1819 Oct. 7

Parl. Reform Bill

§.5. Election Apparatus

§.8. Election, how

Art. Secresy

IV. Insincerity

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The secret mode (it has been said) is a cause of insincerity: for the question may be put to a vote – how /for whom/ have you voted? and being assured that in the event of his answering falsely, the falshood can not by any possibility be discovered, here then is entire the impossibility, the stronger the temptation to committ it. But

1. In the first place the more entire the impossibility of detecting the falsity if to the question the answer returned be false, the less strong /weaker/ the inducement to put any such question: a question from which no information it is plain can reasonably be expected to be gained.

2. Under the circumstances of the case any such question would be an insult: an attempt to exercise oppression. If insult were not meant, no such question would be put: and if insult were meant, this is one of the last forms that would be apt to present themselves for the purpose.

3. The propounder of the question /command/ having no right to expect obedience to it, the answer of false would be no wrong done to him, no more than if given to a robber /the question of a housebreaker/ where the plate was kept or to that of a madman where the gunpowder was deposited. As it would be no wrong /harm/ done to any third person so neither would any be done to the individual himself: to his reputation yes: if the falsity were discovered: but that, by the supposition, is impossible

4. The fraternity of Free Masons have their secrets. This being known, no person not intimate with a Free Mason would for any purpose but that of insult, put any question to him calling for the disclosure of any such secret: no friend would think of pressing any such question even under favour of the closest intimacy. Never has any such notion been advanced as that on this account the institution of free-Masonry has a tendency to promote insincerity, and that a tendency to promote immorality is therefore among the fruits of it.