1819 May 27

Defence of | | Ballot

Conclusion

Queries to Antiballotist

2

1. Efficacy[?]

2. Bribery. 3. Terrorism

For the ultimate consideration of all such persons, if any such there are I would beg leave to submitt the following queries, with a request that /to/ each of them, a precise answer may be found and delivered.

1. Is it or is it not your wish that bribery by moneys worth given or personal service in other shape rendered to Electors should be prevented?

2. When the value set upon the situation is such as to render it worth a mans while to employ money in the purchase of individual votes for the obtaining of it, know you of any other way /course/ so effectual as that of making it impossible for a man, in the event of his giving money for a vote whether the vote was given according to his wish?

3. Is it or is it not your wish, that the votes given at each Election should respectively be given by each /the several/ Electors according to his /their/ wish, governed /guided/ by his opinion concerning the appropriate aptitude of each Candidate in all parts taken together meaning by appropriate aptitude his fitness for the discharge of the trust by means of his being endowed[?]

If you hear a man say it is a matter of indifference to me whether the ballot is emploied or no, do you not mean to say that it is a matter of indifference to you whether in what proportion the votes are free and genuine, and in what proportion, forced or bought, and in both cases spurious.