[131a-041]

1819 May 20

Defence of the Ballot

Objection II

Franchise narrowed

6

Objection II. Instead of extending, secresy would narrow the exercise of the election franchise.

Observations on this position

1. The wisdom /instruction/ with which under the head of this objection has been bestowed upon us[?] has been bestowed in waste. Of a state of things which can not take place what matters it what, if it were to take place, would be the effects? But the object here it may be said is to prevent the evils which supposing the first mass of wisdom /instruction/ not sufficiently profited by might be attendant on the experiment which it endeavours to prevent.

2. The question we have here is a question of quantity: and wherever quantity is in question, and that quantity more or less indeterminate, learned gentlemen find themselves {very much} at their ease. Be it what it will, the quantity which is to be opposed is sure to be improper: it is too great; it is too small; it is both at once. On the present occasion in this double case it will be seen to be in the extracts at the bottom of the page

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3. Possession of The right is one thing: exercise of it is another. The first object is to give the possession to as many as can have it without hurt /more than equivalent hurt/ to themselves or others or both the possession of this right, and so long as all who chose to exercise it were at liberty to exercise it each in the way wished for by himself, the number of those by whom on each occasion it came to be actually exercised might upon a very simple scale vary without sensible inconvenience.