1818 March 7. +

Parl. Reform Proposed H. of Commons Resolutions

Representatives

7

17. That forasmuch as by no power lodged in the hands on Constituents can any

dependence on the part of their reputed Representatives be in any degree created or

maintained except in so far as the good and evil about to be eventually produced by

the exercise of such power is at all times in the expectation of the Representative

greater than any that can be made to accrue to him by any other person or persons

whose interest or supposed interest and consequent endeavour it may be to engage him

to a violation of such his trust, it is accordingly necessary that, by all

practicable means, every Representative of the people be rendered as compleatly

exempt as possible from every such external influence.

18. That forasmuch as according to the originally and immemorially established and

still-existing forms and practice of the Constitution of this realm, the disposal of

public Offices /Offices and Commissions/ is and all along, has been without any

considerable exception in the hands of the Crown, to which Offices and Commissions

pecuniary emolument all along has for the most part been, and to a greater or less

amount can not but continue to be, attached – and not only offices and Commissions,

but objects of general desire in various other shapes such as those of power, rank

and dignity in a variety of forms, - all which advantages constitute so many

instruments of temptation by the hope of obtaining which, for themselves or their

connections in the way of personal interest, or sympathy, or in so far as obtained,

by the fear of being deprived thereof, the representatives of the people, can not but

continue to be exposed, as at all times they have been exposed, to be seduced from

their duty and indeed to sacrifice the universal interest of the people their

constituents, to the particular interest or supposed interest of the Crown its

servants and their adherents, have