22 March 1817

Plan Cat

2 o

Introd

§.10 Bribery & Terrorism

1

Better perhaps omitted

Terrorism being thus noxious, bribery comparatively not to say absolutely innoxious,

how happens it /whence comes it/ that what terrorism is /has/ not, bribery has been

made punishable? Two questions there – and to each of them a separate answer

requisite

On the part of those on whom it depends were there ever any inclination to take

terrorism for the subject of legal punishment, the nature of the case it may have

been seen already would not admitt of it. To produce the effect of terrorism neither

an act on the part of the terrorist nor on the part of any other person is any act at

all, necessary, no act at all /in any shape/ consequently no act to which punishment

can attach.

But as to punishment were the application of it to terrorism ever so easy no such

application would be made of it. The reason – the motive by /consideration by the

force of/ which any such arrangement would be prevented has been seen already. The

class of men to whose interests terrorism is subservient are the rich: the richer a

man is /greater the mass of a mans opulence/ the more powerful is the instrument of

oppression which it puts into /thus put into his/ hand