date

11 Aug 1809 Parl y Reform B
11 Aug 1809

Parl y Reform

B[?].III Duration

Ch. 2. Objections

3

2

6. By means of this and the other proposed arrangements, and in particular those for the exclusion of placemen the power of the Crown taken in the aggregate would be to such a degree curtailed that the supposed [...?] Monarchy would in the first instance be but a Monarchy in name, and might at any time cease to be so even in name, converted as it might at any time be into an avowed Commonwealth.

To the list of these objections the assurest[?] attention has been bestowed in the view of rendering it as compleat as possible. I proceed /Proceed we/ now to the consideration of them one by one.
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    Description: 11 Aug 1809 +

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    B[?].III Duration

    Ch. 2. Objections

    2

    1

    To this duration of duration /a length of duration thus short/ heads of objection have been or might be opposed.

    1. By the inordinately frequent narrowness of the process of election, the nation /country/ would be kept in a state of perpetual ferment.

    2. The government would thus be thrown altogether into the hands of the great body of the people: who, howsoever they may be desirous of [...?] on every occasion their own interest, are incapable of possessing a right comprehension of it.

    3. By reason of the instability and precariousness of its duration the administrative body, or the Minister (no matter what term be employed) would be incapable of obtaining from any foreign power /foreign powers/ the degree of confidence necessary to their engaging in treaties with us. /our own./

    4. The arrangement there proposed does not go far enough to be conformable to the principle on which it is grounded: for if the running counter to the opinion and will of his constituents is a sufficient reason for the dismissal of them /discharge of this their trustee/, the arrangements established ought to be such as would put it in their power to discharge him immediately, as soon as the supposed breach of trust on his part has been committed.

    5. The dissolution of Parliament being upon this plan an event which with such regular frequency would be taking place of itself, the prerogative under the King now is and would still remain /be/ nominally in possession of in relation to that point, would be so much curtailed, as to be in effect nearly abolished.
  • Title: [13 Aug 1809 Parl y. Reform]
    Description: 13 Aug 1809

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    Ch. 6. 4. Inconsistency

    5

    Even in a Commonwealth I mean the Anglo American Commonwealth - no such occasional re-elections have place, nor yet, from the want of them have any inconveniences - any at least that I ever heard of - been experienced.

    All the while periodial re-elections do not in the nature of the case /things/ oppose any necessary bar to occasional ones. Both might exist together: as in the constitution of the East India Company, subordinate rulers over 40 or 50 million of human beings in Hindostan, there are quarterly courts, and at the requisition of a certain number of members [...?] extraordinary, that is occasional Courts.

    But of the inconveniences that in the case of home-government seem attracted to occasional meetings of constituents in contradistinction to periodical ones, mention has been already.
  • Title: [13 Aug 1809 + Parl y Reform]
    Description: 13 Aug 1809 +

    Parl y Reform

    B.III Duration

    Ch. 8. 6 Republicanism

    [...?] nothing new therefore so republicanism

    Ch.8. Objection the 6 th. The effect /result/ of this arrangement would be to destroy the monarchy: changing the form of government in effect to a Republic

    On the present occasion this objection must be brought forward: why? because on every recourse[?] /on that /the/ side in question/ it is seen to be brought forward.

    To the present purpose what might seem /is/ sufficient to say, is that to this particular arrangement to this particular part of the plan of reform, it has not any particular application: whatsoever may be the regard due to it it applies to the whole.

    Whatsoever article /feature/ /part/ takes any thing from the power which the advisers of the Crown, open and secret together have of doing mischief, by this feature takes so much from the power of the Crown is indisputably taken away - and [...?] in compleat annihilation of the power of the crown to be the object which I know it not to be with any one, and am sure it is not with me. Whatsoever part of the power of the Crown be taken away, so much as that power[?] amounts to, so much is the advance made toward state [...?] and [...?].