1818 March 25 + C 1819 Nov. 9. Not now

Parl. Ref. Bill

Reasons

IV. Eligible – who

§ 2 Qualification no other

1. Foreigners

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1

In the constitution as it stands if a vote in one form receives correction it is by vote in another: aristocratical tyranny from fraud and insincerity

Note Difference between absolute and comparative majority how influenced

Number of the candidates

Unless a hint were put to the number of Candidates, for the sake of confusion and Non-Election thousands or neither might be proposed and offer themselves

Question 1. Why is no special qualification proposed to be required.

Answer Because any such principle of exclusion is needless and being needless is by reason of the complications involved in it, pernicious.

Question 2. Why needless?

Answer. Because there is not any the smallest probability /it is not presumable /probable// that any number of seats capable of affording the means of actual mischief would be filled by persons more palpably /mischievously/ unfit for the trust than many others whom no manifest principle of exclusion could exclude.

To take the strongest case suppose a foreigner chosen and that foreigner a subject in a state of actual hostility with our own state. What probability is there, that to the prejudice /exclusion/ of the whole number of their fellow countrymen in so much as a single Election District the majority of the Electors would under the here proposed Plan of Representation /Delegation/ concurr in the making of such a choice? Yet might a considerable number of men so circumstanced be chosen and being chosen sit and act, and yet no real ill consequence ensue.

As to betraying of secrets, the Commons House neither has nor can have any secrets.