1819 May 29

Defence ag Ed Review

Bribery – excluded in degree

1

First as to bribery Out of gratitude a man who had received a bribe might earn it: might give his vote accordingly: might confer that benefit, in return for the benefit received. This is what might happen, might every now and then happen, not improbably it would for the most part happen, unless in the mind of the receiver some special service might be regarded as rendered to the community either from the contributing to place in the seat some other Candidate, or by contributing to keep out of it the bribing Candidate. But supposing on the part of the receiver an opinion decidedly favourable to the aptitude of another Candidate, or unfavourable to the aptitude of the bribing Candidate, or on any other personal or other private account suppose the briber /bribe-giver/ to be an object of aversion, in that case is it probable that the vote thus endeavoured to be purchased would be delivered accordingly? Surely not: surely so far from probable that, considering how easily any of these states of things might have place without the Candidate knowing of it, it seems not likely that especially for a situation of so short a duration, there are many in whose eyes it would be advisable to bestow so large a sum as would be necessary to the purchasing in this way any considerable chances[?].