[131a-018]

1818 March 23 +

Parl Reform Answer to Antiballotists

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Of an intimation of this sort the effect would frequently be – the acting in subserviency, to, and giving effect to, Election tyranny. To no good purpose could any such intimation be necessary. For giving expression to whatever opinion it may happen to a man to entertain, or to wish to express, strange indeed it will be, if the whole quantity of times anterior to that of his giving his vote will not be quite sufficient.

To compleat the emancipation of the voter from Election tyranny, a prohibitive clause, inhibiting this practice will be altogether necessary. To the person on whom the prohibition is imposed it can not be a hardship: on the contrary, in so far as he stands exposed to influence by yielding to which he would go counter to his own wishes, it can not fail of operating as a relief. Accordingly, any intimation given to any such effect, the law should declare to be an act of complicity with Election tyranny, the person who is guilty of it, an accessory – an accessory after the fact – to Election tyranny: an accessory after the fact, but not so as to require for conviction proof of the principal offence. For punishment his name might be entered in the Black book: entered in that reproachful book, but without being gazetted.

Evidently enough, in this as in every other case, where it is really a man’s wish to avoid doing a thing, at the same time that it is the wish of some person under whom he is in any respect in dependence, that he should do it, a prohibition inhibiting him from doing it is – not a burthen but a relief. Nothing can more effectually free him from the irksome influence: after this, a question – how did you give your vote – would be an insult – it would be a command to committ an offence, and that a dishonourable one: it would be to say to him – you are that sort of person who to ingratiate yourself with me, or save yourself from any resentment, unjust as it would be are ready to committ a dishonourable offence.