date

1818 Oct. 4 Parl. Reform Bill
1818 Oct. 4

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons 3 o

'.2. Electors Who

Universality

1

5

{11} /12/. That which an /All that a Parliamentary/ Elector has to do as such, being to concurr in /contribute to/ the choice of a Parliamentary /House of Commons/ Representative, appropriate aptitude on the part of the Elector is neither more nor less than aptitude to make a choice of an appropriately apt Representative of a person who in the situation of House of Commons Representative of the people shall be endowed with those several elementary qualities which bear reference to that situation. These qualities will be found comprizable, all of them under the following heads, viz. 1. appropriate probity; 2. appropriate intellectual aptitude; 3. appropriate active talent.

12. In regard to active talent, of the two corresponding situations it is only to /in/ that of Representative that this quality applies /has place/. In the situation of Representative in what strength and variety as well as strength this quality is requested, is sufficiently obvious. {In the situation of /case of the/ Elector the only visible /externally perceptible/ act which the situation /function admitts of being that of giving expression to one most simple wish: the choice made by him, no active talent is on his part requisite /in this situation requisite/ of any higher order than that which has with little difficulty be given to /has been given to individuals belonging to/ several species of the inferior animals. (a)}

In regard to the two other points, difference of situation allowed for, the names of the qualities requisite will in the situation of the Elector be the same as in the situation of the Representative.

Draughtsmans Note transferible to tit. Ballot

In respect to morality as well as time it might be no small saving if instead of human beings calling /stated/ themselves Christians the votes of which in the quality of Terrorist or Bribe-giver or Seat-donor[?] a proposed Member has at his command were to be given by a learned dog, or learned pig: by whom the necessary sign had been learned: a still greater if by an automaton, or a puppet, the wires of which were pulled by his Agent.
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    Before the course of my enquiries had led me to any such inquiry as that into the pretensions of the Whigs, I had found /seen/ /felt/ the necessity of fixing my own conceptions respecting the mental endowments or qualifications necessary to the due discharge of the functions belonging to this most important of all offices for the purpose of the enquiry by what means the possession of them might be most effectually secured, and the means of judging to /in/ what degree they were secured at present, and if not sufficiently by what new means they might be more effectually secured.

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