date

1818 Dec. r 11 ┴ Parl. Reform Bill
1818 Dec. r 11 ┴

Parl. Reform Bill

Principles

Beginning

§.1. Misrule when necessary

21

Anti-Reformist. True, if in the choice of the several integral and particular

confederated interests the confederates are wise: {wise though it be only in their

own generation that they are so wise.}

But may it not be /happen/ that they are unwise? In the choice of his own personal

interest, in a case where no other person’s interest is at state every man is apt to

be unwise: every man acting for himself by himself: and therefore with at least

equal, not to say greater probability every man while thus acting for himself, in a

confederacy with the others acting for themselves.

Reformist. Doubtless. But to allow /admitt/ this possibility is no more than to

allow that wisdom, perfect wisdom, belongs not to our[?] imperfect creatures

But the question here is – not concerning an absolutely and perfectly good

government and form of government, for that is unattainable: his only concerning[?] a

comparatively good government: the objects of comparison being on the one part /hand/

Monarchy, or Aristocracy, or both together, on the other part /hand/ Representative

Democracy with virtually universal suffrage /a scheme of representation, far[?]

/real/ and adequate/.

The sacrifice thus supposed to be made by a deficiency in the article of wisdom –

this sacrifice of real to imaginary to erroneously imagined interest is incident to

every man, and therefore to every form of government.
Similar Items
  • Title: [1819 Jan. 2 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1819 Jan. 2

    Parl Reform Bill

    Dialogue III

    {Preliminary View}

    Evils & Remedies

    II Remedies

    1. Miselection

    2. Electors

    {13}

    {8}

    Anti Reformist. Well – now I understand how, according to you, the possibility of

    obtaining the fittest representatives that are to be had is raised to the greatest

    height by leaving to all persons, almost without exception the capacity of being

    elected into that office. It remains for you to explain to me on what ground it is

    that you expect that same result to be promoted, by leaving to all persons with

    almost as little exception, the capacity of acting with reference to that same

    offence in the character of Electors: - to shew in a word how the probability of

    obtaining the worthiest man possible for representative is encreased is raised to its

    maximum by imparting the faculty of choi to /placing the choice in the hands of/ the

    most worthless of mankind.

    Reformist Your language is strong and pointed: if it were equally clear, I know not

    what I should have to say for myself.

    In the first place, here as before let me observe to you, so far as regards voting,

    the most worthless of mankind will be harmless so long as they are outvoted by others

    to whom no incompetence[?] can be objected. In every district, out of 4000 voters

    give /allow/ me 2001 unexceptionable men, I allow you 1999 most worthless men, or if

    you please /it be any advantage to you/ the same number of devils.

    Anti-Reformist. Your liberality is most exemplary. But the devils – what assurance

    can you have /produce/, that instead of the 1999, they may not, and even in the

    greatest number of districts amount to the 2001?

    Reformist. None at all /Very little/. But, have the goodness to observe that it was

    only for your accommodation, that I made you so liberal an allowance in the article

    of devils. For my part, upon earth at least, I know of no such beings, any more than

    of angels.
  • Title: [1819 May 25 Defence of | | Ballot]
    Description: 1819 May 25

    Defence of | | Ballot

    Objection 1. Ought ergo will

    3

    4

    Is not this already enough? look a little closer. More maxims of like wisdom included /behold them/ in this one. No man ought to have any regard for his own interest, therefore no man will have. Every man ought to be ready on every occasion to sacrifice his interest to that of the public: therefore so every man is. Every man ought to be ready on every occasion to sacrifice the interest of himself and family, be it ever so great and certain to the interest of the public be it ever so minute and questionable: therefore so he is. /will be./
  • Title: [1818 Dec. 21 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Dec. 21

    Parl Reform Bill

    Dialogue II

    Election Evils

    {20}

    1

    Inserendumne?[?]

    Dialogue 2 o. {Evils and remedies} – Evils /What evils there are/

    to be guarded against: {what remedies are for that purpose proposed to be provided

    Anti-Reformist. Well, so it is – I am in[?] computation[?] of interest. I am in[?]

    disposition[?] to make and to persevere in making the sinister sacrifice, and as to

    the time of so doing /making it/, that by the supposition is out of the question, it

    is unfortunately implied in the appellation of ratios. Here

    then is so much evil. But your own scheme this remedial[?] scheme of yours, think you

    that no evil is to be found in it?

    Reformist. The question you put is for form sake No such absurdity I am sure do you

    mean to impute to me. […?] Government is but a choice of evils. - Taking evil in a

    certain sense life itself – the very happiest life is but a choice of evils. Taken by

    itself, government is in every shape an […?] evil: government in my own proposed form

    of course as well as in any /every/ other.

    Anti-Reformist. You take me right. Accordingly with very little expence of thought,

    I could present you with evils in plenty to none of which you could yourself imagine

    your scheme of reform to be unexposed. But since this matter has been so well

    /thoroughly/ considered by you, the shortest way would be for you to give in[?] to

    produce your own list of these evils, with the remedies by which you regard yourself

    as having in a manner more or less effectual made provision against them. It would

    /will/ then be to be all along upon the watch for the purpose of satisfying myself in

    the first place whether your list of evils be a compleat one; in the next place how

    far your remedies afford a promise of being sufficient.