1818 Oct. 26

Parl. Reform Bill

Reasons

'.2 Electors Who

Univ.

III. Taxedness

9

Where taxedness in respect of direct taxes has been brought /propos/ in the character of a necessary qualification, it is not by itself alone that it has been proposed in that character, but in company with householdership. By householdership alone the degree /on the scale/ of affluence supposed /endeavoured/ to be secured was not regarded /thought/ as high enough: to raise it, recourse was had to the supplemental qualification of taxedness. But if affluence, with the addition of householdership, is but one indifferent test and measure of aptitude - of appropriate aptitude in any of its forms - let even taxedness be added the test is not much mended. Affluence itself is no proof of aptitude: householdership of itself is no proof of affluence: add taxedness, still householdership and taxedness put together compose not any proof. By a man's having made payment to the tax say say a quarters tax say half a years tax - all the affluence of which /proved by/ such payment is so much as the payment so made amounts to, and when this payment is made, even this affluence is gone: gone, and for any thing that can be known has left nothing behind it.

But in regard to taxedness, the tax being a direct one all that the law can do on the instance of any man the law can do is to call upon him to make payment of the tax: of his paying it /actually making the payment/ when the time came for making it no law can make sure: for no law can make sure of any man's abilities to make the payment. What the law may indeed do is - to provide that if at the time for giving the vote, payment to tell[?] the tax /taxes/ in all its /their/ forms has not been made no vote shall be given: but in this case, as what may very well happen is - that by the very expedient which has been employed to secure the wished for affluence, all /the/ affluence has been destroyed.