[clx. 434]

1822 July 22

Constitut. Code Exposition

Ch. or . Securities for good government against corruptive influence.

The existence and operation of the principle of corruption or corruptive influence being thus in every government to a certain degree unavoidable, what remains is to oppose the operation and efficiency of it by whatsoever arrangements afford promise of operating as securities for good government, securities to the fabric of government against this dry rot to which all government stands exposed: exposed by the nature of the materials of which it can not but be every where composed /must every where be composed/.

These may it is believed be comprehended all of them under one or other of the heads following viz

1 Minimizing the quantity of power in the hands of functionaries

2. Minimizing the quantity of the matter of wealth in the disposal of functionaries

3. Minimizing the quantity of the matter of wealth employed as pay of functionaries

4. Applying legal counterforces to the power of functionaries

5. Applying moral counterforces to the power of functionaries.

6. Exclusion of factitious honor or say factitious dignity

7. Exclusion of all other factitious instruments of delusive influence