date

25 Dec r 1809 Parl y Ref m
25 Dec r 1809

Parl y Ref m

Ch. Parl. Corrupt Member[?]

' 3.1. Corruptor King

2 Dependents mind

6

2

 Insert statement of the corresponding habits of indiscriminate support viz. abuse in Administration, and d o opposition when in Opposition. Shew that both are modifications of corrupt dependence and undue and mischievous obsequiousness.

But neither can the moral part of his frame be stated as altogether pure.

Taking the whole parliament through, Many are the /On some/ occasions on which the course taken by the Minister will appear to him to be exactly right: of all courses that on that occasion could have been /be/ taken the one which in the highest degree is most subservient to the public interest.

But it will be very extraordinary indeed if there be not also occasions, and those in no inconsiderable number on which the course taken by the Minister will not appear to him exactly in that light: instead of the best, it may appear the worst possible, or the impropriety of it may present itself as standing at any intermediate degree of the scale.

Had he been In a state of independence actuated at the same time by a sense of duty, according to the nature of each objectionable measure he could either have opposed it in toto, or proposed amendments to it.

In his state of dependence, taking the measure as he finds it, according to the degree of his dependence, he either supports it as it stands, defends /supports/ it - viz by speech as well as vote, or by vote only; or absenting himself, forbears to oppose it: forbears to oppose that which in his own opinion /view of the matter/ ought to be defeated, and ought therefore to be opposed.
Similar Items
  • Title: [27 Dec r 1809 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 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.
  • Title: [20 Aug 1809 Parl y Reform Corruption]
    Description: 20 Aug 1809

    Parl y Reform

    Corruption

    Members

    6

    4

    {Foolish therefore would be in the extreme, if it were sincere the conduct of that Member who on the /under the/ influence of the above suggested habitual depravity of Minister /the agents under such a system/ should resolve /determine/ with himself to engage and persevere in any such blind and all-comprehensive opposition.

    But of the system of corruption one of the effects is to beget and keep alive a system of indiscriminate opposition still more profligate if possible than the system of indiscriminate subservience. The adherents of the Minister vote in favour of every measure of his how and of every part and circumstance of his, how bad soever merely because it is by him that it has been brought forward, while The opponents of the Minister vote against every measure of his and against every part of such measure how good and necessary soever, for the opposite reason, viz. for the purpose of taking every chance for causing his power and influence to be regarded as being in the wane, and so depriving him of the free part /unbound/ of his adherents, till at last he be left unprovided with the number and proportion regarded by him as necessary, to secure him in the possession of his place.}
  • Title: [30 Dec r 1809 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 30 Dec r 1809

    Parl y. Reform

    Ch.6 Parl. Corruption I. Members

    '. Corruptor Course[?]

    Corruption continued

    '.5. 2. Corruptor's mind[?]

    21

    2

    The purposes /occasions/ on which the influence of a Minister is exerted /exercised/ on a Member are reductive to two: that on which his possession of his seat , and that in which his conduct when in his seat is in question.

    In so far as his possession of his seat is in question the influence /effect/ of the transaction on the mind of the Minister /in question/ belongs not to the present purpose: it will come under consideration, further on, viz. when the effect of corruption and corrupt dependence on the situation of a parliamentary Elector comes to be considered.

    On the present occasion the person considered as exposed to corruption, and liable thereby to be brought into a situation of habitual and corrupt dependence is considered as already in possession of his seat.

    The person by whose influence he is placed and kept in this dependent state is the Minister or a Minister: and the considerations by which he is placed or kept in this state are the hope of some benefit to his receipt of which the concurrence /an act/ of the Minister is regarded as necessary, or the fear of the loss /losing/ of some benefit which the Minister is considered as having it in his power to deprive him of /revoke/: for instance a lucrative office held by him under the crown /an administration already in his hands/.