JB_126_307.xml

Title: [20 Aug 1809 + Parl y Reform]

Description: 20 Aug 1809 +

Parl y Reform

Influence V.

Corruption

'. Office corrupts more than Bribe.

1

1

A contrivance (flimsy) for defending and [...?] or the cases in which it is most efficient and impressive.

'. Office is more corruptive than any /a/ bribe.

But a distinction is /has been/ taken, & owed[?] there are certain shapes forsooth[?], in which the application of a matter of good, though applied under the same conditions, and to produce the same line of conduct as it is applied to produce in the case where the application of it would be corruptive and bribery beyond dispute, is neither the one nor the other. And which are these cases? precisely those in which its influence is most feasible and irresistible.

For a Member to receive of a Member a bribe - say in the shape of a Banknote of ,10 or ,500 or ,1000, is dishonest wicked scandalous, shameful, in a word whatsoever in your indignation you may be pleased to call it. And why dishonest? - because by the conditions in which it is given the member by whom it is received engages himself to the Minister by whom it is administered, to give his vote and support to some one[?] measure which perhaps he thinks a bad one and to which perhaps he would not have given his vote or his support otherwise {- Now in this case where is the dependence of the Member? where is the dependence of the person corrupted on his corruptor? - None.}

For a /the same or any other/ Member to receive of the same or any other Minister not merely the ,500 or the ,1000 once paid, the ,5000 or the ,1,000 by which no dependence is created, but a place with or without duty, with or without dignity and power attached to it bringing in to him each and every year while he continues in possession of it a repetition of this same ,500 or ,1,000 - in all this there is nothing but what is fair and honourable. But why honourable the acceptance this so much greater portion of the matter of good while in the other case the acceptance of a so much lesser portion is so base and scandalous. By the base compact, the Trustee was barred /stood engaged[?]/ to nothing more than the committing a breach of trust on some one occasion at some one single instance. By the honourable compact he stands engaged to committ during his continuance in the receipt of this permanent bribe

130_063.xml

Title: [1[?] Jan y 1810 Parl y Reform]

Description: 1[?] Jan y 1810

Parl y Reform

1 '.4.

Ch.12. IV Bribery of [...?]

'.4.

'.4. Mischief to Bribe giver's mind

10

1

'.4. Mischief to the Bribe giver's mind.

{For shortness this section may vie with one /a chapter/ of Montesquieu.}

If the conduct of him by whom, for a vote /given/ on a particular occasion given, given in a "dry and sordid" shape is received as scandalous, need {the state of} his mind in respect thereof reputed /deemed and taken/ tainted and contaminated, the mind of him by whom the "dry and sordid matter" is administered, will not it is perceived be to be found in a state very distinguishably /clearly/ /in any very high degree/ different?

Of what quality so ever the effect be which is produced or endeavoured to be produced , the concurrence /action/ of both these agents is employed in or towards the production of it.

But the situation of the bribes being /is/ that of donor, and the situation of the person bribed /corrupted/ being that of one who at his hands has received /receives/ a benefit - the briber /corruptor/ the person in whose breast the design which is brought to bear originated being moreover the corruptor, the situation of the corrupted party seems in general to be considered as being of the two the most scandalous, that of the corrupt or the least scandalous.

Much however in this as in all other cases depends upon "greatness of character" and "height of situation": insomuch that, if in the case in question the predicament /behaviour/ of him to whom the bribe /matter of corruption/ is administered be of the two commonly deemed and taken to be the more scandalous, that of him by whom it is administered the less scandalous, and the "taint and contamination" of the mind less deep and dark coloured, it is only because, and therefore in so far as the person by whom the said matter of corruption is administered is more apt to belong to the class of great characters than to the class of humans[?], or other little ones.

JB_126_350.xml

Title: [22 Aug 1809 Parl y Reform Corruption]

Description: 22 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform

Corruption

3 Electors

Candidates

12?

 Held[?] J.B.'s opinion of such bribery - he thinks well of every body that committs it - he himself would have committed it.

Such being the species and degree of guilt if guilt it be to be called, on the part of the Elector by whom a bribe has been received in return for his vote, we are now in a condition /situation/ to view in its correct and proper point of view the guilt if such it be to be called, of the candidate the successful /successful or unsuccessful/ candidate by whom the bribe has been administered.

Whatsoever be the guilt of the bribed elector, the bribing candidate is let it be said apprized of that guilt: he is the procurer and in that sense the author, one /an/ author at least of that guilt. Whatsoever mischief is done by that vote, of the electors the candidate the procurer /purchaser/ of that vote is the author of that mischief. Whatever mischief is in his belief and opinion the consequence of that vote, he in that his belief and opinion is the author of that mischief.

But, except in the case where in placing himself in such seat his design is to place himself in a state of dependence under the Minister, in the opinion and belief the Member the /this bribing/ Candidate no mischief at all is done or can be done by such vote. No mischief but on the contrary /contrarywise/ good. Thus if in this case there be any thing to which the name of guilt can be with any propriety be applied - how [...?] and evanescent, at the utmost, must it not be?