1819 Oct. 11 +

Parl. Reform Bill.

Reasons Note?

§.5

§.8

Art. Secresy

Burdet

1

1

Follows here against the necessity /utility/ of the secret mode an argument, of which {my respect for the quarter} /the respect inspired by/ from which it has been understood to come prevents /forbids/ the suppressing /suppression/. It is here exhibited in the fairest and clearest light that a sincere endeavour could find for it

In insisting on the secret mode your object /design/ is that by means /in virtue/ of it, no vote shall ever be given that is not {in the opinion of the voter at least} subservient to the universal interest: as much so at least as if it were disposed of in any other manner: taking as evidence of such subserviency the opinion of the voter himself, that being the only evidence which the nature of the case admitts of.

Suppose then in the majority of the districts the majority of the Electors bribed: bribed, and by means of the bribes, a set of representatives chosen, by whom the community would be ruined /brought /consigned/ to destruction/, in the shape of anarchy on one hand or unbridled despotism on the other. In this there is nothing that might not be effected in the secret mode: for, if it were so ordered that in case /in each instance/ the mischievous Candidate was elected the money or moneys worth should fall into the Electors /Voters/ hands and not otherwise, the bribery might thus take effect in the secret, as easily as in the open mode: and thus the interest of all or the interest of the majority might be sacrificed to the particular interest of this corrupt majority of the whole number of Representatives.

Against evil from this cause, not only would the secret mode be inefficient, but the open mode would have an advantage over it. For of those who under the secret mode would concurr in putting in a share for their sinister profit, there might be those who under the open mode might be deterred from so doing, by shame or other considerations.