date

[Copyist's hand] 1818 July 30
[Copyist's hand]

1818 July 30

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons

II. Electors who

Universality

Property bad qualification

Reading better

10

8

10

10

and that, unless the quantity required be so small the supposed security compleatly nugatory, that no more than a very small part of this whole number can ever be in possession of it is altogether certain.

Apply this argument to the case of Householdership though quantities may be more or less different, the conclusion will be the same.

So likewise in the case of qualification by payment of taxes: meaning always direct Taxes without which nothing is meant. If this qualification does not exactly coincide with that of Householdership the operation of it will be to give a still further extension to the operation of a cause, by which the content of the right is narrowed. Such will be the effect in so far as they are persons, who, though they are Householders pay nothing to the direct Taxes.
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    1818 July 30

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    So much as to appropriate probity - now as to appropriate intellectual aptitude.

    That reading goes to this point and that in the most direct /immediate/ way is altogether Manifest. That if at all it is only in an unimmediate way that property tends to this same point is equally manifest.

    So likewise to Householdership this same observation will be seen to apply with equal truth.

    So likewise to payment of Taxes.

    What is more, only through the medium of reading can the tendency on question exert itself in the instance of any one of those supposed securities for appropriate intellectual aptitude.
  • Title: [1818 Oct. 26 Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Oct. 26

    Parl. Reform Bill

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    '.2 Electors Who

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    Where taxedness in respect of direct taxes has been brought /propos/ in the character of a necessary qualification, it is not by itself alone that it has been proposed in that character, but in company with householdership. By householdership alone the degree /on the scale/ of affluence supposed /endeavoured/ to be secured was not regarded /thought/ as high enough: to raise it, recourse was had to the supplemental qualification of taxedness. But if affluence, with the addition of householdership, is but one indifferent test and measure of aptitude - of appropriate aptitude in any of its forms - let even taxedness be added the test is not much mended. Affluence itself is no proof of aptitude: householdership of itself is no proof of affluence: add taxedness, still householdership and taxedness put together compose not any proof. By a man's having made payment to the tax say say a quarters tax say half a years tax - all the affluence of which /proved by/ such payment is so much as the payment so made amounts to, and when this payment is made, even this affluence is gone: gone, and for any thing that can be known has left nothing behind it.

    But in regard to taxedness, the tax being a direct one all that the law can do on the instance of any man the law can do is to call upon him to make payment of the tax: of his paying it /actually making the payment/ when the time came for making it no law can make sure: for no law can make sure of any man's abilities to make the payment. What the law may indeed do is - to provide that if at the time for giving the vote, payment to tell[?] the tax /taxes/ in all its /their/ forms has not been made no vote shall be given: but in this case, as what may very well happen is - that by the very expedient which has been employed to secure the wished for affluence, all /the/ affluence has been destroyed.
  • Title: [1818 Oct. 25 + A 1 Parl. Ref. Bill]
    Description: 1818 Oct. 25 + A 1

    Parl. Ref. Bill

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    '.2 Electors Who

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    Question - Why not seek to establish payment of taxes to this or that amount in the character of a sufficient or a necessary qualification?

    Like proprietorship and householdership, this of taxedness {may be made or not made a necessary qualification:} {being} /if/ made a necessary qualification, {it} may be accepted as sufficient of itself, or it may be accepted as not sufficient of itself, not sufficient unless enjoined with such or such others.

    {2 All these are either indirect or direct or indirect taxedness is therefore either taxedness in respect of direct tax is taxedness in respect of indirect taxes. For simplicity sake let taxedness in respect of indirect taxes be first disposed of.}

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    Indirect taxes are taxes imposed upon the creator /maker/ of the article, in its way to him by whom it is converted to use. Of these articles the matter of sustenance /meat drink/ and cloathing are the principal. But all known beings employ food /meat drink/ and cloathing: and in England all articles of meat drink /sustenance/ and cloathing, even water not absolutely excepted is somehow as often taxed. This being so, let taxedness be necessary in respect of indirect taxes, no harm is done. Let taxedness in respect of this sum out of taxes be rendered sufficient, then not only virtually universal suffrage but literally universal suffrage is established.