is no secresy, and then you are told there can be none.

    When a Whig Candidate solicits a vote, the only answer need be this question. In and out of Parliament, will you do your utmost to procure Election in the secret mode? If he declines or remains silent – Go hypocrite! the most undisguised advocate of despotism is less profligate than you. Such should be his dismissal. – What? Is it to ambition such as yours, that the bread of my family and of so many hundreds of families is to be made a sacrifice? Is this your patriotism? Yes: knowingly and wittingly, you and those you act with, are either among the creators, or among the preservers of all the evil you profess to lament.