date

1818 Nov. 27 C Parl. Reform Bill
1818 Nov. 27 C

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons

{'.1 Seats} & Districts

'.2 Electors Who

Universality

Exclusions

& Non Readers

12

1

Question 1. Are there no other persons on whom the /this/ here-proposed plan puts an exclusion?

 Or else say. Why is an exclusion put upon non-readers?

{Answer. Yes: two others: to wit

1. Non-readers: persons not possessed of the faculty of reading: of reading printed books and papers, printed in the language of the country.

2. In certain circumstances, persons subject to military command: such as Soldiers, Seamen in government service, Artillery-men and even Militia men.}

Question 2. On what ground is it that Non-readers are proposed to be excluded? How is it that by an exclusion applied to these cases the principle of virtually universal suffrage would not be contravened?

Answer. The excluding of Non-Readers is the necessary result of, or rather is in other words the same thing with, the requiring /numbering/ the possession of this faculty among the circumstances the [...?] of which on the part of a proposed voter is rendered necessary /a qualification/ to his admission to that right /in that character/.

The reasons why the possession of this endowment is required will appear in their place. {On} /What belongs to/ the present occasion is - to observe, that by the requisition[?] thus made, notwithstanding the eventual exclusion which if it be efficacious can not but be involved in it, the description of the person admitted to the exercise of that right is not in effect narrowed [...?] as will be seen at the expence of no greater quantity of time and labour than is /will be/ at the command of every individual with scarce one exception, it will depend upon himself to put himself in possession of this endowment, a highly beneficent and desirable on other accounts.
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  • Title: [1818 March 29 Parl. Ref. Bill]
    Description: 1818 March 29

    Parl. Ref. Bill

    Reasons

    II Electors Who

    Reading Qualification

    Reasons

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    {2}. Of /From[?]/ those who, in so far as the faculty of reading will, /would,/ under the proposed system of reform, be applied to the purpose of forming their respective opinions, in relation to proposed Candidates for seats and possession of seats, and thence in relation to public measures in general, had rather this faculty should not be possessed, - even of these there will be not a few, in whose eyes the possession of it would be a most beneficial endowment, in so far as it should come to be applied to the reading of the Bible. At no inconsiderable expence, by the munificence of pious charity, are copies of the Bible distributed either gratuitously or at an under price. But by any /no/ such donation, can any the smallest good effect, either in the way of [...?] of party[?], or in any other way ever be produced, but in proportion as the subject of it finds its way to cope by which this faculty is possessed. neither by this, nor by any other means could any addition be made to the number of persons capable /able/ to read, but an equal addition would be made to the number of persons capable of reading the Bible:- capable of making their profit of the boon so zealously pressed into every hand that can be prevailed as /upon/ to receive it.

    Thus by universal suffrage thus modified, there is not only good government, but increase in the same proportion good religion served and promoted: not only present but future universal interest: not temporal only but everlasting happiness.

    {3}. Are there any persons in whose eyes no clear benefit net profit is likely to be derived either by reading for the purpose of voting at Parliamentary Elections or by reading the Bible? still among those persons there may be some in whose eyes such net profit might and would be derived from the faculty of reading, on the supposition that it would be applied to this or that other purpose. In all such eyes the collateral benefit that would be produced by the proposed institution in question, by the extent /extension/ that would thus be given to the faculty of reading could not but be placed to the account of advantage, and operate as a reason {pleading} in support of it.
  • Title: [1818 July 28 +. '.2. Reasons]
    Description: 1818 July 28 +. '.2.

    Reasons

    '.2. Electors Who

    '.3. [...?] [...?]

    Universality

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    Objection Complication[?]

    Reading better than hearing.

    1

    {4. No ideas can be fixt by one discourse without reading

    6. Complication new: viz. in the mode /form/ of law proposed.

    7. Nicks verse - evasion practicable in that case - not in this

    9. Establishment without instruction: instruction without establishment. And where are Establishment Waste [...?]}

    {Against the admission this proposed qualification I have had occasion to observe symptoms of reluctance: my endeavours to collect specific grounds for this reluctance have not been very successful.}

    Objection Respecting the appropriate aptitude of a proposed {member} /voter/ all you insist upon it has been said to me as a derivative judgment. But on this subject a judgment of this sort is not incapable of being formed on the ground of conversation alone and without reading. The conclusion is - reading /the faculty/ is not necessary.

    Answer. True it is that, in a certain way to form in relation to the subject in question a judgment of the derivative kind, on the ground of conversation alone and without reading, is not impossible. For a further concession, add, no nor even a self-formed Judgement. But he whose means are in relation to both /these modes /sources/ of/ judgments confined to conversation alone, is he in respect of appropriate aptitude altogether upon a par with him who is in possession of both? No, surely: if not then so it /the conclusion/ is that by this observation no sufficient argument against the qualification in question is opposed: opposed, or can be unless from the requisition of this qualification some specific evil can be shown to be produced: some specific evil, and that, in relation to the benefits, collateral as well as direct, attached to this same qualification /endowment/, a preponderant one.
  • Title: [1818 April 27 + Parl. Reform Proposed]
    Description: 1818 April 27 +

    Parl. Reform Proposed Resolutions

    Concluding Details

    1

    {  This to be substituted to the commencement of the Resolutions of Detail as they

    stand in a former draught }

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    ar 1. That for the production and application of the

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