[lxxxiv. 126]

1822 Jany 27

Codification Offer

ulto?

?.5 Admission Universal

Members unapt

Sinister interests

adverse to people

The several modifications of the Monarchical interest, and the several branches of the Aristocratical interest: including Aristocracy of ”power•: and do of ”influence• ruling and influential few. all these are so many particular and sinister interests.

In one /To one common/ sinister point they all concurr /tend/: namely, in the endeavour to suppress throughout the field of politics the liberty of public discussion on political subjects in all its forms: particular that most efficient form the liberty of the press

Necessary to the possession of despotic /arbitrary/ power © necessarily included in the very idea of power is, /Of despotic power the characteristic is/ coextensive ”impunity•: impunity to the whole extent of the power whatsoever it be. Impunity in respect of all those acts /those misdeeds/ which, on the part of persons /a person/ not possessed of the power would be transgressions, offences, crimes.

Impunity to be entire and compleatly effective must be such with reference not only to punishment at the hands of the law /legislative/ and /and thus/ of the executive power,¼(¼a¼) but to punishment at the hands of the tribunal of public opinion¼(¼b¼)

The liberty of public political discussion is inconsistent /incompatible/ /adverse/ with impunity in the case of the persons in question in two /three/ ways: by the indication of misdeeds committed by them /on their part/: and persons acting under /subject to/ their influence 2. by comments on such misdeeds in so far as they are notorious: by general expressions having for their object or tendency, the pointing /directing/ the public displeasure towards such /the/ misdeeds and the misdoers

(a) The political, including the legal and administrative sanction:

(b) The popular or moral sanction.