[xxxvi. 48]

1821 May 15

First Lines

Constitutional Instruments

2. Evils of corruption.

By corruption considered in itself, no one of the evils which as above have been seen produced by force and intimidation are produced. But as compared with force and intimidation, corruption has the same object and effect, viz. sacrifice of the greatest interest of the greatest number, to the interests real or imagined of the ruling one with or without the interest of the sub-ruling few.

Moreover of the sub-instruments of corruption viz money, power and factitious dignity, money the most surely and extensively influential is not obtained but by means of force and intimidaton: thus far then in the evils of coruption, the evils of force and intimidation are involved.

If the influence of force and intimidation is more irresistible, and, for the present, the most effective, the influence of corruption is more permanent: and the exclusion of it the more hopeless.

By force and intimidaion, resentment is excited; and, in deisr and endeavour, retribution called forth: by corruption, no such hostile passion, no such hostile endeavour or desire are produced.

By corruption - by corruptive influence on the one part, and corrupt obsequiousness on the other part - the irritation produced by force and intimidation is allayed.

Corruption, though a deadly poison, is a slow one: a poison by the progress of which no particular alarm at any particular period is produced: no alarm at any period in any degree approaching in magnitude to that of the real danger or the real mischief.

By every atom added to that of the existing mass of the matter of corruption, the effective force of the whole is of course encreased: by every addition made to it, the faclity of making further additions to it is thereby encreased: the less sensible are the subject many at whose expense the matter extracted, not only to the mischief produced by it, as above, but also to the evils produced by the force and intimidation by which it is produced: and while on the part of the sufferers themselves - while on the part of those by whom the suffering is experienced the sensibility to it is diminished, no wonder if on the part of those by whom the suffering is inflicted, the reluctance, whatsoever, if any, may at any time have existed, is diminished likewise.

Note, making exemplifications from the English Government.