date

30 Aug 1809 Parl. y Reform.
30 Aug 1809

Parl. y Reform.

Table of Ends and Means: viz 1 in the order of the Ends: 2. in d o of the Means

I Ends first - their means. & End

1. Securing Probity in the Members

Means to ends.

1. Placemen’s Votes extended.

2. Elections universal

3. Speeches correctly compleatly, authentically and constantly taken down and

published.

4. Attendance (viz. of all alike secured in an encreased degree) viz. by authentic

publication of speeches and annuality of Parliaments.

5. On the part of Electors, fitness for judging the conduct of Members encreased:

viz. by publication given as above to the speeches of Members.

6. Members and other Candidates prevented from bribing; Electors from being bribed:

viz. 1. Home-voters by their voting by ballot, i.e. in

secret: 2. Out Voters by their voting by letter, thence without expence of journeys &c.

7. Members rendered less corruptible by being exonerated of expence, as per N o 6.

End II

II Securing intelligence on the part of the Members.

Means to End II

1. To an additional means of Placemen viz from the Subordinate Boards &c

right of Speech and d o of Motion given.

2. Speeches published as above.

3. Attendance - regularity and generality of it secured in an encreased degree, as

above.

4. Elections annual: thence yearly opportunity of substituting more intelligent to

less intelligent Members.

Addition III Securing Active talent.

1. Speeches published, as above.

2. Attendance secure, as above.

3. Electors good point[?] strengthened

End III

III. Reducing expence and vexation in Elections.

Means to End III

1. Home-voters to vote by ballot: thence no Candidate can expect benefits by bribery.

2. Out votes, by letter, free from expence, as above.

End IV.

Reducing expence, vexation and delay, of Election

Judicature.

Means to End IV

1. Voting by ballot and letter the candidate knowing by whom the votes in favour of

his competitor have been given, none will have any inducement for contesting votes.

I

II. Means first - their Uses

(direct) i.e. in the character of Means with reference to

one or more of the above Ends.

I Voting - Home-votes by ballot.

Contributing to secure probity on the part of Members: viz. by rendering it not worth

candidates while to begin[?] corruption: votes not being to be secured by bribery.

2. Rendering the vote free: i.e. saving it from being pro-[?] by influence of will

over will.

3. Reducing expence and vexation viz.[?] to Members and unsuccessful Candidates.

II. Voting - Out votes, by letter: Uses (direct)

1. Reducing expence and vexation: viz to Members and unsuccessful candidates

2. Reducing expence and vexation: viz. to Electors themselves.

3. Reducing the danger of improbity on the part of Members: viz. the number of

out-voters not forming so considerable a part of the whole as to render bribery

eligible: especially when the seat is but for a year.

III. Exclusion of Placemen’s Votes

Uses

1. Rendering the danger of improbity, viz. in the shape of undue obsequiousness to

the Crown on the part of Members.

IV. Admitting Speech and Motion on

the part not only of the existing placemen, but of others from the Boards,

&c.

Uses (direct)

1. Contributing to secure encrease of intelligence on the part of the Members.

Collateral uses.

1. Contributing to secure encrease of probity on the part

of the placemen thus subjected to continual examination

/scrutiny/.

2. Contributing to secure encrease of intelligence in d o by the encreased obligation of understanding the business.

3. Contributing to secure Encrease of intelligence on the part of succeeding ones, by

rendering the situation formidable to incapable ones.

4. Contributing to secure an Encrease of probity on the part of the superordinate

placemen, viz. by exposing improbity to the nation[?] on the part of their

subordinates.

5. Contributing to secure encrease of intelligence on the part of d o: viz. by encreasing the stock of information habitually or casually laid

before them.

II

II. Means first their Uses (continued)

V. Parliaments Annual /Elections Annual/-ly renewed.

Uses (direct)

1 Contributing to secure encrease of probity on the part of

the Members: viz. by apprehension of dismissal in case of improbity.

2 Contributing to secure encrease of intelligence and

active talent on the part of the Members: viz. by apprehension of speedy dismissal in

case of lack of intelligence, and frequent renewal of competition between candidates:

who when seated will be ashamed[?] of constant inefficiency and silent[?] votes.

3. Contributing to secure encrease of probity on the part of Members, by making it

not worth a Minister’s while to give in the shape of a place to any of their

connections any considerable bribe for such short service.

4. Contributing to secure encrease of d o on the part of d o in respect of the application of the matter of corruption to the

purchase of bribing Electors viz. by making it not worth their while to bestow much

money foe power of so short a continuance.

5. Contributing to secure encrease of probity on the part of Members in respect of

that branch of probity which consists in punctuality of attendance - viz. in

execution of their trust.
Similar Items
  • Title: [30 Aug 1809 Parl. y Reform.]
    Description: 30 Aug 1809

    Parl. y Reform.

    Table of Ends and Means: viz. 1 in the Order of the Ends. 2. in d o of y e Means

    III.

    Means first – their Uses continued

    VI. Speeches correctly compleatly and authentically taken down and regularly

    published.

    Uses (direct)

    1. Contributing to secure probity on the part of Members:

    viz. by rendering[?] each man permanently responsible to the tribunal of public

    opinion, and in particular to his Electors for every thing done or said by him in

    parliament.

    2. Contributing to secure existence and encrease of intelligence on the part of Members, viz. in so far as depends upon such

    exertions as would naturally be made by each man to preserve himself from contempt

    and to secure esteem on the part of the readers of each his speeches and in

    particular on the part of his Electors.

    3 Contributing to secure the existence of active talent of intelligence on the part of Members – viz. by keeping out all such as are to

    a certain degree deficient in that respect: persons seen /a person in whose instance/

    unfitness in this respect were made manifest, whether by the badness of their /his/

    speeches[?] or the constancy of their /his/ silence could be kept out either by their

    consciousness /his self consciousness/ of his deficiency, or by the promise

    entertained of it by rival Candidates and by his Electors.

    IV.

    Means first – their Uses continued.

    VI. Speeches correctly &c. published

    (continuation.)

    Uses continued.

    Collateral Uses.

    4 Contributing to secure the existence and encrease of appropriate intelligence on

    the part of Electors: who would thus, each of them in so far as it pleased him to

    make use of them be in possession of a correct and compleat stock of the grounds

    necessary to his forming a correct judgment of the probity of each his Representative

    from the part taken by him when silent, and of his probity and intelligence both in

    so far as he has taken part in the Debates.

    5. In the case of a Bill sent up from the Commons to the Lords, furnishing the Lords with a correct and compleat representation expressive

    of all reasons /arguments/ brought forward in the Commons House in will in opposition

    to, or in support of the measure: thence contributing to receive relative and

    appropriate intelligence on the part of the Members of the Upper House.

    6. Furnishing the means of detecting and successfully counteracting the influences of

    those rhetorical fallacies and sophisms the efficiency of which depends upon the […?]

    of the time responsible for examination /scrutiny/ and reflection.

    V.

    Means first – their Uses continued

    VII. Attendance regularity and generality of it secured in an

    encreased degree.

    I. Means

    1. Recordation of the names of the Members attending and voting, voting on which side

    and d o non-attending, on each day, and on the occasion of each

    debated point: publication of d o along with the speeches.

    2. Elections annual, as above: thence yearly opportunity of substituting diligent to

    idle representatives: idleness experienced and published as above will be operated at

    each election as an invitation to competitors.

    3. Should the above means prove inadequate, {exaction of a deposited sum a two} a sum

    to be deposited by each Member in the hands of an officer of the House; a

    proportionable part to be taken back on each attendance.

    II. Uses (direct)

    1 Contributing to secure encrease of probity on the part of the House taken in the

    aggregate. At present, in the future of the corrupt and dependent part of the House

    attendance is secured by inducements, the application of which extends not to the

    independent Members.

    2 Contributing to secure encrease of probity, as above: viz in cases where, so long

    as the Member is in attendance, the nature of the question, compared with the

    circumstances of the person will be understood to impose on him the obligation of

    declaring his sentiments: which sentiments will be published, as above in his own

    words.

    3 Contributing to secure encrease of intelligence: the more frequent a man’s

    attendance, the greater his experience, the greater his experience the greater his

    expertness in his business.

    VI.

    Means first – their Uses continued

    VIII Electors – their number encreases in every electoral

    district, except those which are already on the footing of Counties or Open

    boroughs.

    Uses. (direct)

    1. Contributing to their encrease of probity on the part of

    Members: viz. by contributing to encrease the difficulty viz. the vexation and

    expence attached to the problem of bribery: the advantage of /derivable from/ it

    being reduced to nothing by the proposed concealment of the votes, the proposed

    shortness of the time for which a seat is holding and the proposed exclusion of

    placemen from the right of voting in the House.

     28 Jan y 1817

    Add

    1 Number of Members in the House: which gives[?] of 4 Different part[?]

    2. Number of Electoral Deposits.

    3.
  • Title: [15 Nov r 1809 Parliament y Reform]
    Description: 15 Nov r 1809

    Parliament y Reform Plan – Chapters and Sections proposed.

    { Book I. Concerning the House and its Members.

    Ch.1. Art. 1. Qualification and Disqualifications

    §.1. Members why first considered before Electors

     This perhaps in a preliminary part?

    §.2. Primary qualifications

    1. Probity. 2. Intelligence.

    Say probity not […?] prudence.

    §.3. Secondary qualifications their connections with primary qualifications and with

    disqualifications.

    §.4. Disqualifications in general.

    §.5 Pecuniary qualifications or rather disqualifications.

    Ch.2. Art. 2. Disqualification by office, so far as concerns the right of voting

    Ch.3. Art.2. Military Officers by Sea and Land why exempted from the disqualification

    in respect of the right of voting.

    Ch.4. Art.4. Rights of speach and motion with leave of the House why proposed to be

    given to the official men now admitted and to their[?] officers[?]

    §.1.

    Ch.5. Art.5. Of the Attendance of Members

    §.1. General and regular attendance why desirable

    §.2. Means of securing attendance /it/

    Ch.6. Art.6.

    Publication, correct, compleat, prompt and authentic, of speeches of Members and

    transactions of the House.

    Ch.7. Art.7. Continuance of Members in Office – Elections annual.

    §.1.

    Book II. Concerning Electors

    Ch. 8

    Art.8. Mode of voting.

    §.1. For Home-voters, the secret mode.

    Ch.9. Art 9.

    §.1. For out-voters, the epistolary mode.

    §.2. For Out voters, proxies sent to Home-Voters.

    Ch.10.

    Art.10. Qualification for the right of voting

    §.1. Disqualification

    §.2. Qualification viz. by payment of taxes

    §.3. Document for proof of the qualification

    Ch.11. Art.11. Pecuniary qualification – its amount

    Book 3. Concerning Electoral Districts

    Ch.12. Art.12.

    Electoral districts

    how to be marked out.

     One Member only for each Deposit.
  • Title: [12 Aug 1809 Parl Reform Qualification]
    Description: 12 Aug 1809

    Parl Reform Qualification of Electors

    Case in which all Electors by pursuing each his own interest (in respect of the

    choice of Representative) might yet counteract the interest of the whole candidate is

    a rule powerful – each Elector so poor that he is forced to give up his lasting to

    his […?] interests, the Candidate bribes him with his own money.

    Remedy – Check the duration of Representatives situation so short that viz[?] that it

    shall not be worth his while to employ bribery

    No one permanent class of men whose interests are

    constantly and habitually sacrificed. No Helots[?] – No slaves &c

    But the less opulent a variable description of men are habitually sacrificed to more

    opulence

    Remedies against Corruption from[?] the course[?] – in addition to d o against bribery at large

    1. Keeping the matter of bribery in excess out of the hands of the Commons this is

    now[?] become impossible

    2. Keeping it from being applied to the Judges over […?] in such manner as to

    influence their judicial conduct: this the only recourse.

    Remedies against bribery at large

    1. Electors numerous – bribery the[?] expence

    2. Duration of Parliament short – bribery not worth while

    3. Voting epistolary: thence occasion of expence over portion for bribery

    /corruptive/ expence lessened

    4. Voting by ballot: the /each man’s/ right being previously established

    5. Annuality: the seat not worth bribing for.

    On the supposition of universal suffrage each Elector could not do wrong if

    independently of any sinister interest that might be employed to influence his vote

    he pursued his own interest and that his permanent interest – his having a a compleat

    and correct conception of that interest.

    Wealth comes under consideration

    1. as being possessed or receivable by an Elector.

    2. as being possessed by a person possessing an influence either over the will or the

    understanding of an Elector.

    When an Elector feels himself incapable of forming any judgment on the merits of a

    Candidate any the slightest neat[?] packet of personal advantage will be sufficient

    to determine him: and if he sees no such advantage he will not give himself the

    trouble of going to vote.

    He sees no mischief that can ensue from his acceptance of a bribe: I[?]

    And it does not follow that because a man will accept a bribe on ordinary occasions,

    he will on every occasion ... where he feels himself capable of forming a judgment.

    { Corruption from /by/ individuals much less mischievous than d o

    by the Crown.

    {Bribery} /Corruption/ of Electors by the Crown is no further of mischievous than as

    it determines them to choose a Representative who would be corrupted by the Crown,

    but this result may be considered as certain

    Corruption of Electors by individuals is no further mischievous than as it

    determines them to choose a representative who would be comparatively unfit either by

    want of probity or intelligence

    A representative can never of himself produce in parliament any mischievous result,

    to do so he must have on the question in question a majority on his side.

    But by selling himself to the Crown he may not on each question /proposition/

    supposed by the crown contribute to the success of that measure but he may moreover

    get a measure in which he has a sinister interest carried for him by the Crown. }

    {The only corruption therefore which is seriously formidable is that in which

    mediately or immediately the Crown is the corrupter.}

    {Duration short loses.

    1. Making bribery not worth a lot (viz. occasional but the Crown is a permanent

    briber)

    2. Preservation of Members probity Not worth while to plan

    the […?] of a Member, when the fellow[?] may be ousted from it the next year

    3. Promoting intelligence on the part of Members, by making them ashamed of […?]

    & silent votes.

    4. In case of frequent change producing competition, emulating[?] intent[?]

    5. Securing Members attendance.}

    In the hands of an electors advisor, wealth considered as an index of superior

    probity and intelligence may serve to guard him against wealth administered to him by

    means of corruption.

    In the case of Electors probity is no otherwise of use viz. to himself as to that of

    fellow subjects – than in so far as it is accompanied by intelligence in so far as he

    acts under the guidance of intelligence

    The intelligence under the guidance of which he acts may be his own or borrowed.

    In so far as he is free and pure

    an Elector, if conscious of inability to judge for himself will borrow a judgment of

    the person or persons whom he looks upon as best qualified to give it

    Instruction is of no […?] where men are steeled against it by sinister interest

    If Elenboro’ and Percival had their will there would be no

    more liberty in England than in France. Their power to this

    purpose is but suspended.

    Voting Epistolary

    Advantages

    1. Electors in many districts may vote in all without trouble or expence.