date

1818 Sept. 25. Parl. Reform Bill
1818 Sept. 25.

Parl. Reform Bill

VI.

Reasons 3 o.

'.2 Electors Who

Universality

VI. Aptitude is comparative

8

V.1

15 On the occasion here in question, in the situation of Elector in the consideration of appropriate aptitude the question being in what hands the power in question shall be lodged must be included - not only absolute aptitude, that is to say aptitude with reference to {the accomplishment of} the above {great and universal} end, but moreover comparative aptitude, aptitude with relation /reference/ to any and every other set of hands in which the power in question might by possibility be lodged: in one word any rival set of hands.

V.2.

16. Members of any other /foreign/ community out of the question - these rival hands will /either/ be the hands either of a Monarch, those of an Aristocratical body, or of a Democratical body in any degree less extensive than the body in whose hands it would be lodged by /under/ the here proposed system of virtually universal suffrage.
Similar Items
  • Title: [1818 Sept. 26 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Sept. 26

    Parl Reform Bill

    VI

    Reasons 3 o

    '.2 Electors Who

    13

    24. The following are The sets of hands which with reference to that prescribed by the principle of virtually universal suffrage may be considered as a rival hands, claiming the each of them the exclusive possession of the faculty of electing the Members of the Commons House endowed with those powers with which at present it is endowed are these /the following/. 1. The hands of a Monarch. 2. The hands of an aristocratical body corporate consisting at all times of a determinate set of members such for example as the House of Lords: 3 the hands of the proprietors of seats {temporary and permanent proprietors included} whether Members or not Members of the House of Lords temporary and permanent proprietors {included}, and whether become so /such/ by gift /inheritance/ or purchase included. After addition made of the few instances in which seats are filled by a nomination made directly by the Crown, to wit by the Monarch or his Ministers, this may be stated as the set of hands in which the faculty of filling the seats in question is at present lodged. 4. persons possessed of property in this or that shape to a certain amount, and in that respect considered /spoken of/ as possessing a primary qualification. 5. Householders: persons having at the time of voting, been for a certain term in possession /the occupation/ of a dwelling called for this purpose a House.

    Of these two last sets the comparative incompetency will be shewn further on under these two /two correspondent/ heads.

    25 Active talent being in this case needless and thence out of the question, it the following consideration may suffice to shew, that in respect of appropriate probity and appropriate intellectual aptitude taken together, and thence in respect of aggregate appropriate aptitude in comparison of and in preference to the set of Electors prescribed by the principle of virtually universal suffrage, of no one of the three firstmentioned set of Electors can the claims be respectively supported.
  • Title: [1818 Sept. 29 Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Sept. 29

    Parl. Reform Bill

    3 o

    Reasons

    §.2. Electors Who

    3

    {§.14. Untimeliness of the supposition of such a deficiency of comparative

    intellectual aptitude on the part of virtually universal suffrage men is to render

    vesting of the choice in the hands of a Monarch or an aristocracy less mischievous,

    notwithstanding {their} any deficiency in the articles of probity.}

    {VI. Probity, its deficiency in all but actually universal suffrage men.

    VII. Consequence of this deficiency constant […?] purposely &[?]

    sympathetic[?] to self-regarding interest}

    VIII. Sympathy no sufficient counterpoise to self regarding interest Insert or rather

    discard?

    { IX. II Intellectual aptitude }
  • Title: [1818 Sept. 25. Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Sept. 25.

    Parl. Reform Bill

    Reasons 3 o

    '.2 Electors Who

    Universality

    9

    V.3

    17. By /Under/ the system of universal suffrage, taken without any limitation, the persons in whose hands the powers in question would be lodged would be /are/ all the numbers of the community in question, whatsoever without any exception: persons of the female sex and non-adults, even those but just born /new-born infants/ not excepted.

    V.4

    18 Under the system of virtually universal suffrage, the persons in whose hands the power in question would be lodged are all those /such/ persons the aggregate interest of whom is regarded as not being in so far short of being co-extensive with the aggregate interest of the whole community as that in the situation in question in respect of such difference of interest, their conduct is in danger of being on any occasion adverse to that same aggregate interest.