date

1819 Jan y 10 Dialogue Preliminary
1819 Jan y 10

Dialogue

Preliminary View

Evils & Remedies

II. Remedies

Miselection

I. through seduction

1. Coercive } Will

2. Seductive }

3. Deceptive – Understanding

4

41

{

*32}

Anti-Reformist. Well – such was the armour you have provided for the heart of your

Electors. I shall be glad to find it proof. Now what have you done for their heads?

How do you guard them against deception?

Reformist. Alas! I wish that in every[?] case it was possible to provide for the

head any such effectual armour, as in this case I have made sure of providing for the

heart. If I do but succeed in providing for it the most effectual armour the nature

of the case admitts of, I trust /flatter myself/ you will be satisfied.

Anti-Reformist. I should be very unreasonable if I were not: always supposing that

the direction taken by the wills of the majority of the Electors in a majority of the

Election districts is the proper one.

Reformist. Well then, against general deception my remedies are two: 1. notoriety of

all relevant facts[?] and arguments /say in a word notoriety/. 2. shortness of the

time during which without fresh election the Representative continues in his seat,

say in two words annuality of election. The first a preventive remedy, the other a

healing one. The first, a remedy that prevents the disorder /for preventing the

mischief/; the other, for putting an end to it.

Be the field of /the portion of/ thought and action what it may, in the diffusion of

information I behold the patriots and philanthropists remedy: in the suppression of

it the tyrants remedy.
Similar Items
  • Title: [1818 Dec r 31 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1818 Dec r 31

    Parl Reform Bill

    Dialogue III

    {Preliminary View}

    Evils & Remedies

    Remedies

    1 Miselection

    1. Members

    7

    2

    Anti-Reformist. Come then now for your remedy or remedies against Miselection. No

    small quantity of work for you: how[?] even were that one head /evil/ the only one.

    Reformist. Too true. Under the head of Miselection, have the goodness to remember, I

    understand, the election of any person {for representation} who either absolutely or

    comparatively /in comparison of any other that might have been add/ is deficient in

    any degree /particular/ in the article /respect/ of appropriate aptitude.

    Anti reformist. Then, in your account, the election of an Angel would be

    miselection, supposing that by a different arrangement an Archangel might have been

    had.

    Reformist. Exactly so: {and the /in/ /by/ considering /placing/ the matter in[?] in

    this simple point of view some trouble will /may/ be saved – and I am much mistaken

    in you if it appears to you an incorrect one.}

    [marginal note:] Inserendumne?

    Anti Reformist. Well – this Archangel of yours, what course do you take for catching

    him?

    Reformist. A very simple one. For my Representatives, I take the greatest possible

    number of persons to choose out /make choice/ of: for my Electors, the greatest

    possible number of persons to concurr in making the choice.

    {Anti Reformist. If either of these expedients /contrivances/ for catching your

    Archangel can be made to hold water, the trouble you will have with that by which you

    multiple persons eligible will be childs play in comparison of that which you will

    have in thus multiplying your Electors.

    Reformist. I acknowledge it. But it follows not that because in this case it will

    take more words to make out the proof, it will be the less satisfactory when

    made.}
  • Title: [1819 Jan y 10 Parl Reform Bill]
    Description: 1819 Jan y 10

    Parl Reform Bill

    Dialogue

    {Preliminary View}

    Evils & Remedies

    II Remedies

    Miselection

    I. through seduction

    1. coercive } will

    2 alluring }

    3 deceptive understanding

    1

    38

    {*32}

    Anti-Reformist. Well on the part of those Electors of yours appropriate aptitude, is

    in both its branches, appropriate probity and appropriate wisdom intellectual

    aptitude, above dispute. For the purpose of the argument, at any rate, be it so. Take

    them in the lump they are qualified to make on each occasion a good choice, to make

    the best choice possible: take them in the lump they are disposed, all or enough of

    them to make this best of choices. Yet on this or that occasion, under favour /by the

    sinister influence of sinister circumstances they may be turned aside from this only

    right path path of rectitude: they may be turned aside by fear of personal loss or

    suffering in some other shape by hope or receipt of gain, or enjoyment /an object of

    desire/ in some other shape – both of these hooks[?] applying to /laying hold on/ the

    will: by deception they may be turned aside – by deception, a hook[?] applying to

    /laying hold on/ the understanding. In so far as by any of these […?] your dangers ae

    frustrated, your scheme fails. Let us see what remedies it provided against the

    mischief considered as producible by those causes. One of your remedies indeed I

    anticipate already. I mean that which every body has heard so much of, to wit ballot.

    But I should like to hear /there is a satisfaction to hearing every thing/ from your

    own mouth.
  • Title: [1819 Jan. y 10 Parl. Reform Bill]
    Description: 1819 Jan. y 10

    Parl. Reform Bill

    Preliminary View

    Evils & Remedies

    II. Remedies

    Miselection

    II. through transgressions of law

    1

    37

    Leget ut Clericus.[?]

    Anti-Reformist. Well now, suppose them all effective and adequate these remedies of

    yours for the prevention of Miselection through unfitness on the part of that law

    itself in that part of the law by which the qualification of proposed Members and

    Electors are respectively appointed /determined/ prescribed, let us now see what

    provision you make One cause of Miselection shall remain, I mean the misexecution or

    non-execution of the determinations /appointments/ so made. Under the provisions so

    made according to the plan chalked out by you, in the District of Freeborough,

    Francis Freeman is the proposed Member that ought to have been returned But by mal

    practice in some shape or other say force or fraud, not he but William Wrongham has

    been returned. What remedies does your plan provide against Miselection from such a

    cause?

    Reformist. The same that it provides against Non-election and Null Election. Such is

    the connection All those Election evils, they are, all of them, liable to be produced

    by the same set of causes, all of them capable of being prevented /obviated/ by the

    same remedies. Force, fraud, accident – to /under/ one or other of these heads may

    all the disastrous causes in question be found referable /reducible/. {Simplicity of

    arrangement despatch.} Care taken for the Exclusion of motives to delinquency – for

    the exclusion of the means of delinquency, for the notoriety of all the relevant

    facts – in this short list you have /these words will conduct you to/ the

    remedies