1
results found in
78 ms
Page 1
of 1
1818 Oct. 26
Parl. Reform Bill
Reasons
'.2 Electors Who
Univ.
III. Taxedness
9
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.
Similar Items
-
Title: [1818 Oct. 25 + A 1 Parl. Ref. Bill]Description: 1818 Oct. 25 + A 1 Parl. Ref. Bill Reasons ult '.2 Electors Who Universality III. Taxedness 1 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.} Note (a)? 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.
-
Title: [1818 Sept. 5. +.2. Parl. Reform Bill]Description: 1818 Sept. 5. +.2. Parl. Reform Bill Reasons ult o '.2. Electors Who 2 Householdership 1 1 Question Why not {seek to} establish Householdership in the character of a necessary qualification. Answer 1. Because in addition to the security afforded as above under virtual universality and compleat secrecy of suffrage by the impossibility of giving effect to any particular and sinister interest no other security is needed. Answer 2: Because in the case in question on the part of a proposed Voter it is not in the nature of Householdership, any more than of possession, any more than of the possession of property to afford any security for appropriate aptitude in any shape on the part of the Voter nor therefore for the right direction of his vote. True it is that, supposing the faculty of reading established in the character of a necessary qualification, so far as regards the fact of a man's being in possession of this faculty, householdership is if not an indispensable, at any rate, a highly useful security for its existence. For if upon the bare assertion by which the fact of a man's possessing the faculty in question he were admitted whether he were or were not a householder a person who whether for want of the faculty or for want of being competent in respect of age and sex were admitted to vote the want of a fixt residence might in case of falshood suffice to render him unpunishable. But under the proposed system for the substantiating of this fact the written evidence of no fewer than three other persons, each of them a Householder is made requisite. Thus it is that under this system all the case[?] capable of being made of householdership is actually made of it.
-
Title: [1818 Oct. 27 Parl. Reform Bill]Description: 1818 Oct. 27 Parl. Reform Bill '.2 Electors Who Universality III. Taxedness 7 4 If /When/ taxedness is to form the qualification, or a part of the qualification, behold another evil consequence. In the scale of encrease /altitude/ and decrease a line must be fixt /drawn/ somewhere a quantum determined /fixt upon/, by less than which the qualification shall not be afforded /constituted/: for if no such line be drawn, then will admission be given to a degree /quantum/ of affluence so low that no effect whatsoever can be produced by it. But let this line be drawn where it will, behold the consequence. One /This/ year or one quarter of a year, a man shall have a vote the quantum being by any cause [...?]: the next year /day of judgment/ the same man, even though occupying the same house shall have no vote: thus will man /the condition of man, of man/ and a[?] multitude be continually tossed about from the /that/ condition of voters to the condition /that/ of non-voters and back again, at best the sport of fortune, {or else and} more probably the victorious sport of despotism and scant[?] artifice, under the mask of fortune. Think of these vicissitudes: real aptitude whatsoever it may consist in, follows not any such vicissitudes.
1
results found.
Page 1
of 1