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[129b-497]
30 Apr. 1817
Plan Cat
2 o
Introd
§.10. Bribery and Terrorism
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True it is moreover that, at that time, although bribery was contrary to the letter of the law, terrorism in that shape in which it is to the profit of individuals in the first instance that it exercises itself was not contrary to the letter of that same or any other law: for since neither then /before that time/ nor since has the secret mode of voting been ever in use, thence so it is that so far the liberty /faculty/ of suffrage was exercised under the yoke of terrorism. But from this observation /state of things/ what follows? Only that for the giving field to an acknowledged principle the regulations of detail the necessity of which is above /beyond/ dispute had not yet been made: a case which throughout the whole field of legislation is in other instances brought to view by every day’s practice.
Of the particular case at that time in contemplation the two essential points are 1. that to the intended subversion and extirpation of the liberties of the kingdom (meaning the people of the kingdom) a state of things was produced under which to the extent in question Elections failed of being free. 2. that it was to the profit of the separate and sinister interest of the Monarch that this subversion was in proportion to the extent to which it had place effected: – Now as to these main points these being the only material points in what respect does the condition of the people at this time differ from that in which it was at that time when the Revolution was resorted to: resorted to in the character of a remedy which not only then but even still is generally acknowledged to have been a necessary one?
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Title: [[129b-496] 30 Apr 1817 Plan]Description: [129b-496] 30 Apr 1817 Plan Cat Addenda 2 o Introd §.10. Bribery and Terrorism 1 Inserendum to 2 d Edition §. The existing system of terrorism a violation of the Bill of Rights By the Bill of Rights it is declared in so many words “That Election of Members of Parliament ought to be free [+] But if free against terrorism from one quarter, so against terrorism from any other quarter: for in so far as by terrorism from any quarter so ever they are rendered otherwise than free how can they be said to be free? True it is, that the terrorism which on that occasion furnished the direct object of complaint, was that terrorism alone of which in a direct way the power of the Monarch was the source. “Whereas the late King James the second (says the reciting part) “by the assistance of divers evil Councillors, Judges and Ministers employed by him, did endeavour to subvert and extirpation the laws and liberties of this kingdom”: and thereupon comes the clauses correspondent to the above enactment, viz. N o 7 “By violating the freedom of Election of Members to serve in Parliament.” But so long as /in so far as/ the effect the only mischievous part of the effect of this violation is produced in any way viz. the causing the return of such Members as by the Monarch shall be engaged to sacrifice to his and their particular and sinister interest the universal interest, what matters it whether it be by such direct means as were then in use or by any other means direct or indirect? [+] 1 W & M. Sess. 2. c.2.§ 1
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Title: [[129b-498] 30 Apr. 1817 Addendum]Description: [129b-498] 30 Apr. 1817 Addendum Plan Cat 2 o Introd §.10. Bribery and Terrorism 3 True it is that in those days to no inconsiderable extent terrorism had place terrorism operating to the profit of the sinister interest of the Country Gentlemen, true it is that under and notwithstanding that terrorism, that sort and degree of security which was afforded by the Revolution was afforded: afforded to the people, and by a Parliament. True: and /but/ why? Even because though even then not so perfect an instrument as it ought to have been and might have been, still such was the madness of the Monarch, that in the hands of the people it became an instrument of security of security as against the Monarch. At the present time, through /from/ /by/ the concurring operations of several causes, in the number of which the terrorism by means of which the lower and middling classes of the people are held in bondage by the higher, and together with so many other liberties the liberty of suffrage taken from them, the Parliament it has been rendered an instrument in the hands of the Monarch – capable of being employed, and but too really extensively[?] and constantly actually employed, against the people.
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Title: [[129b-619] 12 March 1817 Plan]Description: [129b-619] 12 March 1817 Plan Cat 2 o Introd §.9. Freedom of suffrage X. Abolish bribery laws &c. 2 27 27 But seats which by the power of terrorism are vested in the hands of great landholders may for any length of time continue in the hands of persons who during that whole time been in a state of pecuniary pressure in his instance a lucrative situation may be a matter /an object/ of urgent concupiscence whether to enable him to pay interest or principal of a mortgage lying on his Estate, or to make provision for sons or other dependent relatives, of the male sex, or to buy husbands for daughters or other dependent relatives of the female sex not to speak of other dependants at large whose interest is connected with his by some tie not unless by accident as that which is constituted by genealogical relationship. Be this as it may, no imaginable sufficient reason can be assigned why the man by whom at an open market a seat is purchased, though it were as a drove of cattle + are purchased should be more surely engaged in the habit of undue obsequiousness as towards C – r General and C o than the man by whom a seat is obtained in the way in which it is most commonly obtained when not obtained by bribery, viz. by terrorism whether it be vote-compelling or competition excluding or –subduing terrorism in farms of a landholder or his nominee + Quote the specter[?]
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