1819 June 5

Defence of | | Ballot against B.

1

All the advantages that belong all that can be supposed to belong – to universality, equality and annuality of suffrage are grounded on the supposition, howsoever tacit, of the genuineness, as, when the whole of the population comes to be considered that of the genuineness is on that of the secresy of the voters. If genuineness, if secresy – are really not capable of being secured then Reform – Reform on the Representation – is not capable of being effected, and ought to be given up as hopeless.

{I can suppose a man insincere if it be he regards secresy as unpreservable before the impossibility which in certain circumstances there is of its not being preserved has been explained to him and read by him, not afterwards.} Suppose a man to say I do not think in my view of the matter secresy of suffrage can be preserved if at /to before/ the time when he says this, the impossibility which under the circumstances in question there is of not being preserved has not been explained to him and read by him, in this case it is in my power to believe him to be sincere: it is not in my power in the opposite case.

For, once more, my saying to a man It was for A.C. I gave my vote, is not letting him know how I gave my vote: it is only letting him know what I said /say/ as to my giving my vote: and, though the truth be that it is for A.C. that I gave my vote, yet if so it is that the man I am speaking to did not at the time see or otherwise perceive to whom it was /that it was to A.C/ that I gave my vote, no perception does my assertion give him of the fact: it is but my assertion; nothing more.

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